Bhopal:Tuesday, June 9 : The Chief Minister, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that community policing can be helpful in increasing common man’s trust in police force. He also stressed on changing the image of police for encouraging community policing. The Chief Minister expressed these views while inaugurating national symposium on community policing at the Police Training and Research Institute conference hall at Motilal Nehru stadium here today. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that there was a need to bridge the gap between the government, administration and people. He said that no scheme can succeed without public participation.
Shri Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh is the first state which has given legal status to family counselling centres and Gram/Nagar Suraksha Samitis and took a constructive measure in the direction of community policing. He suggested to expand Gram/Nagar Suraksha Samitis up to beat level. He said by doing so the graph of crime control will rise.
The Chief Minister praised Madhya Pradesh police for successes in dacoity-eradication, busting of terrorist organisation SIMI and effective control over Naxalsim. He laid emphasis on instilling fear among criminals and winning people’s hearts. He also underlined the need to involve people in crisis management works. Stressing effective conduct of women’s desks in police stations, the Chief Minister said that incidents of misbehaviour with women in police stations put paid to the good work done by the police force. He instructed to exercise extra caution in this regard.
Shri Chouhan hoped that the suggestions made in the symposium will prove useful in the direction of community policing. He assured to implement these suggestions.
Home Minister Shri Devada said that better law and order situation is among the top priorities of the state government. Describing community policing as an important factor in improving police image, Shri Devada said that every possible work is being undertaken in this regard in the state. He said that responsibilities of police have increased in independent India and now they not mere emblem of government’s might but are a friend, guide and protector of the masses. The Home Minister wished for the symposium’s success.
Senior fellow of Social Science Institute, Delhi and former senior police officers Shri Shankar Sen threw light on the subject matter. He dwelt in detail about the benefits of community policing in the present contexts. He said that policing becomes easy and credible with the extension of community’s role in it. He laid stress on increasing community policing.
Additional Director General of Police AJK Shri VK Panwar delivered the welcome address. He described community policing in Madhya Pradesh as successful.
Earlier, Director General of Police Shri SK Raut welcomed Chief Minister Shri Chouhan, Home Minister Shri Devada and other guests and presented mementos to them. He also proposed a vote of thanks.
Apart from police chiefs of more than a dozen states and officers of Police Research and Development Bureau, IPS officers posted in all the ranges and districts in Madhya Pradesh and incharges of AJK police stations are taking part in the symposium. Retired administrative and police officers, educationists, doctors, advocates and representatives of voluntary organisations and various social groups have also been invited.
The symposium will discuss various community policing schemes and their extension so that they can be given a new shape. The participants will also share knowledge and experience of community policing in various states.
