: The Delhi Police have begun roping in citizens to assist them with aspects of policing in the city.
A total of 284 people, including 49 women, have been enrolled in the scheme named ‘Police Mitra’. Launched in the city’s south-western range, the initiative is set to be rolled out in the rest of the Capital, too.
The suggestion for the scheme was given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a conference of Director Generals and Inspector Generals last year. He had suggested enrolling Police Mitras in all the police stations of the country for “better policing”.
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Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma welcomed the Police Mitras at a function organised in Dwarka on Saturday. He also gave them wrist bands and identity cards that will help distinguish them from the general public.
Responsibilities
Surender Kumar, DCP (South-West), said the Police Mitras would be helping in crime prevention, crowd and traffic management, and ensuring safety of women, children and senior citizens.
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The members are from various backgrounds and age groups and include people such as farmers, housewives, slum dwellers, social workers, retired officials, students, advocates and ex-Army personnel.
“The members had to pass through a rigorous verification process as per the detailed Standing Order issued by the Delhi Police,” said Dependra Pathak, Joint CP (South-Western Range).
Helping hand
The police said the citizens had already started playing a “proactive role” by assisting police personnel in the ongoing demonetisation facilitation arrangements at banks, post offices and petrol pumps. To what extent these citizens will be given a free hand continues to be discussed by the top officers. For now, these people are being attached with different police stations to be assigned tasks.