NEW DELHI: Notwithstanding the ‘virtual’ mode of this year’s conference of police chiefs, PM Narendra Modi ensured his full involvement by giving a good 15 hours of his time to the ongoing deliberations that conclude on Saturday, reports Bharti Jain.
Since 2014, he has attended all business sessions of the DGPs/IGPs conference, unlike earlier years when participation of the PM was limited to one address. This year too, he has sat through the virtual sessions stretching over 3-4 hours each evening. The change since 2014 has facilitated one-to-one interaction of chiefs of state and UT police with the PM, resulting in a convergence of views on crucial security and policing challenges and emergence of doable recommendations, an official told TOI.
With the conference being held in ‘virtual’ mode , the participation of officers has increased — with personnel from police stations and the district level also joining in — to make it more broad-based. The active involvement of the PM has seen a shift in format, venue, and topics covered. Focused follow up and implementation of recommendations finalised has enhanced police efficiency and functioning across India, said officials. It was on Modi’s direction that the venue of the conference was shifted out of Delhi. Since 2014, the meet has been held at Guwahati, Kutch, Hyderabad, Tekanpur, Kevadia, Pune, and now in virtual space. The number of sessions and topics increased significantly since 2014. Besides discussing national security issues, focus has been on improving policing on the ground, community policing, law and order and boosting image of the police.
Personal monitoring by PM has resulted in a marked improvement in implementation of recommendations in last few years.