Police Commissioner Dr Harsha Launches ‘My Beat My Pride’
Mangaluru: Police commissioner Dr Harsha launched a new initiative called “My Beat My Pride”, at the police commissionerate here on August 16.
The programme was inaugurated by lighting the traditional lamp by the police commissioner Dr Harsha along with Swami Chidambarananda of Ramakrishna Mission and other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering Dr Harsha said, “Today we have launched a new initiative “My Beat My Pride”, to strengthen beat policing in Mangaluru city. This is a very unique beat system where the city is divided into very compact beats and each beat is headed by a police constable or a head constable. Each beat has representatives from the civil society who will be taken from various communities, various walks of life and various age groups.”
Dr Harsha further said, “A WhatsApp group will be formed for each of the beat and for which a police constable will be in-charge of the beat. The police inspector of the concerned police station and a technical moderator from the commissioner’s office will also monitor and assist the group. In this way, it is targeted to enroll a very sizeable population of Mangaluru city into actively helping the police to deliver the services of the police department. Another unique aspect of this project is, in addition to the beat constable all senior officers including the commissioner of police will perform the beat duty on a day-long process in a month. This would empower the beat constable and instill a sense of pride in performing the beat duties and at the same time, senior officers will also be well versed with the realities at the ground level policing.”
Dr Harsha also said, “As a result of this project it is expected that the citizens will benefit with faster delivery of Police services like passport verification, job verification etc. It is also expected citizens visiting the police stations to a minimum as they can follow up the progress of any complaints filed by them through the beat constable. Going forward it is intended to develop enthusiastic participants so that they can actively participate in the delivery of beat-based police services. At its conceptual stage, it will have features by which any interested member of the civilian society can log in and decide the date and time on which he/she is ready to offer his/her services towards the betterment of beat-based police services.”
While concluding Dr Harsha said, “I appeal to all the Mangalurians to support this initiative wholeheartedly by becoming members of respective beat police group and by offering their suggestions as well as information and also by acting as guardians of the concerned beat group.”
Dr Cyril from Palliative care said that in olden days people were afraid of the police and they were hesitant to go to the police station. My beat my pride is a great initiative and we all should support the police department to make this initiative a great success.”
Speaking on the occasion Dr Uday said, “We see a number of doctors being assaulted because there is a lack of trust between the patients and their families with the doctor. There is also a lack of communication between the doctors and the patients. Doctors, as well as the nurses, work relentlessly to provide the best medical treatment for the patients. Now the Doctors have improved their soft skills to deal with the patients and to strengthen the trust. Likewise, the police department has initiated “My beat my pride” to strengthen the communication between the police and the citizens. So hereafter the police will reach the people through the beat system. People can anytime meet the police and give their suggestions. This is a good initiative and people should join hands to strengthen the beat policing”.
Retired DySP Sheriff speaking on the occasion said, “Many people are not aware of the Beat policing. Beat means the assigned constable should go to the area and meet the people. Every time we initiate new ideas but they are not continued. Earlier there were the Mohalla committees and those who were involved in crimes were included in the mohalla committees so that they give information about the crimes. It was a good initiative which was running very well but discontinued later. The work-related to the police should be done through the beat group and it should continue”.
DCP Law & Order Arunangshu Giri delivered the vote of thanks. ACP – South Sub-Division T Kodandaram welcomed the gathering. DCP Crime & Traffic Lakshmi Ganesh K, President of Canara Bus Operators’ Association K Rajavarma Ballal and others were also present.
