Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday launched six new initiatives for the welfare of policemen and their families at a function held at the Prerna Hall near the Azad Maidan, with senior politicians and police top brass in attendance.
Mr. Fadnavis was accompanied by Minister of State (Home) Ranjit Patil and Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Prasad Lad.
Need for welfare
In his opening address, Joint Commissioner of Police (Administration) Naval Bajaj said, “In annual surveys regarding the best companies to work for, it has been found that the companies that top the surveys are the ones where the employees work dedicatedly. Employee welfare is critical to any organisation and it is equally important for the police force as well.”
Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Barve, elaborating on the need for welfare, said, “The police force is the only organisation where employees do not have the option of switching off their phones after they reach home and forgetting about work for the rest of the day. There was a phase where a lot of our people were relying on the tried and tested ‘ baghun sangto (Will see and let you know) and sangun baghto (Will tell them and see what they say) to avoid work, but we have put a stop to it. A policeman works for 24 hours but he is also a human being.”
The first scheme, called the Sukanya Scheme, provides annual monetary aid for the educational needs of daughters of all policemen up to Class IX. Another initiative is the Topper app, which tutors students in English and Marathi, while the third initiative is to provide free computer training to policemen’s children. The computer classes will operate out of the police lines in Naigaon and will be open for 12 hours everyday.
Meanwhile, keeping the health of police personnel in mind, the department has also issued ‘Healthism Cards’ to all personnel, which will get them discounts on medicines and medical tests at all medical stores and testing labs in the city. The discounts are also applicable for their family members. The other initiative was distribution of UV ray resistant sunglasses to all 2,300 personnel of the Traffic Police department.
“We can only hope that the traffic police now keep a closer eye on offenders,” Mr. Barve quipped.
The last initiative was to provide free legal aid to all police personnel who are facing criminal or civil cases, through a city-based law firm. “I pray that no policeman has to seek this service,” Mr. Fadnavis said.
Mr. Barve also requested Mr. Fadnavis to take necessary steps so that policemen can buy houses of their own.
“Ever since I took over as CM, I have been focusing a lot on police housing. I will surely find a way to make houses available to policemen. Maybe we could explore options for getting subsidised schemes in collaboration with private developers. I have approved every proposal sent to me by the police department and will continue to do so,” Mr. Fadnavis said.
Mr. Patil added, “₹2,100 crore has been spent so far on the modernisation of the police force, which includes initiatives like the city wide Closed Circut Television camera network, the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System and strengthening the machinery to fight cyber crime. The issue of providing houses to policemen, too, will be taken equally seriously.”
