SHILLONG, July 5: The smart policing vision was articulated and introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Conference of DGPs of state and central police organisations in 2014, calling for systemic changes to transform the Indian Police to be “strict and sensitive, modern and mobile, alert and accountable, reliable and responsive, and technosavvy and trained”.
More than six years have elapsed, and now the Indian Police Foundation (IPF) plans to carry out an online survey across India, covering all states, union territories, down to the district and police station level, so as to understand the progress achieved by police organisations in the last six years to realise the vision of the prime minister.
Specifically, the questionnaire will include citizens’ rating of police sensitivity, accessibility, good behaviour, corruption-free services, willingness to receive and register complaints; unbiased, impartial and just service delivery, accountability and the levels of trust.
The IPF has, therefore, beseeched all citizens to participate in the survey to rate the level of satisfaction of policing in their local police stations, district as well as their state.
“Wide participation by citizens and their honest responses will help the IPF to prepare a policy advisory research paper to be submitted to the central and state governments, based on the realities on the ground and to identify the areas of concern that the governments should focus on. Above all, the survey is expected to show a mirror to the police organisations to help them understand their strengths and weaknesses,” the IPF said in a statement.
The survey is also expected to identify the deficiencies, besides areas, in which citizens are dissatisfied, calling for the focused attention of the police leadership and governments, for reform and change.
It will also help in identifying the best-performing police stations, districts and states in India that deserve recognition and encouragement.
The IPF has assured that the identity of citizens who participate in the survey will not be revealed or used for any other purposes.
Providing names and addresses of participants will be optional in the online format. At the same time, it will be ensured that a person who logs in through an email address can submit only one response.
In order to ensure inclusive participation by those without digital access, the IPF will authorise volunteers to obtain offline responses, for which hard copies of the survey questionnaires will be made available. “
IPF requests citizens, youths, teachers and students to be volunteers in making this survey a grand success. Schools/colleges are requested to encourage students to help citizens undertake this online survey.
We seek the assistance of students and youth from across India to get the forms filled by all sections of society, including people from poor and marginalised backgrounds, members of SCs/STs, minority communities, slum-dwellers, migrant workers, economically weaker sections etc,” the statement said.
