Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Jan 13: "The government intends to start Marine Police Training Academy in Udupi to provide special training to police staff in the district and 24.9 acres of land has already been identified for the purpose. Efforts will be made to provide funds for it in the next budget. The coastal security force will be strengthened to provide extra protection to the coast. The coast guards will be provided separate uniforms," said Karnataka state home minister Dr G Parameshwara.

He was speaking after inaugurating the new building of the coastal security police station at Gangolli on Friday, January 13.

“The government has taken special initiative for the protection of 350 km-long coastal area after the terror attacks in Mumbai. Special emphasis has been laid for the security in the coast. The department will take special interest in the protection of fishermen who get stranded in the sea and those fishermen who go beyond the borders for fishing. A proposal to provide helicopter to save fishermen who face dangers in the sea will be submitted to the union government. Further action on it will be taken later," he said.

"Auradkar committee has been formed to revise the salaries of policemen. A report after reviewing the salaries paid to police in different states has been submitted, which shows that the salary paid in Karnataka is less when compared to other states. The chief minister has consented to increase their salary after holding discussions. The committee report will be presented before the Pay Commission this year and the salaries will be raised in order to provide justice to the police personnel in the state," he said.

"Eleven thousand quarters at a cost of Rs 1,818 crores have been built for police personnel in the state. The government is prepared to construct another ten thousand quarters in the days to come. Nearly eleven thousand staff have been promoted for the first time in the history of the state. Special allowance at the rate of Rs two thousand has been ordered for them. The allowance will be paid to all, together with salary from February 1. Twenty-five thousand positions are vacant in the department. As many as 16,000 constables have already been recruited. The interview for the recruitment of one thousand PSIs is pending. The eligibility for the police promotion has been reduced from 22 years to 10 years. With it, all will get an opportunity to retire at least as ASI," he said.

"Efforts have been made to bring changes in the police force during the last two to three years. Discipline is necessary in the police department. If the police work with sincerity, the government will respond positively to their demands. The government is prepared to appoint local experts during recruitments. As the government has decided to start a women's police station in the district, the Kundapur women's police station has been shifted to Udupi. The decision will be reviewed and efforts to provide a women's police station to Kundapur will be taken up. The government is prepared to increase the percentage of women police from the present 5% to 20%. Only women police will be appointed in women's police station," the home minister said.

Byndoor MLA K Golpala Poojary who presided over the programme, said that modern technology should be utilized to strengthen the police force. "Experienced personnel should be appointed during recruitment and they should be completely trained. As Gangolli police station is six kilometres away, a permanent outstation should be started here. Helicopter will be provided for the protection of fishermen in this part," he said.

MLC K Pratapchandra Shetty, IGP (western range) Harishekaran, state minority development corporation's M A Gafoor, Gangolli gram panchayat management official Seetharama Shetty and others were present.

Udupi district SP K T Balakrishna welcomed. Interior security division police director general Neelamani N Raju delivered the keynote address. Udupi district police control room in charge PSI B Manmohan Rao compered the programme. Coastal protection force district DySP T R Jaishanker proposed the vote of thanks.