English-speaking cops at Commonwealth Games village

As soon as visitors enter the sprawling village campus through one of the many entry gates, Policemen posted there welcome them in English with some humble gestures like 'Hello', 'Welcome to the Village' and 'How may I help you'?

These men, mostly in their late twenties or early thirties, were given basic spoken English and behavioural training to interact with foreign delegates and visitors.

"We have attended a course on spoken English and personality development to learn basic etiquettes. We are finding it very useful. We feel good while interacting with visitors here,"  said head Constable Rajkumar Sharma, who works at Jaffarabad police station and posted here for security at Gate no 2.

Sharma's views were echoed by constable Rajesh Kumar of Mayur Vihar police station, who is diligently doing his duty. "It has made us confident. Previously, we used to face difficulty in interacting with foreigners. But now we can talk to them with ease. Though their diction and accent at times create slight problem, we are able to help them with any query," he said.

Not only at the Games Village, these policemen are utilising the knowledge of queen's language at their homes too. "I try to talk to my children in English. They also feel very good and respond. It has really changed the environment at my home and workplace," a happy Kumar said.

Over 1,000 cops are involved in different security related duty at the sprawling village spread over an area of 63.5 hectares.

"Not only here at the Games Village, but outside also we will be talking in English language with the people. It is helping us in greater ways. Soon I shall be using the skills for office work also," said Rajesh Kumar, an assistant sub-inspector