Despite being armed with MBA and engineering degrees, MAs and BAs in an eclectic range of subjects, innumerable young people who join the Delhi Police remain at bottom of the rung as mere constables and drivers because of promotion delay and red-tape regulations. It doesn’t matter that they speak impeccable English, are good at interpersonal communication, or possess far greater academic knowledge than most of their counterparts in higher-ranking positions. Students after completing postgraduate degrees in business management, computer application, arts and science, and Bachelor degrees in engineering, law, computer application and arts are joining the force as constables and drivers.
Next time you interact with a Delhi Police constable doesn’t be surprised to hear him speak in fluent English. It can be the case with the police force’s newly appointed drivers. The primary reason for this is 67 per cent of the head constables and 40 per cent drivers recruited by the force in the recent years are either graduates or postgraduates. One just requires matriculation degree to get the driver’s job in the force. And an intermediate degree is just enough for other posts.
Statistics show that in 2013 and 2014, 2,803 constables joined the force. Of these, 14 had completed their Master’s in Business Management, 32 were postgraduates, 16 had engineering degrees, 40 were graduates in Computer Application,35 had Bachelors degree in Business Administration, 32 were Bachelors in Education and 980 were graduates in Science, Commerce and Arts.
Similarly, of the 537 head constables, who joined the force in the past two years, 363 were postgraduates, graduates, MBAs and MCAs. Among 642 drivers who joined the Delhi Police, 18 were postgraduates and 239 graduates. Delhi Police has strength of 44,208 constables and 20,817 head constables. As many as 30 per cent of these are either graduates or postgraduates.
In the last two years, seven assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs) who joined the force were postgraduates. In 2009, 612 probationary sub-inspectors (SIs) were inducted into the force. Of these, four were law graduates, 11 engineers, 85 postgraduates and 516 graduates. In all, there are 6,521 ASIs and 5,609 SIs in the police force. The primary reason why well qualified people are taking up these low-end offers is the job insecurity in the private sector and rising unemployment rate in the city and neighbouring States.
According to a Delhi Government report on unemployment situation between 2010 and 2012, of every 1,000 graduates in the city, 93 are unemployed. The unemployment rate in urban areas is 40 per 1,000. The unemployment rate stands at 45 per 1,000 in both rural and urban areas of the national Capital. The report says that the unemployment rate stood at 32 per 1,000 between 2009 and 2010. On an average, it takes about 25 years for a constable to become head constable and about 20 years for a head constable to become an assistant sub-inspector and ASIs to get the rank of the inspector.
Delhi’s Police constables are some of the most overworked employees in law enforcement agency. A Station House Officer (SHO) said some even end up putting in 15 to 18 hours a day. He said many men in uniform have been facing severe psychological and physical pressure. Many can’t get even leave to enjoy quality time with their respective families. In the coming years, the force is planning to recruit about 30,000 constables and about 4,750 sub-inspectors. Delhi Police has also made a proposal to recruit 20,000 female constables to make female representation up to 33 per cent in the force. Going by the previous recruitment drives, more qualified people are expected to join the force in the coming years.