The conferment of the prestigious President’s Colour Award upon the Goa Police is a moment of immense pride for the entire State. It is not merely a ceremonial honour; it is a recognition of the dedication, discipline, courage and service of generations of police personnel who have worked to protect Goa and its people.
It is very easy to blame the police. Whenever a crime occurs, an investigation is delayed, traffic becomes chaotic or a law-and-order situation develops, the police are often the first to face public criticism. In many situations, they even become the scapegoat for failures that may involve several departments, institutions and circumstances. But before we criticise the uniform, let us remember the human being behind it.
Every police officer has a family waiting at home — a child waiting for a parent, a spouse waiting for a husband or wife, and parents worrying about their son or daughter. Yet while most of us celebrate festivals, enjoy holidays and sleep peacefully, police personnel are often working on the streets, at police stations, at accident sites, during emergencies or while maintaining law and order.
They work while we sleep. They remain awake so that we can sleep peacefully. We rarely see their sleepless nights, personal sacrifices, mental pressure and the risks they face. We see them when something goes wrong, but we often fail to see the thousands of occasions when their presence prevents something from going wrong.
A missing child is searched for, an accident victim is attended to, a difficult crime is investigated and a dispute is prevented from escalating. Traffic is controlled, public order is maintained, and much of this happens quietly, without publicity and without anyone saying “thank you.”
This does not mean that the police should be above criticism. They must be accountable. Where there is negligence, corruption, misconduct, abuse of authority or violation of citizens’ rights, appropriate action must follow. The police are custodians of law and order, and with authority comes responsibility.
But accountability and appreciation are not opposites. We can question wrongdoing without condemning the entire force. We can demand better policing while appreciating good policing. We can expect reform while recognising the sacrifices of honest and dedicated officers.
The President’s Colours should therefore be seen not only as an honour but also as a renewed responsibility. This recognition should inspire the Goa Police to become even more professional, citizen-friendly, technologically equipped, sensitive and accountable.
If we want better policing, we must also acknowledge the practical challenges faced by police personnel, such as long working hours, manpower shortages, emergency duties, difficult investigations, lack of advanced technology and constant public expectations. Better policing requires not only criticism but also better training, adequate manpower, modern technology, proper working conditions and institutional support.
At the same time, citizens also have a responsibility. A safe and peaceful Goa cannot be created by the police alone. It requires cooperation from citizens, government authorities and society. We cannot expect the police to solve every social problem and then hold them solely responsible whenever something goes wrong.
Let us therefore look beyond the uniform.
Let us remember the police officer standing in the scorching heat, the officer working through the night, the investigator pursuing a difficult case, the traffic policeman managing a busy road and the personnel deployed during festivals, emergencies, elections and difficult law-and-order situations.
Let us also remember their families. Every time a police officer leaves home for duty, someone is waiting for that person to return safely. When an officer misses a family occasion, a festival or an important moment in the life of a child because of duty, that sacrifice is also part of policing.
There will always be genuine complaints against the police, and such complaints must be heard and acted upon. But an institution should not be judged only by its failures. The honest work, courage and sacrifices of thousands of police personnel also deserve recognition.
The President’s Colours should therefore be a moment of pride, gratitude and introspection — pride in what the Goa Police has achieved, gratitude towards those who have served and introspection about how the force can become even better.
Let us demand accountability where it is necessary. Let us demand improvement where it is required. But when police personnel perform their duties with honesty, courage and dedication, let us also have the generosity to appreciate them. Because it is easy to point a finger when something goes wrong, but it takes a bigger heart to acknowledge when something has gone right.
Congratulations to every member of the Goa Police on this prestigious achievement. Wear the President’s Colours with pride, humility and responsibility. Continue to serve Goa with courage, compassion, professionalism and integrity.
“Goa salutes the men and women behind the uniform and the families who silently stand behind them.”
