In a unique move to bridge mistrust between the police and students, the city traffic police has launched the “One police, One college” initiative where traffic policemen will “adopt” an educational institution to address their various problems.
Officers said that the entire constabulary and officer-level personnel in the city traffic police have been mobilised for the scheme.
According to the traffic officers, there are 673 schools and 147 colleges in the city. “Students often face problems like eve-teasing, vehicle theft, chain-snatchings, issues over parking and traffic outside campus premises. Most of these incidents take place after the school or college end for the day. After a policeman is assigned to the educational institute, students and teaching staff can contact them on their cellphones and the officer will look into the issue. Regular meetings between students and the policeman will take place and an overview of the issues will be taken,” explained DCP (traffic) Pratap Dighavkar.
According to the scheme, a constable will be assigned to a school while an officer-rank traffic policeman will be assigned to a college. “The concerned policeman will have to submit us monthly progress reports on the school or college assigned to him. Officers seeming to be performing well will also be rewarded. The prime problem that we hope to address with the initiative would be eve-teasers and roadside Romeos that female students have to often deal with,” Mr Dighavkar added.
Another officer added that a good rapport with students would also educate the latter about the dangers of rash and negligent driving. “Many recent bike accidents involved young school and college boys. Instead of harsh legal action, education through such means is always effective. Moreover, it widens our information network, which is the basic principle that drives policing,” the officer added.