Chhattisgarh Project

The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative has been facilitating a community-policing project in Chhattisgarh region of Raipur, for the last 18 months. One aspect of this project is a regular meeting between the police and a community liaison group. These meetings were intended to provide a platform for a dialogue to develop between these two previously isolated groups.

The inaugural meeting was held in June 2004, where CHRI invited the police and members of the community to learn about the project and participate was held at Maana Police station, Raipur. This was the main police station in the targeted area. There are total 12 villages under Maana Police Station Area; they are Maana Camp, Maana Basti, Maana Colony, Sammanpur (earlier known as Nakti), Dumartarai, Temri, Dharampura, Bhatgaon, Boriakala, Dhaneli, Baroda, Banarsi. Total Population of Maana Police Station Area is approximately 28,000.

Chhattisgarh, which is one of the richest states in India with huge potentials of minerals and iron ore, is a state comprised of many tribes and castes. However due to lack of initiatives by the former state Madhya Pradesh, this area still relies very much on agriculture and is economically undeveloped. In forming a community liaison group (CLG) t was ensured that poor and vulnerable sections of the community were included. Marginalised groups such as SC/ST sections and women were also invited to participate as representatives in these regular meetings.

Marginalised groups such as SC/ST sections and women were also invited to participate as representatives in these regular meetings.

The meetings were held twice monthly in a public place such as a school or a police station and not always in ideal conditions, as occasionally there was no electricity and the meeting had to be conducted by candlelight. The meetings usually lasted about 1 hour although frequently they would start up to an hour late. Despite the less then perfect conditions attendance by both CLG and police remained continuous, although with exceptions due to adverse weather conditions or conflicting commitments.

The structure of the meeting followed a consistent format; with each village given the opportunity to raise issues they felt could be addressed by police. The police were able to respond to this and assert whether or not they would be able to address that issue. The police were also given the opportunity to state their expectations from the community. Every issue raised was followed up in the next meeting.

Analyzing the minutes of these meetings gives insight into the success of this project. As we study the dialogue we can see if there is development in relations, or if local law and order problems are being addressed. The area does not have a large crime rate or criminal element, as the issues raised by the CLG reflect this. They focus on minor disturbances, traffic problems, police patrolling, gambling, the sale of illegal liquor and caste related problems.

To the majority of the issues raised by CLG, the police responded by saying they would look into it. Generally the CLG were satisfied when the police did what they said they would do. Of three recurring issues, gambling, liquor sales and drunk and disorderly people and police patrolling, the first two there was reached an overall satisfaction of the police action. However, police patrolling remained a sustained grievance.

One of the aims of the community police project was to provide a platform for police-pubic interface where a dialogue between the police and the community could be instigated. In this respect we see small levels of success in the beat level meetings. On area this is seen is the issue of police patrolling. Despite the dissatisfaction of the frequency of police patrolling in the villages, as the police explained the problems they had with vehicles and lack of staff, the CLG were able to come to an understanding as to why a police officer might not be seen in the village for up to 20 days. The villagers would request patrolling at specific times, and again when they understood the restraints of the police, they changed their demands to police patrolling whenever the police were able to do so.

On two occasions the meetings provided the opportunity for members of the CLG to confront police about their behavior and standard of care. In September 2004, the CLG member from Maana Basti village complained that the police officer did not fully complete his duty and stay until the end of the market. Although a small thing, it indicates that CLG member was able to raise the issue of police conduct. Again in July 2005, a CLG member from Boriakala raised a more serious issue of police corruption and misconduct. She challenged the police about not arresting gamblers but instead just taking the bet money and leaving them.

CHRI not only played a role as facilitators in the beat level meetings, but also later on provided education on human rights issues. The education and presence of CHRI staff brought out different problems that were initially not discussed at beat meetings. In March 2005, a play or Nukkad-Natak was held in many of the villages. The discussion between the CHRI staff and villagers surrounding the plays reveal problems that are caused by the caste system. The villagers spoke to CHRI the lack of power or justice for minority caste members. It was revealed that where a member of a majority caste becomes Sarpanch, the minority caste feel vulnerable and unable to challenge the Sarpanch in any wrongdoing.

At the beat meetings the CLG would not discuss these openly. It was noted after the Nukad-Natak that the CLG member form Bansarai village, who is a member of the minority caste would emphasize police patrolling so that the police would become aware of problems in the village.

At the beat meetings that included legal literacy and empowerment sessions, other community problems surfaced. After the appointment of a female officer at Maana Police Station, and women describing their inability to speak in public, a lecture on women's rights and empowerment was organised. The village women then spoke about domestic violence and caste problems that exist in their community. The CHRI mediator and the resource person then suggested that these problems be taken to the police.

The meetings with Mr. Asthana and the CLG and police separately also bring up the issue of caste problems. The CLG again describe the problems of the majority caste in the Panchayat. However, the CLG and police both expressed satisfaction with the project and noted a reduction in gambling and liquor sales. The police especially noted an increase in crime information from the public and people being more comfortable in coming to the police station as well as generally peaceful panchayat elections.

The level of interaction between the police and CLG was seen to develop by some of the other topics and discussions that took place. After a meeting where the gambling and liquor sales seemed to be satisfactory, water crisis that led to fighting was discussed. Also, a Sarpanch described how he had been abused by some youths, and decided to follow the advice of the police and file a written petition, which was contrary to what the public thought, which was to let them off with a warning.

The meetings were predominantly for the CLG to discuss their problems and get police commitment on them, yet there was also a space for the police to state their expectations from the community. The police were initially asking the public for cooperation by being witnesses and reporting crimes. There were some meetings when the police requests were more specific. As time went by it is noted that the police would ask the public for help in policing matters and to be more active in solving the gambling and drinking issue.

Community policing is about reducing crime through community involvement and good police-public relations. CHRI's community policing experiment in Chhattisgarh uses regular meetings between police and community liaison group at a beat level to achieve this. The dialogue that develops between these groups as analysed in the minutes of each meeting, is seen to develop from a basic statement and reply session to a more interactive discussion, as the topics discussed evolve from gambling in the village to police conduct. There was no evidence of the CLG speaking directly to the police about the deep-seated problems caused form the caste system yet; they were brought to the attention of CHRI. CHRI did provide education on human rights issues that facilitated the community to understand their rights and then speak more openly about their concerns to the police and CHRI representatives. Hopefully as the meetings continue, the processes of dialogue will continue to develop and then subsequently the relationship between the two stakeholders will improve.

Highlights of minutes of Beat meetings

2005 - March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October

2004 - July | August | September | October | November | December