Citizens' role in security policy making

25 Dec 2005. Nepal police inaugurated the Post Graduate Diploma in Police Science course today. In fact this is a basic training course designed for fresh inspectors which has been recently endorsed by Tribhuvan University for Diploma level certificate. It could be successful only after some years of efforts on our parts and cooperation of the University family. With the notion that we need to educate citizens in the issues of crime and security management, Nepal police had taken initiatives (proposal for Master’s Degree in Police Science was forwarded to ministry of home through police headquarters by National Police Academy—at that time I was the Director) in 2058 BS (2001AD) to establish a center where matters of crime and security management could be dealt institutionally. In countries where major decisions pertaining to crime and security management—at the level of personal or national-- are prominently dominated by security agencies, such programs are necessary to involve citizen’s participation in policy making and cooperation in implementation. I am of the view that this program should be open for outsiders also. This will have multiple impacts— at individual, institutional and national level. I also dream of having a Police University in coming years—like they have in other countries.

Dedication for mankind

14.12.2005. I attended the marriage ceremony of one of the orphan girls nursed, brought up, educated and solemnized as bride by Indira Rana Magar, Chair person of Prisoners Assistance Nepal. This girl was abandoned by her parents. This organization has been rescuing innocent children from prisons who had to live inside the jails with their convicted parents with out their own faults. Indira had established this organization five years ago. PA Nepal’s mission is to rid prisoners of unnecessary suffering and hardship, in particular the suffering experienced by innocent children and prisoners who are poor and disadvantaged. It wants to help transform prisons into places that work to help prisoners build worthwhile and rewarding futures.

There are fifty five children in her home at present. She is the mother of all these children. Indira was recently awarded Ashoka Fellowship for her dedication and devotion to her love and care for helpless children. She was also awarded Top Fifty Women of Nepal Award. She is also running a primary school for poor and orphan children. Her organization is entirely dependent on the donations of friends and supporters- not on any INGO. Looking at her determination, hard work and dedication, I felt myself very much selfish and petite in front of this great lady who has sacrificed her happiness and whole life for the sake of poor and needy children. My regards and best wishes to such a leader.