Annual Report 1999-2000 Investigating Officer should inform the complainant in writing of the reasons for such delay. 3.47 The Commission has written to the Chief Secretaries and DGPs of the States in this regard and has asked them to confirm the actions taken on these recommendations. Meetings of station house officers and the public 3.48 The Commission has observed that a fear psychosis often governs the feelings of the general public in their dealings with the police. 3.49 The Commission has ai>preciated, in this connection, the effort made by the Kerala Police to reduce such anxieties, a system having been established whereby the Station House Officers hold pubic meetings in various towns/villages in their jurisdictions twice a month. This has enabled the police to inform the public of their efforts, and seek their cooperation in the prevention of crime, maintenance of law and order and the protection of human rights. The programme makes it obligatory on the part of the SHO tovisit a town/village in hisjurisdiction along with his staff, after giving advance publicity through the press and the concerned Panchayats. The Commission recommends that this practice be followed in other States as well, Promoting a culture of understanding 3.50 In a further recommend^on aimed to promote better police-community relations and to enable the police to get information, intelligence and public cooperation, the Commission has proposed that the DGPs/Chief Secretaries of the Slates advise the SPs of Districts to undertake regular meetings with the heads of the District Bar Associations, the Presidents of local Rotary and Lions Clubs, Chief Medical Officers, District Labour Officers, representatives of leading NGOs and such other agencies as the Superintendent of Police may consider appropriate, for formal discussions on ways of improving the relationship of the police with the public. The Commission is convinced that such exchanges can contribute to the better protection of human rights in the country and a greater sensitivity in society towards such rights. Improving the Reporting System and Procedures to be Adopted by the State Authorities 3.51 Complaints received by the Commission from victims seeking the intervention of the Commission on the alleged violation of their human rights by the law enforcing agencies, especially the local police are, in the first instance, often sent to the District Collectors/Magistrates/District Superintendents of Police concerned, for enquiry and report. The Commission has observed, however, that there have been instances in which these cases have, in turn, been marked to the very officers against whom the allegations 30