Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan has urged the police to be friendly with the common people while being stern with anti-social elements.
“You should be very friendly to the common people but at the same time handle rowdies and anti-socials with sternness, he said at an event on Monday organised to mark the official launch of Makkal Mandram, an initiative of the Puducherry police to address public grievances. He, along with Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, also inaugurated the installation of complaint boxes in schools.
Lauding the Makkal Mandram initiative , Mr. Kailashnathan said the programme would help people repose faith in the police and ensure transparency in the functioning of the force.
Stressing on the need to maintain law and order, the Lt. Governor said one of the preconditions for the society to progress was ensuring peace. When people get justice, public trust in the police and the government will grow, he added.
“It is very important to listen to the public and address their issues. Even Raj Nivas has installed grievance boxes which are directly under my supervision. Some of the complaints received are very sensitive and genuine. I personally attend to those grievances,” the Lt. Governor said.
On the provision to install complaint boxes in schools, the Lt. Governor said offences against children have been quite disturbing and the decision of the police to set up complaint boxes in schools was a welcome step. Such initiatives of the police could bring about changes in the society, he added. He also urged the police to install such boxes in all educational institutions in the Union Territory.
Mr. Rangasamy, in his speech, said the government had addressed the issue of manpower shortage in the police force to a large extent. “When we took over, there was severe shortage. We have filled vacancies to a large extent. The police should concentrate on crime prevention and better traffic management,” he said.
Makkal Mandram
As part of the initiative, officers will hold public grievances meet in one of the police stations of every sub-division from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on all Saturdays. Apart from Law and Order, traffic police and cyber police stations would also hold the meet. The programme was being held for the last two months on a trial basis, the police said.
Published – February 25, 2025 12:14 am IST
