Flimsy field cover

In a recent clash between the police and a violent mob in Chennai following pro-jallikattu protests, many police personnel had to fight with broken fibre glass shields, ill- fitting helmets and torn boots. Many also suffered injuries as these materials meant to protect them were damaged when anti-socials pelted stones and attacked them with wooden logs. 

When DTNext talked to many of these police personnel who were on the field, it emerged that these protective cover, supplied to them through the departmental store at police headquarters in the city were of very poor quality. Many of the policemen and policewomen had nothing good to say about the protective shields and accused the decision-makers of corruption in procurement. “They select companies who pay more commission and we are made to suffer the consequences. Boots and uniforms are supplied to policemen, from Inspector rank and below, once  a year. The gear does not even last for three months,” alleged an angry sub-inspector. 

The police store supplies everything from weapons to shoe polish to the police force in the state and the contracts run into several crores of rupees. There is no transparency in the procurement process and the details of such procurements are never published in any of the police websites. “We are supposed to get shoes, socks and even shoe polish. Most of the time we do not even get any of these. Shoes are available, but we will never find the correct size. Though there is fund allotment for socks and polish, they are never supplied,” another woman constable said. 

The police headquarters ADGP is in charge of the stores and the procurement according to headquarters sources. This is being done through tenders. IG Technical Services, P Kandasamy, who is now holding additional charge of ADGP Headquarters, (as the official in charge Sanjeev Kumar is on medical leave) told this newspaper that the tender is given to the lowest bidder and the police make sure about the genuineness of the tender winner before procurement. 

“Samples of different products, which are meant to be procured from the supplier are tested at different laboratories to ensure quality. Material for uniforms are being supplied by National Textile Corporation but I will have to check about the complaints regarding other accessories,” said Kandasamy. According to him, no complaints have come up to him so far. 

He also added that the Headquarters department could also directly procure some items from Directo rate General of Supplies and Disposal (DGS&D) approved vendors. “For such procurement, no tendering is required and the department can go for direct purchases from the vendor,” Kandasamy said. 

Sources said corruption happens mainly during such direct procurement. “Tamil Nadu has many DGS&D approved vendors and when there is a competition between them to get the contract for supply, only those who are ready to pay more commission win the deal,” another senior police official said. 

Currently, there are 99,889 policemen from the rank of Inspectors and below in the state. All of them depend on the store to receive supply of personal items and also protection materials like fibre glass shields, batons, helmets etc., needed for safety. “This problem has been an ongoing one. No policeman will  lodge a formal complaint against the poor quality of material supplied and there is no scrutiny at the higher levels either. Since it affects only the police force, nobody is bothered to even investigate the procurement process,” an Inspector said. 

As a result, it is not uncommon to see police inspectors and constables on duty with torn boots, ill-fitting helmets or shield when they get down to the field to control a violent mob, risking their life and limb. “We often spend money from our own pocket to get decent shoes and other personal items. But we have no choice but to use poor quality protective gear supplied to us from the store,” a police constable said. 

Meanwhile the officers above the rank of Inspectors get uniforms and shoe allowances from the department and they have the liberty to buy them on their own. “Officers are not bothered as  they hardly go to the field. Plus, they get an allowance to buy the accessories needed for the job. It is high time an agency investigated the opaque system of material purchases by the police headquarters,” another police inspector said.