Manorama Lies

MANORAMA LIES

Did I say some time back that Malayala Manorama lies? Yes, I did. They have been getting some sick pleasure out of publishing lies against me since the last three years, ever since I was ADGP Vigilance.  Here is the proof that they never stop this.

http://english.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/motor-vehicle-dept-oust-transport-commissioner-sreelekha.html

Some may say that ignoring lies would make everyone forget about them. I have tried that. But if I ignore, that makes those who lie do it again and again.

Regarding the above online news which is basically meant for Malayalees living abroad, there were a few comments including one from me. Immediately after I posted my comment, they removed the entire section of comments which had some comments such as “TC should be strong and suspend all those corrupt officers in the Transport Department.” But they didn’t remove the report based on assumptions from their online page. They will keep it there till the next lie they concoct against me.

Lies in the report.

1.     No executive officer was declared on dies-non for going on leave. Some officers went on an undeclared strike which is against Government Rules protesting arrest of an MVI by the Vigilance & anti-corruption Bureau. I issued proceedings as per rules declaring dies-non for all those who went on strike.

2.     No letter was given by any association to the Government till date. On checking up with the office bearers of the Motor Vehicle Gazetted Officer’s Association and the AMVI’s Association, they told me that they did not give any letter to the Government. I checked up with the office of the Minister and the Transport Secretary whether any letter was received by them, so far no letter was received by the Government or to Transport Secretary.

3.     When was day-to-day work of Transport Department disrupted? Barring 16^th , Saturday in June 2015 when around 70 officers went on strike, work continued and continues.

4.     No officer took casual leave or any sort of leave on 16^th June. They just absented themselves without any permission from Senior Officers in protest of the arrest of an MVI by Vigilance.

5.     July is gone. No one gheraoed me or did a sit-in as the news says this month at my office or anywhere.

6.     I did not insult any leader. The office bearers of the two associations barged into my office in civil dress on the 8^th evening when I was extremely busy with work. They had not intimated me about their wish to meet me, neither did they take appointment with my office. I asked them to leave and meet me in uniform after taking prior appointment. The same day I issued a circular that all officers should take prior appointment if they want to meet me and they should be in uniform.

7.     I did not issue any orders banning association activities. I did not instruct my staff not to allow office bearers of the associations to come to my office. In fact, they came several times after the 8^th but always in Uniform and after prior intimation.

8.     The post of Transport Commissioner is a Cadre post of ADGP, an IPS officer. The officers in this department are not dumb and ignorant to demand an IAS officer to be posted as TC. As far as I know, this is a concocted story of Manorama.

9.     Finally- if any officer has given a complaint or raised any allegations similar to the story, why did it appear ONLY on Manorama and not in any other newspaper???

So, the mud-slinging goes on. I must be so important a person to Manorama to specially target me! I am really amused!

HORRORS OF CHILD TRAFFICKING

   Children are the most vulnerable targets for the criminal gangs and mafias who use them for cheap labor, as pushers and sellers in the field of narcotic substances and as sources of commercialized sexual exploitation. In most of the instances where children go missing, no FIRs are even registered until a specific crime under IPC or Juvenile Justice Act is alleged or revealed which makes it easier for traffickers to continue the offence.

In 2013 May in two bizarre incidents, 589 children aged between 3 and 16 were found traveling in a train from Northern States of the Country to Palakkad District in Kerala without any tickets. The first batch of 466 children from Bihar and Jharkhand came by the Patna-Ernakulam Express; the second batch of 123 children came from West Bengal by the Guwahati-Thiruvananthapuram Express. They were accompanied by four men who had taken tickets for themselves. The matter was reported by Railway Authorities to the Police who intimated the Child Welfare Committee in Palakkad.

I was Additional Director General of Police in charge of Special Services & Traffic that time. Special Services meant protection Women & Children in distress. I proceeded to the place and conducted a detailed enquiry. My enquiries revealed that the children were transported to two orphanages- Mohammed Abdul Rahman Memorial Muslim Orphanage in Mukkam, Kozhikkode District and Vettathur Anwarul Orphanage in Malappuram District. Buses arranged from these orphanages carried the children and the authorities from the concerned orphanages remitted the ticket fee and penalties at the Railway office for ticketless traveling of the children.

The children were from Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal. There were 156 girls in the group and the youngest of them was aged 3. The youngest boy was aged 4 and eldest, 15. Enquiries conducted at these orphanages revealed that such instances of child trafficking were happening since the year 2000 and children were transported from North Indian States to Kerala apparently for the purpose of education and accommodation to the poor children who could not afford them in their home States.

The orphanages also run private aided schools which get funds from Government. It was revealed that one reason behind transportation of children to the state was to prevent the 'division fall' due to shortage of students in these schools. Although the children are not taught there, their names will be included in the list of students. The children were not given any formal education since they do not understand either Malayalam or English but were taught classes in the holy Quran at these orphanages although not all the children transported were from Muslim community.

Another reason was that shortage of inmates in the orphanage had adversely affected collection of funds as contributions are government grants aids, from local sources and from abroad. They get Rs 100/- per day for each inmate from the Social Welfare Department and also get huge donations from abroad, especially the Gulf Countries. None of the children were orphans and they all had living parents and some of the parents signed forms giving permission to the above orphanages to transport the children. The two private Muslim Orphanages were owned by persons having strong political influence.

No proper records of children brought from other States were available in these institutions and whereabouts of children transported earlier were not known on enquiry. These orphanages had recruited the four persons who were found with the children and they function as agents in North Indian States to canvass for children in poor families. The orphanages were exempted from formal registration by a notification of the Kerala Government and hence had no rules, by-laws or procedures are in existence. Neither were they bound under the provisions of Juvenile Justice Act for the safety and protection of children.

Although the orphanages and the Government refused to see any crime in this, on my report, two crime cases were registered at the Railway Police Station, Palakkad which are still under investigation by CBCID Kerala. Three of the four agents as well as two employees of these orphanages were arrested by the police and the fourth agent is still absconding. There was a plea at the High Court of Kerala to transfer this case to CBI considering its sensitive nature and implications across the different States in the Country, but no specific orders were issued by the High Court on this so far. The PIL was filed at the High Court by Rajendra Prasad, president of 'Thampu', an NGO in Kerala.

 Orphanages in Kerala employ agents who open office in poor areas in the Northern States to ‘recruit orphans’ to the orphanages. In Godda in Jharkhand and Malda in West Bengal, such offices were started as ‘orphan recruiting offices’. The agents get paid based monthly remuneration and incentives based on the number of orphans they recruit. Some parents have admitted that the agents gave Rs 1000 for each child while some parents claimed they gave money to the agents for taking their child to good institutions in Kerala. The parents were made to believe that children will be taken to Kerala for giving them good education, accommodation, food and subsequent employment and they had no idea that they were taken to orphanages. The agents obtained signature from some parents in a form as proof that it was with their consent that children were brought to Kerala. Police found that these forms as well as forms they produced as ‘No-objection’ from the concerned Panchayats for taking away the children were forged and the handwriting and signatures were found to be the same in all the forms. Also, the names of schools which were mentioned in the forms were of fictitious and non-existing educational institutions in Kerala.

   

The parents of these children were under the impression that it was for proper education and good nutrition that the children are taken away from their houses and they would become doctors or engineers in future! Since the orphanages do not keep any records of children, there is no evidence to find out what actually happen to the children, especially those children who were brought there earlier at these orphanages. There were allegations and speculations that the boys were given sold and used in factories and companies as sources of cheap labor and the girls were taken for sex trafficking at tourism centers/ massage parlors.  The authorities at the orphanage claim that those children who completed their education went back to their villages. But further enquiries could not be conducted to verify this since names and addresses of the children were not available at these orphanages.

Strangely, there were some hue and cry when FIRs were registered and many said it was unfair that the humane acts by these orphanages to give free education, boarding and lodging by these institutions was dubbed as trafficking of children. Strange too, was the response from Government at the High Court when they supported the orphanages and stated that the children were brought as a charitable act and it was neither a crime nor a case of trafficking. The High Court however refused to accept this plea and ordered the children to be transported back to their homes in Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal and further ordered sustained investigation into the cases by CBCID.

Some questions are quite relevant here.

1.     Is there an acute shortage of orphans in Kerala that these orphanages have to bring non-orphan children from States in North India for their sustenance? Aren’t there any established systems in those States to take care of poor children?

2.     If these kids are not admitted in any schools, what sort of education are they given? Especially when they cannot understand either Malayalam or English? Did the parents send their children for madrassa education alone?

3.     Why are children with parents deemed as orphans and taken to orphanages? Was it for charity or just for financial benefits?

4.     Why are these orphanages exempted from the control of Child Rights Committees and Social Welfare Department and not registered under Juvenile Justice Act section 34(3)?

5.     Since these orphanages and most of the children brought from Northern States are from a certain specific community, was the purpose of transporting them to teach them religion and holy verses akin to madrassa education alone?

6.     What happen to children who reach above the age of 18 at these orphanages? Are they sent back to their homes or sold as cheap labor? Are the girls trafficked for sexual crimes?

7.     Why are girls aged from 3 upwards too brought from Northern States to the orphanages? Especially when madrassa education is reserved for only boys? Are they used as domestic help, in the kitchen or trafficked?

8.     Have the agents obtained permission from the concerned State authorities for transporting children from that State to orphanages in Kerala?

9.     Is there any auditing done on these orphanages to verify their claims of money from Government and other sources and whether proper care is given to the children? Also whether there are proper records maintained for each child?

The questions above may all be hopefully answered by the Investigating Officer of the crime cases, which may prevent such instances from happening again in the future.

Sadly, despite police action in the above two cases, instances like this continue to occur in Kerala. In June 2014, 23 minor boys were rescued by Police from Jamaliya Arabic College, in Kottiyam, Kerala following an allegation of human trafficking. This Institution did not provide any elementary education but instead taught children the Quran. This private and non-registered institute-cum-shelter was closed down by the police that month itself. Acting on a tip off, police had rescued the children and shifted them to a government juvenile home. The college was found bringing boys from Jharkhand to give Quran classes since 2009 and had taken children from other States in several batches. The police do not have any clear information on where these children went after their life at this college since no register was maintained at this place too. The investigating officer said the lessons were in Arabic but a teacher from Jharkhand would translate and clear the children’s doubts. The teacher, Abdul Mohazil, was among the three arrested, along with college treasurers Thajudeen and Bashir. Navas Rasheed, who owns the institute, is still at large.

Last month witnessed another incident where 57 boys from Bihar and Assam were found traveling to an orphanage in Malappuram District, Kerala accompanied by two men. The police have already started enquiring into this incident. But the big question remains- what is the motive of this mass transportation of children to Kerala? Money is of course one reason since Government grant is available for these institutions based on the number of inmates. For aid from abroad too, the list of inmates with their photographs are needed. But if it is just for money that the children are transported from the States of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Assam, then it is just an irregularity and not trafficking in the strict sense.

 These institutions are not monitored or under control by any agency, so they can do anything to these children. Even if they are sold off in the nearby areas for manual bonded labor or even used for organ transplant, no one will ask any questions since they do not fetch any votes for anyone. The minor boys and girls within the four walls of the orphanage in a strange land where no one can understand their language can be exploited and no one will know about it.

While it is always better to reduce red tapes in governance, it is advisable to insist on thicker and tougher red tapes where children and their rights are concerned. After all, the future of our Country is vested in their tiny hands and it is our duty to see that they are not exploited or misused.

The Greatest Challenge in my Career

In a recent function I attended at YMCA, talking to school children on positive thinking, a smart kid asked me-

"Aunty, what is the greatest challenge in your career?"

"Gender discrimination." I answered without thinking. He looked confused, so while thinking of how to make myself clearer, I realized with shock that it WAS indeed the honest answer. 

In the first ten years of my career as a woman IPS officer, I had to wage a literal war with the myriad tones and tenors of this menace in open as well as subtle ways. This still continues, Kerala being the State it is and male psyche being what it is. But after years of dealing with it, now I know how to tackle it effectively at all levels. 

I was thrilled that I got my home cadre. Ice was thrown on this thrill when an officer told me on the first day of my joining the service in the State- "Sreelekha, you know? Last week at the senior officer's conference in Police Head Quarters, the Director General of Police announced that a woman IPS is coming to pollute our department which gave some amusement to the senior officers. We all laughed." 

My God! Even if he was speaking the truth, why did he have to tell me this? It was the first in its long series.

Fortunately I didn't have to work very long under this DGP, who, by the way, was always a true gentleman in his behavior to me. 

My family, friends, teachers and the society including the media welcomed me as the first woman Indian Police Service officer in the State. But I was totally unwelcome to the Department. The senior officers sympathetically wanted to give me soft jobs considering my gender. When I demanded same treatment as my male colleagues, it wasgiven with a lot of hesitation and comments such as- "you need not do it, you know? We understand your limitations," which irritated me to no end.

When I was Assistant Superintendent of Police, there was a junior officer who never appeared in front of me. Whenever I called him, he would be either on leave on on court duty. I have heard his voice on phone, but months went by without my seeing him. I went by surprise to his office once, but he was not there. Suddenly he applied for a transfer and went on long leave. I was naturally puzzled. So I asked others if there was anything wrong with him. A Deputy Supdt of Police told me after much persuasion- "There is nothing wrong with him, but I believe he told other officers that he can salute any idiot of a male, but never a woman. Probably he wanted a transfer because of his reluctance to salute you, madam."

Really??? What a chauvinist! 

Years later, fate had it for him to work with me. That time he came in front of me in uniform and saluted. I played with him for the fun of it. "Is this how you salute a senior officer? Such a shame! Do it properly again." I demanded. He saluted again. "No, no. Your hand was hiding your eyes. Again. This time make it smarter." I ordered. He saluted again. "What a shame! I think you need further training in this. Stand in attention and salute." I barked. The poor thing saluted again, trembling. I disliked myself for doing it, but I made him salute again saying. "You can not even salute your seniors properly. Count to three once you put your hand up and then bring it down fast. Do it again." Six salutes for the one he refused to give long back! Fair enough, I thought.

After 10 months of doing a sub division, the DGP who did not like my face for reasons known only to him transferred me to the District Crime Records Bureau. I was ASP of DCRB for the first time in the history of Kerala Police since no IPS officers are generally posted outside of a sub division. The crime I committed which caused this transfer? I got married!

I asked the DGP why I got transferred to such a horrible post where usually officers who are corrupt and unwanted in the department or officers on reinstatement from suspension are usually posted. He replied to my utter horror- "You should thank me for this transfer. Now you can get pregnant and have children without any tension of doing a sub division."

I told him at once, "You are not the person to decide when I should have children. My husband and I are quite competent to take decisions on subjects like this," which won me my second adverse comments in the Annual Confidential Report. The first was from my trainer SP who made me attend over 80 public functions during my training as ASP saying that a police officer should have maximum public contact and then wrote in the ACR that I was crazy for publicity!

Male police officers just can not tolerate any good deeds done by a lady officer which would lead to media highlights. They would immediately devise ways to damage the reputation of that lady officer with false stories and rumors. I had to face several such wrong allegations purely based on male fantasy and ego of which I had written earlier. 

In case disciplinary action is taken against a male subordinate officer, he would go to any extremes to see that the reputation of his lady boss is tarnished.

Posters calling me horrid names appeared in and around my residence after I sent four of my subordinates for intensive training at the battalions for violation of rules. During night, all the doors and windows of the rented accommodation I was staying were repeatedly scratched with knives by some people refusing me sleep. 

When eleven of my junior officers were suspended from service in another instance when I was SP of a District, life was made hell for me by not only these officers, but by my DGP too. There were attempts to kidnap my 5 year old son from school, attempt to cause bodily injury to my husband who was traveling daily in a bus to the hospital which was 70 km away and attempts were made to sneak gold bars into my quarters to get the house raided by Enforcement Wing. In addition to these, false adverse reports against me were appearing in the media on a daily basis. For several months no substitutes were posted in lieu of those officers under suspension and when I asked the DGP to post officers, he rudely remarked- "You were the reason for such a mass suspension, I do not intend to post any substitutes. You may do all their work too." 

I still do not know what made him say this, but till the day I was transferred from the District, the DGP saw to it that no substitutes were posted! It is punishment to me that I detected corruption of officers who got suspended from service. Years later, all these officers were reinstated and cases against them disposed off giving them full pay and allowances for the period they were under suspension. The corrupt got their paid holidays and all benefits, the officer who detected corruption got punished with extra hard work and harassment galore!

An IGP conveyed to me once through his confidential assistant that I should wear sari to office. I was posted in an administrative post in the Head Quarters and liked wearing salwar kameez or churidar being very convenient . I continued to wear salwar since there was no official Government orders regarding dress code in office. This displeased him, so the next time I went to his room for an official discussion, he asked eyeing my dress, "Why are you not obeying my orders?"

"What orders, sir?" I asked innocently.

"You should wear sari in office."

"There are no Government directions to support your order. I will wear what I feel comfortable in." I replied.

He stood up suddenly and said, "It is not because of any Government orders. It is because you look good in sari."

My God!  I asked him how he dared to speak like this which made his face red. All the hairs in his ear stood upright and he trembled with anger. "This is my order. Just obey me. You are supposed to." He shouted.

"I am not supposed to. You try making me obey to your stupid orders and I report against you." I shouted back, winning my third adverse ACR remark from him.

I worked in the Central Bureau of Investigation for four years. I enjoyed the three years I worked as SP in Kerala, but on my promotion as DIG, I got transferred to Delhi although I was promised a posting in Bangalore where there was a vacancy. When I joined Delhi, I reminded the Director, CBI of the earlier promise. "Work here for 3 months after which I'll send you to Bangalore." He said.

Three months passed, fifth and sixth month passed. I was given a post and room next to the Director and he made it a habit to summon me very occasionally to his room for silly reasons even late in the evening. He seemed to have forgotten his promise. My batch-mate joined CBI around that time, hoping to get a posting in Delhi. To both our surprises, he got posted in the vacant post in Bangalore. I went to the Director and asked him why he did not post me in Bangalore.

"I want you here." Simple.

"I don't want here." I replied. This irritated him. Director, CBI is very powerful and no one talks back at him. He raised his brows.

"Then go back to your cadre." He ordered.

The next day I wrote a letter requesting for repatriation from CBI to my home cadre. He refused to send it to Government for two months! He refused to give me even a day's casual leave and started harassment, shouting at me during conferences, saying that my work was horrible to other officers, blaming me for mistakes of others and alienating me from his office. 

It was after I met the Minister and the Secretary of Department of Personnel and Training that I got orders allowing my repatriation. After nine months of torture in Delhi. And the Director wrote in my ACR- "Work is good, but she cares more for her family than her job." This was not considered adverse so was never communicated to me. I came to know of this remark much later when my empanelment as IGP in the Center got delayed. The Director blamed my family too for his dislike of me!

Gender discrimination continues even today. But now I have become an expert to handle this and it does not affect me as much as it used to. 

It is not my fault that I am born a woman. But I take responsibility for this career, my achievements, respect and the appreciation from those I serve. I love this profession and have no regrets despite the small hurdles on the way to progress. I am happy that I cleared the path for my successors in this career. And I am proud that the hurdles others put on my path have made me stronger. 

Challenges in life and career are inevitable. It is how you face them that matters.

Planning to visit Goa? Don't stay at Marriot!

I went to Goa, for the first time, on 9th and 10th April 2015 to attend the South Indian Transport Council Meeting, of which I am the Secretary. Unfortunately, the conference venue was Hotel Marriott and I was booked a room there by the organizers. 

The flight from Trivandrum to Goa was a hopping one, actually it hopped thrice since take off- Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune till it reached the destination. It took 7 hours for me to reach Goa airport.

I had stayed at Marriott in London in May 2012 for a week and  it was a wonderful experience. My husband and son joined me in London making it all the more lovely.

But at Marriott in Goa, I was made to wait in the lobby for almost 35 minutes. I didn't mind waiting at first since the view was breath-taking. The lobby overlooked the sea although it was at a much lower height and the wind was pleasant even in the height of summer. I was hungry by then since all I had was a sandwich from the flight which they repeated after every stop and which I refused after the first one. When I went down to the restaurant for a bite, the staff  asked me for the room number. When I said it was still to be allotted, they suggested I have some juice before going for the full lunch. This irritated me, so I went up since some officers who came to attend the conference were waiting to see me and by the time I finished chatting with them they told me that my room is ready.

So, I checked in to room 235 by 3 pm though I reached the hotel just after 2.15 from the airport. The drive from airport to Marriott took an hour.

Being the secretary of the conference, I hurried to the conference room after changing into a saree in half an hour. The pre-inaugural business session was to start at 4.30 pm and the Union Minister for Transport was to inaugurate the Conference at 7 pm. 

As is common in India, (IST- Indian Stretch Time!) the business session started at 5.30 pm and Minister arrived at 10.00 pm! By the time it was over, the time was 11.15. There an official dinner arranged in an adjacent room, which I found over crowded on getting there and I presumed by the time I finish dinner after standing in the queue, it would be tomorrow. I woke up at 4 am that day to catch my 6'O clock flight so I was tired and had a headache. Besides, I am not much of a foodie and thought the coffee I had during the break would suffice for the night. 

I had a peaceful, dreamless sleep till 7 am on 10th and woke up refreshed and very hungry! The session that day was supposed to start at 10 AM. I took a bath and went downstairs for the breakfast by 8 AM. 

I sat on a table. The waiter asked me if I needed tea, I asked for coffee and went around the tables to see the spread. I took a bowl and mixed some cereal, wheat flakes and rice crispies and poured some hot milk on it... when the witch turned up!

She wore a white mini skirt and white shirt. She had a yellow smiley pinned on her shirt pocket. She was slim and fair and smiled, from a distance she must look cute, but her face looked like a witch, especially in hindsight. She asked me if I came to attend the conference and I was honest. "For delegates of conference, breakfast is arranged in the adjacent hall. Please go there." She said.

"In the same hall where dinner was arranged yesterday?" I asked, putting down my untouched cereal bowl.

"That I don't know, I wasn't there yesterday, but I am instructed to tell you that you should eat from there," she smiled.

"I stay in a room here, in this hotel. I prefer to eat from here." My tummy grumbled as I eyed the delicacies around.

"It is the same arrangement next room. Come, I'll show you." She led me from the restaurant to the hall nearby, the same hall I avoided getting into for the last night's dinner. Two men in white were busy arranging something there. Witch left me at their mercy.

"What do you want?" one man asked. 

"Cereal with hot milk. Toast and boiled eggs." I told him.

"Oh, we don't have that. Only idly sambar is available." He smirked. What???

"Ok, I'll have idly then," I conceded since my tummy was really growling.

"Oh, you will have to come at 9.30. It is not yet ready." He said.

Something snapped inside me. I was far too hungry and my mood changed in a jiffy. 

I shouted at the waiter-"Stuff your idly and yourself! I am a guest staying in this hotel. I want to see your restaurant manager ASAP!" My inherent police qualities came out.

I was escorted from the hall back to the restaurant to which people were slowly straming in for breakfast.

"What sort of attitude is this?" I shouted at the boy who claimed to be Manager of Food & Beverages, mindless of the staring eyes. 

"It is a misunderstanding. We were instructed to escort delegates of the conference to the other hall," he said.

"Who instructed you? Besides, I am not just a delegate, I am the Secretary of the conference and a guest of this hotel. Isn't breakfast included with room rent? I come from the land of Idly, I don't want it. I want to eat from here. I want some continental food and I am starving!" I was in a foul mood.

"We will get your cereal madam." At last, I got a 'madam' from someone!

I looked around for the bowl I placed on the table, it was missing. It maddened me further.

"You throw away food, but do not let your guests eat? I am a senior police officer from Kerala, I am a guest of the Government of Goa. Do you know you have humiliated and insulted me?" I was on the verge of tears.

"Please sit down madam. Shall I get you coffee?" He offered me a glass of orange juice which I gulped down without thinking. I realized that it tasted like urine! A huge lump formed in my throat. 

I saw the witch near the door, speaking pleasantries to a foreigner. I walked over to her." What is your name, witch? Hiba?"I read from her name plate next to the smiley. "You ruined my day. I'll see that I pay you back and ruin yours!" And I walked out of the restaurant and the hotel.

I had breakfast from a nearby Government resort- Miramar Residency, in the open air. Dosa, chutney, omelette, coffee and kesari. It tasted like heaven. And I shifted to the Police Guest House which poor IGP Goa arranged on a second's notice. I loved my stay at the Police Guest House... an old building with large rooms right in the heart of the city!

Later I came to know from the organizers that food was arranged for delegates of the host State in the hall next to the restaurant and all those who came from other States stayed at their respective hotels were arranged breakfast at their place of stay. Even after I told them that I stayed there, I was denied breakfast at the restaurant! 

I further found that they treated Indians like dirt and were extremely cordial to the guests from abroad. Marriott indeed!

I filed a complaint on line as soon as I arrived. No response so far. Over the net, I saw blogs and laments of several tourists who kept saying that their complaints to Marriot were ignored. I also saw that Marriott gave themselves 5 stars and probably write false reviews too since it is hard to believe some reviews!

Goa is a good place. All sea, beautiful churches, forts, great food and restriction free living. Liquor is sold across the counters in super markets and malls. For every shop, there are two bars. Floating and non floating casinos, discos and eateries... lots of adventure sea sports... Goa indeed a lovely place. But if you go there, avoid Marriott at all costs. The staff is rude, they make you wait and they deny you food and take pleasure in humiliating you.

HOW TO BECOME AN IPS OFFICER- SOME TIPS

Many youngsters ask for guidance to become an IPS officer, one of the readers of my blog recently asked me how to become a 'good' IPS officer! To be an officer in the Indian Police Service is a truly great career. A police officer, especially in a senior rank can do a lot of service to the people and to the society. Doing service to others is extremely satisfying, only by doing this will one realise its beauty. An IPS officer is given Uniform, the authority and the required training in the laws of the land to ensure peace and order and to prevent crimes. In case crimes occur, he/she has the authority to take action to see that the offender is apprehended and he is subjected to the due process of law.
To become an IPS officer, one has to write the Civil Services Examination conducted every year by the Union Public Service Commission. The first stage is CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) held in August, which is a preliminary exam, a qualifying test to see if applicants are eligible to write the mains which is held in December. Those who clear the mains will be called for a Personality Test and based on the overall marks scored, applicants can get into IAS, IFS, IPS and other Central Services. The internet is full of information about the syllabus, the qualifications and criteria required to write the exam and the model question papers. There are several instututions which offer coaching facilities in India, but those who prepare from home without attending any special classes also get into the Civil Services.
OK, introduction is over, now here are my tips.

1. Introspect, if it is really IPS that you want and whether the job will suit you emotionally as well as physically. This is important. You should wish to become an IPS officer only if you are 100% sure that you will make an awesome Police Officer.
2. Have a burning desire to become an IPS officer. Think of yourself in uniform, think of what all good things service to the public you can do as a senior police officer, think & feel the pride of wearing the uniform.
3. It is not a good idea to feel that since someone you know or somebody else is an IPS officer, so should you too be. Please do not aim for the job considering the salary it may fetch you, the dowry/marriage you will get,  the power or false sense of supremacy that it may give you or if you have a score to settle with someone after getting into the job. Aim for the position just because it is a great opportunity to serve the Nation and its people and because it is the most befitting job for you.
4. Of course, it goes without saying that you have to prepare for the exam. Now you can write the Civil Services Exam till the age of 32 and you have 6 chances too. But why do you have to waste so much of time and effort for this? If you are serious, you can clear the exam earlier. When I wrote the exam in 1985 and 1986, I suffered and overworked a lot. I didn't eat or sleep well, but spent that time too to study. I had a terrible complex, so I worked head over heels for it. I cleared the exam in my second attempt, but looking back, I feel I should not have worked so hard and suffered so much to get into it. If you plan it early and work steadily according to a time schedule, it will be much easier to get into the Civil Services.
5. Finally- about being 'good' or 'bad'. All of us are by nature good in everything. Our life, relationships,  health and  job, all of these are intrinsically good and it will remain so until we take an effort to make it bad. If we lie, cheat, are greedy and hate everything and everyone, then our life and relationships become bad. If we smoke, get addicted to alcohol or drugs, misuse or abuse substances and do not take care of our body, then our health gets bad. If we are corrupt, egoistic and too selfish in our job, our job becomes bad. See, being good or bad is entirely dependent on ourselves. So if you become an IPS officer after all the hardwork and dedicated studies, you can only be a good IPS officer unless you choose to become a bad one!
All the best to all young aspiring Civil Servants! May God bless you to get your desires materialised at the earliest!