the relationship of the police with civil society. We have to assist the society to achieve equilibrium and balance and convert ourselves into potent facilitators of equality and not disparity; for development and not stagnation; for harmony and not discord; for solace and not misery. Police Officers as service providers to the citizens of this country need to reflect upon and take stock of the gap between the expectations of the people from the police and the actual service being delivered to them. It has to be ensured that as the very first step, policemen do not directly or indirectly, become violators of human rights. This is a prerequisite for them to act as protectors of human rights. A democratic country like India needs democratic policing, which is based on the idea of the police as protectors of the rights of citizens and the rule of law, while ensuring the safety and security of all equally. It further requires the police to create the security environment which best promotes democracy and good governance. The police are expected to show special consideration and sensitivity while dealing with cases of violations of human rights of the weaker sections of our society viz. women, children scheduled castes & scheduled tribes, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens. Sociological changes, measures being taken to empower them would owe their success to a large degree to how police handles the matters brought to their notice: sexual abuse of women and children in custody constitutes the gravest form of violation of human rights and dignity. It has to be noted and be always at the back of our mind that women and children constitute the bulk of the civil society. A proactive approach by police in curbing such pernicious evils as trafficking in women and children will not only be a right step towards cleansing the society of evil practices but a salutary measure too, towards enhancing human dignity. The content and the context of human rights has essentially been there in all the major texts on policing in India, at times explicit, but mostly in an implicit manner. To cite an instance, maintenance of law and order and prevention and detection of crime has been the essence of an Act as old as the Police Act of 1861. One cannot miss the fact that the two very basic and primary functions of the police (maintenance of law and order and prevention and detection of crime) itself are fundamental in the protection and the promotion of the human rights of the people. 10 Manual on Human Rights for Police Officers