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Police
Initiatives Put
People on Perpetual
‘Alert
Mode’
Mumbai
police believes
in being pro-active
than wait for
an incident to
occur and respond
to it. Various
initiatives launched
by the Mumbai
Police are part
of the proactive
philosophy. These
range from traditional
Area (Mohalla)
Peace Committees
to the ambitious
'Jagrut Mumbaikar'
project to cover
hundreds of housing
societies to sensitize
their residents
to the constantly
looming threat
perception. The
response, according
to Additional
Commissioner of
Police (Security)
Vinay Kargoankar,
has been very
encouraging. Following
are excerpts from
an interview with
him.
What are
the various ongoing
initiatives that
Mumbai Police
has taken to make
the citizens aware
of their role
in ensuring their
own safety and
security?
The two initiatives
that the Mumbai
Police have undertaken
so far are Alert
Mumbaikar and
Jagrut Mumbaikar.
Alert Mumbaikar
focused on the
fact that although
Mumbaikars were
aware that there
was and is a threat
perception to
Mumbai, most were
not alert to their
environment and
changes happening
around them. Information
branding was put
up at 156,000
touch points across
Mumbai and workshops
were carried out
in 126 colleges
in the city. Students
interacted with
Police personnel
and had presentations
and discussions
on relevant topics.
Jagrut Mumbaikar
was planned to
as an even bigger
programme and
the platform of
housing societies
was chosen so
as to give a greater
exposure to the
citizens on all
aspects of security,
from terror issues
to disaster problems.
This programme
was started in
March this year
is still ongoing.
What has been
the progress of
the initiative
Jagrut Mumbaikar
and the public's
response to it?
The campaign is
still going on
and we have successfully
completed the
session in more
than 40 societies.
As police personnel
are interacting
with citizens
at their societies,
there has been
a very large turnout
at every session
and we have seen
very active participation
from the people.
They have accepted
the programme
in a very positive
manner and the
participation
has been more
than satisfactory.
We understand
that Jagrut Mumbaikar
is a time-bound
initiative and
meant to run just
for a year. Will
you be able to
cover the entire
city within this
limited period?
Mumbai is a huge
and vast city
and we are attempting
to achieve the
maximum number
of societies within
the given time
frame. Although
the campaign has
been planned for
a year initially,
depending on the
success achieved,
we will plan further.
In the first year,
we intend to cover
over 200 societies
in Mumbai.
You have
also launched
an initiative
called Alert Mumbaikar
with actor Shahid
Kapoor as the
promo poster boy.
What has been
the response from
the people?
Alert Mumbaikar
was planned with
college students
in mind as a study
showed that students
were more aware
to changes around
them. Hence, Shahid
Kapoor was selected
as the connect
with the youth.
The recall value
of the campaign,
when surveyed
post the activity,
was 63 percent.
This is a very
satisfactory result.
There is another
significant initiative
called Elderline.
Are senior citizens
of the city taking
advantage of it?
Yes, 103 is a
special number
to be used by
senior citizens
and we have specially
trained personnel
manning these
lines. It is being
regularly used
by senior citizens.
In addition to
this special phone
number, periodic
checks are done
by local police
stations on being
informed about
the addresses
of senior citizens
by the 103 personnel.
How do you intend
to make Area (mohalla)
Peace Committees
more effective?
And have you been
monitoring all
the initiatives
you have launched
and what has been
their impact on
city's overall
security scenario?
We have been monitoring
all the initiatives
launched by us.
It has certainly
helped in improving
security scenario
in the city. We
are getting very
positive feedback
from all segments
of the society.
Response from
the citizens has
certainly improved.
Idea Cellular
has launched a
24-hour Idea Safe
Mumbai Helpline
in addition to
the existing police
helplines. How
good is the response?
Calls made to
the Idea helpline
have been diverted
to 100 and 1090
and the helpline
is being effectively
used by citizens.
Are you
thinking of using
the all-pervading
Mobile Phone as
an effective platform
to spread the
Mumbai Police
message on security?
A simple musical
jingle can do
wonders. We are
sure every phone
company would
love to be associated
with you in this
venture. Have
you thought about
it?
Yes, it is being
discussed and
we would be in
a position to
take a decision
on the same shortly.
Similarly, have
you thought about
using FM Radio
as a popular communication
prop?
Yes, use of FM
Radio too is being
examined currently
and we would soon
be taking a decision
on this too shortly.
Vinay Kargaonkar
Office : 0091-22-
2261 1569
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INITIATIVE