Process of making a better future

NADIRA GUNATILLEKE

Extracts of an interview with the President of the Police Seva Vanitha Unit, Attorney-At-Law Anoma Goonetileke. She has been serving as a lawyer for a period of 30 years. She was the only female Secretary of the Bar Association (2004 - 2005). She took over the Presidency of the Police Seva Vanitha Unit in July 2008.

Q: What are the services done after you were elected as the President of the Police Seva Vanitha Unit?

A: Police Families Welfare Association of the Police Seva Vanitha Unit spent Rs. 235,000 to grant medical assistance for 13 officers since July 2008. The amount of funds spent for the education of the children of disabled and dead officers is Rs. 118,500. Another Rs.75,000 spent on university education of 15 children belong to officers. First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa distributed educational material for 15,130 children belong to police officers on December 2008.

The unit also donated Rs.175,000 as housing assistance for two officers. Rs.19,000 granted as sports assistance for the children belong to five officers while assistance for milk food worth Rs.27,250 granted to twin children belong to 36 officers. The amount of funds granted as funeral expenses is Rs.454,000 for 102 dead officers.

The Police Seva Vanitha unit has granted Rs.231,000 as medical assistance for 18 officers while another Rs.175,000 granted to four officers as housing assistance. The unit has paid Rs.270,000 for 13 disabled officers to construct toilets with commodes.

A colour television, a badminton set with other equipment, net ball, carom board and other items were donated to Mulleriyawa Mental Hospital on January this year.

The unit donated seven wheel-chairs to the Police Hospital and another 10 wheel-chairs to Police Special Task Force to mark Independence Day 2009. Gift parcels and milk powder distributed among 103 in-house patients. The unit organised several medical camps countrywide including Colombo, Anuradhapura, Trincomalee.

The unit donated 159 gift parcels, another 91 parcels containing sarong, T shirts etc, among the wounded soldiers of Armed Forces now being treated at the Anuradhapura General Hospital. Another 150 parcels containing various requirements were also donated at the same time.

The unit conducted a lottery draw in October 2008 and a musical show at the BMICH, Colombo in March 2009 to raise funds. Financial assistance has been granted the several officers and their families using those funds.

There are around 74,000 police officers in the service at the moment. The unit also ensures the welfare of retired police officers and their families.

Q: Why are those services important?

A: The police officers serving in difficult areas and the conflict areas do not get an opportunity to come and get their work done. Therefore it is important to bring services such as medical camps to their locations.

For example, the members of the Armed Forces who are being treated at Anuradhapura General Hospital have nothing apart from their destroyed uniforms. This is because they had come to the hospital directly from the battle field.

They need everything from food, cloths, tooth brushes, soap and towels. This is why we have to care for them. The other fact is we have to reach to the poorest of the poor. Retired officers, affected/disabled officers and all their families. They need care and assistance.

Q: What are the special projects or programs you are aiming at?

A: I have already established 37 sub units of the Police Seva Vanitha Unit at Provincial level. I have a plan to establish special wards for police officers in all State hospitals. At the moment all police officers have to visit the Police Hospital to seek medical treatment and some of them travel from far away destinations.

After setting up special police wards at other hospitals, their travelling problem can be solved. I also hope to build around 15 houses for disabled personnel. The first house will be given to a recipient from Beliatta as a gratitude to the President’s successful efforts to eradicate terrorism and end war.

A lot of lawyers contribute very lavishly to the activities carried out by the Police Seva Vanitha Unit. It is not possible for me to mention all the names of the donors and thank them individually but I wish to thank them all for their excellent support.

Since my childhood I used to engage in social welfare activities and donations. Since I am a lawyer I associate with a rich section of the society which is a huge advantage for me. I use it to assist the unit.

Q: What is the present situation of WPCs and their welfare?

A: WPCs have a lot of grievances. Their main grievance is the retirement and pension. At the moment they can retire after serving 20 years in the Police Department but they have to wait till they reach 55 to obtain the pension.

Arrangements will be made in future to change this system and enable them to retire after completing 20 years of service and get the pension at the same time. This should be done because when they complete 20 years in service their children grow up and reach an age that they need their mother to be with them. First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa has already extended her fullest support to solve these problems.

The other problem is uniforms during pregnancy and when getting older. Pregnant WPCs need a special comfortable uniform. They cannot wear ordinary loose dresses especially made for pregnant mothers for duty.

But at the moment they do not have such a special uniform. This problem will be looked into soon. The WPCs who get older face a similar problem and it is very difficult for them to fit into the shape of ordinary uniform when they grow old.

What is suitable for them is a pant and a coat which does not give them any trouble when it comes to the shape of the body. Their uniform issue will also be solved soon.

The majority of them complain about not getting their leave approved and not being able to enjoy their off days, especially Sunday at home with their families. Usually they have to work even on their off days. Lack of manpower is a problem at the moment. This problem will be solved with the recruitment of new batches of WPCs.

Q: Do you have any message for the public?

A: The people should always realize and remember that there is a normal human being inside every khaki uniform. They feel love, anger, tiredness and all the other feelings just as any other human being.

But the difference is they cannot eat whenever they feel hungry. They cannot take a rest when they feel tired or they cannot sleep when they feel sleepy like ordinary people do. Police officers cannot do such things because they have dedicated their lives to ensure the safety of the public.

But unfortunately some people get offended when they are being stopped at a security check point. Some people scold the police officers and even some media accuse the police very often.

The Police stop vehicles and people to check in order to ensure that they are safe. They have forgotten the good deeds of the Police officers and the service rendered by them to the country and to the nation. We like to criticize people often but we never praise people. We should be thankful to the Police and should assist them to carry out their duties.