Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann underscored the need for modernization of the police force on scientific lines, saying it is the need of the hour to facilitate people by redressing their complaints at their doorsteps through online service. He said the Punjab Police has a glorious legacy of serving the country by making countless sacrifices.
Apart from discharging its core duty of maintaining law and order, the Punjab Police has always safeguarded the interests of the country and its people, he said. In the changing scenario, the challenges for the force have increased manifold, due to which comprehensive reforms in its functioning are the need of the hour, he noted.
Apart from keeping a strict eye on law and order, the police force needs to focus on community policing as well, the chief minister said. While several out of the box initiatives have already been taken, more such efforts need to be made to facilitate people, said Mann. “As today is the era of science and technology, major thrust must be laid on redressal of grievances for the people at their doorsteps through online facilities,” he added.
Citing an example of the Sangrur parliamentary constituency, the CM said the state government has started the installation of state-of-the-art CCTVs to keep a hawk’s eye on every nook and cranny of the district. He said this will be replicated across the state so as to effectively monitor the law and order situation.
Mann expressed concern that human trafficking poses a serious threat not only for police but for the entire society.
This menace needs to be dealt with with a heavy hand, for which the out-of-the-box idea of the police to launch a chatbot is a welcome step, he added. Describing the chatbot initiative as a new dawn for reforming the police system, he said a developing country like India needs ultra-modern tools such as WhatsApp Chatbot and other online modules to resolve public issues quickly.
