The Coastal Security Group (CSG) in Pudukottai district has handpicked a group of locals to act as marine volunteers in grave emergency situation and act as a bridge between the force and the community.
Thirty marine volunteers have been chosen by CSG, with a 10-member group attached to three marine police stations in the coastal areas of Tiruppunavasal, Manamelkudi and Mimisal.
The initiative to involve the community, along with widening of information network, has been put in place on the direction of Additional Director General of Police, Coastal Security Group, V. Vanniaperumal.
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The volunteers have been handpicked from areas falling under the jurisdiction of the three marine police stations.
The CSG in the district is headed by an Inspector of Police with Sub-Inspectors manning the three marine police stations assisted by constables.
The selected volunteers in the age group of 20-40 and residing in different coastal villages have been given identity cards and T-shirts.
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They were briefed in detail about the latest initiative, the objectives and their role by field-level CSG officers at a programme held at Manamelkudi station on Thursday.
One of the main objectives behind the initiative is to assist the CSG in rescuing locals and fishermen during natural disasters besides assisting the force in conducting search operations in the sea for missing fishermen, CSG sources told The Hindu .
The CSG in Pudukottai district has a 42-km-long coastline under its jurisdiction with 32 fishing villages. Given the vast area, the volunteers have also been asked to provide inputs regarding any suspicious movement of strangers in the coastal areas and instances of smuggling to CSG officers immediately. This is aimed at widening the information network for the CSG in protecting the coastal belt and the fishing community as a whole, said a field-level officer.
Hailing from the local community, the volunteers will act as a bridge between the CSG and the general public residing in the coastal villages.
Village vigilance committees have already been constituted in each coastal village in the district to alert CSG personnel on various issues, the officer further said.
Instruction has been given to form volunteer groups in other marine police stations in coastal districts across the State.