Newindpress

Mangalore, Aug 10: A bit of inspiration, bit of imagination blended with objectivity and commitment has contributed to a rise in stature of police image in hinterland.

The renewed respect for policing, recognition of police as a ‘service agency’ in Beltangady, Bantwal, Puttur and Sullia taluks traces its roots to ‘Grama Vasthavya’ (village stay) programme adopted with gusto by the ASP of Puttur sub division.

Grama Vasthavya by police officers made public by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Dr Harsha in Puttur on July 7, has begun to yield results, its stakeholders vouch. Under this programme with help of a time-table, a cop would be assigned to spend a night in a village daily.

The manner in which a constable interacts and attends to grievances of public during the night halts in 33 villages, identified in the first phase, is under constant supervision with surprise visits either by sub inspector or circle police inspector (CPI) or by ASP himself.

Jurisdictional CPI has a mandate to make night-halts, hold meeting at 11 pm with local representatives, members in Dalit colony and receive petitions. The issues highlighted in such meetings are identified and within a month the action initiated against those issues are filed in compliance reports.

The effectiveness of redressal mechanism is tested, with jurisdictional SI and CPIs cross checking local issues for discrephencies and unfair means during their night halts.

The elaborate exercise takes three months and the second phase of the programme would cover the next 33 villages. Thus in a calendar year, Grama Vasthavyas would have been implemented in 132 villages, covering thousands and thousands of residents in four phases. The night patrolling system has been structured with e-beat system and this also has complimented village stay initiatives.

‘‘Feedback from Grama Vasthavya helps us analyse our priorities and approach people in a better way,’’ explains Puttur Sub-Division ASP Dr Harsha. Despite apprehensions, village stays were sucessfully held in Savanal, in Beltangady taluk which is under influence of naxalites and similar places. Night-halts have yielded raids on illegal cock fights, gambling dens and reduced theft of gas cylinders from schools. ‘‘Most importantly,’’ Dr Harsha feel,‘‘complaints of small nuisances which were never reported to police had increased.’’

Proximity to public helped police be a proactive force as was exposed in a recent day-long drive, ‘operation clean-up’, against illegal LPG cylinders in Puttur. Dr Harsha agrees that programme stole the idea that the government is doing nothing and has prompted public to pass on any information.

Dr Harsha is keen on improving ‘visibility of governance’ by co-ordinating with different departments and merging welfare schemes with policing.