For policemen in Maharashtra, their big boss is now just a tap away

Maharashtra DGP Sanjay Pandey. File pic/Ashish Raje

What should a cop at a remote police station in far-flung Gondia or Nandurbar district do to raise a grievance with the higher-ups? Until recently, the only route was to wade through the maze of bureaucracy. Now, it's just a tap away.

To ensure that he is all ears for his own men and women, Maharashtra Director-General of Police Sanjay Pandey has started a Telegram channel to personally connect with the force. The top officer will listen to grievances from 4 pm to 6 pm every Sunday.

Senior police officers said the move, a first in the department, will be a great relief to cops posted in the interiors. Earlier, some of them had to travel all the way to Mumbai to get their matters, like harassment, transfer and administrative issues, addressed by the head of the police force.

The initiative will be of great help to those posted in the interiors, said officers

The staff has been told to keep it short and succinct as they present their case before the DGP so that a maximum number of their colleagues can be heard in one session, said a senior IPS officer. Pandey's office has shared the link of the Telegram channel on several internal WhatsApp groups of police personnel.

"This channel is open to all olice personnel, from a constable to an IPS officer. Generally, the high-ranking officers get their issues resolved at their own level but the low-ranking policemen have to suffer as they fear raising their issues," said the officer.

"This initiative will instil good faith and confidence among the police force and will ultimately improve productivity level. This Telegram channel will bridge the wide gap between the constable and DGP," the officer added.

Rahul Dubale, founder and president of Maharashtra Police Boys Sangathana, said, "This is the first time in the history of the police force that a DGP is directly connecting with his force across all ranks to address their grievances." Dubale added the women in the force will also be given an equal opportunity to raise their issues.

Earlier, Mumbai-based junior cops would personally take their grievances to the DGP's office at Colaba, but it was briefly halted during the pandemic. The DGP's office then started taking up complaints online. DGP Pandey also started a conversation on Facebook with many cops and their families. Sources said the new initiative is a step ahead as it will provide an opportunity to everyone in the force to get their complaints addressed at once.