Preserve humane image built during pandemic: PM to cops
ALSO, POLICEWOMEN CAN PLAY VITAL ROLE IN PREVENTING KASHMIRI YOUTHS FROM TAKING WRONG PATH, SAYS MODI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the country saw the humane face of police during the Covid-19 pandemic and asked the force to safeguard and build on this asset.
Virtually addressing the probationers of the Indian Police Service's 2018 batch passing out of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA), Hyderabad, he said the new image built by the force during the crisis had become its biggest asset and there was a need to preserve it. Modi said the country saw the humane face of khaki during the pandemic as the police personnel were seen singing songs, providing food and water to those living on footpath and risking their lives to carry patients to hospitals.
During an hour-long interaction with the IPS probationers from various parts of the country, the PM shared his thoughts on various issues. He underlined the need for the police to make use of the power of society which always comes forward to render humanitarian assistance during crises. Modi suggested the humanitarian works undertaken by police are given a written form at the level of each police station through involvement of local schools. It would help the old, young and the coming generation to know about their work.
On the experiences shared by some probationers who worked at the field level during the training amid the pandemic, Modi said the crisis gave them a good opportunity to not only serve migrant workers and others but also to develop leadership qualities.
The PM said the policewomen can engage with mothers of children in Jammu and Kashmir to prevent the youngsters from taking the “wrong path”, while lavishing praise on the people of the union territory, hit by the menace of terrorism.
Responding to a woman probationer, Modi heaped praise on the people of Kashmir, saying they are ‘lovely’ people and having special ability to learn new things.
“I am very connected to these people. They treat you with so much love... All of us together, we have to work towards stopping the children from taking a wrong direction. And this can be done by our women police officers efficiently. Our women force can effectively work in educating the mothers and bringing back those children. I am confident if you do that, in the initial stage itself we can prevent our children from getting into the wrong path," Modi said.
He was apparently referring to youngsters being radicalised and made to join terror groups in J&K.
A total of 131 probationers of Indian Police Service of 2018 batch passed out on successful completion of their training at the academy. The batch includes 28 women. IPS officers’ commitment will inspire youths to join service, says Shah: Home Minister Amit Shah conveyed his best wishes to IPS probationers and expressed confidence their commitment will inspire youth to join the service. "May they serve the nation with utmost dedication while ensuring its security and integrity. I am confident that their commitment towards service will inspire our youngsters to join the Indian Police Service," Shah tweeted.
In the eyes of a common man, by and large, the image of police was of a baton, argument and repression. It does not mean they were not doing any humanitarian work earlier but during coronavirus, society felt its collective impact for the first time. —PM Modi