While senior police officials would be the first to agree that the daily rigours faced by the lower rungs of the force are immense, there are some exceptions who willingly push the boundaries of what they believe is the call of duty, stretching the limits of their policing for little more than the satisfaction of a job done well.

Deokar is one of these policemen. A strongly opinionated man with a natural talent for public relations, Deokar combines daily duties with his relentless enthusiasm for civic activism. For the past seven years, Deokar has been on a mission - to do his bit to keep the city clean. Undeterred by the occasional taunt and oblivious to the fact that he might have ruffled some feathers along the way, Deokar is a hardliner of sorts: He will not tolerate spitting, littering or smoking in public places.

"Public spaces are for everyone to enjoy, and it is each citizen's duty to look after their surroundings and ensure that the city is kept clean. Besides being a policeman, I am also a citizen of Mumbai, and I strive to do my bit for the city. Spitting and littering are nasty habits, and since 2000 I have been on a drive to prevent these two nasty habits," says Deokar, who joined the force 32 years ago.

"My policy is that fines and penalties are completely unnecessary and do not work.

When I see someone spitting or littering in a public place, I talk to them very politely and ask them to clean up the mess. Most people are embarrassed when confronted, and they listen to me. Sometimes people argue with me, but at such times, the other citizens around me support me. At times it is necessary to become a strict policeman and take the offender to the police station if he refuses to clean up," explains Deokar.

Currently attached to the Local Arms Division and deputed to the police Press Room on account of his skills in interaction, Deokar has been posted at Kherwadi, Santacruz, Vakola, Wadala and Ghatkopar police stations in the past. Prior to his current posting, he was in the Mumbai Police Commissioner's escort team.

Wherever the posting, Deokar has ensured that the hawkers in the area of his jurisdiction were also made environment conscious.

Deokar's efforts have not gone unnoticed.

In 2000, he received an insignia from the Director General of Police. He was felicitated by the Rotary Club of Mumbai in 2004 as the ‘Best Civic Policeman' in the city. While posted at Kherwadi police station in 1999, he was given the ‘Nagrik Mitra' (friend of the public) award by 864 families of the Middle Income Group (MIG) Colony at Gandhi Nagar, Bandra (East).

Endorsing Deokar's efforts, Additional Commissioner of Police (Economic Offences Wing) Sadanand Date says: "When I was a DCP in Zone 8, he was posted as a head constable. Deokar has a tremendous ability to connect with people, and he is an asset to the force in this regard."

Smoking in public spaces and in government buildings also attracts this policeman's ire. No Smoking signs at the police headquarters at Crawford Market are also largely a result of Deokar's bull-headed stance on smoking inside the premises.

"When I came to the headquarters in the beginning, I could find people smoking without a care in the world, and throwing their cigarette butts anywhere they felt like. I took this seriously and started preventing people, even policemen, from smoking in the premises.

Some people may have not liked it, but the message has gone out loud and clear. I am satisfied that I am succeeding in my endeavour," says Deokar.

URL: http://epaper.indianexpress.com/Default.aspx?selpg=1400&selDt=03/31/2008&BMode=100