New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the IPS probationers at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy today via video conferencing, said that they are “lucky to enter the Service in 75th year of Azadi and the next 25 years are critical for you and India.” Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Minister of State (Home) Nityanand Rai were also present on the occasion.
The Prime Minister had a lively interaction with the probationers of Indian Police Service (IPS). The interaction with the Officer Trainees had a spontaneous air as the Prime Minister went beyond the official aspects of the Service and discussed the aspirations and dreams of the new generation of police officers.
With Anuj Paliwal, IIT Roorkee pass out from Haryana, who has been allotted the Kerala Cadre, the Prime Minister talked of seemingly contradictory but entirely useful choices of the officer. The officer told the Prime Minister about the utility of his bio-technology background in crime investigation and his optional subject in Civil Services exam, Sociology, in dealing with the aspects of his chosen career.
The Prime Minister said that Paliwal’s hobby for music might look out of place in the dry world of policing but it is going to help him and make him a better officer and will help him improve the Service. With Rohan Jagdish, a law graduate with Political Science and International Relations as his Civil Services subject and a keen swimmer, the Prime Minister discussed the importance of fitness in the Police Service.
With Gaurav Rampravesh Rai, a Civil Engineer from Maharashtra who has been allotted Chhattisgarh Cadre, the Prime Minister dwelled on his hobby of chess and discussed how the game will help him in strategizing in the field. In the context of left-wing extremism in the region, the Prime Minister said that the area has unique challenges and will need, along with law and order, an emphasis on development and social connect in the tribal areas.
With Ranjeeta Sharma, Rajasthan Cadre officer from Haryana, the Prime Minister talked about her achievements during the training where she is accorded the honour of the best probationer and talked about the use of her qualification in mass communication in her work. Prime Minister Modi noted the work done in Haryana and Rajasthan to improve the conditions of daughters. He advised the officer to give one hour every week to girls of her place of posting by interacting and motivating them to achieve their full potential.
The Prime Minister told Dr Navjot Simi, a dental doctor from Punjab, allotted Bihar cadre that the presence of woman officers in the force will bring positive change in the service and quoted Guru to advise the officer to do her duty with compassion and sensitivity without any fear. He said that inclusion of more daughters in the service will strengthen it.
Kommi Pratap Shivkishore from Andhra Pradesh has been allotted his home cadre. He is M Tech from IIT-Kharagpur. The Prime Minister discussed his ideas about tackling financial frauds. The Prime Minister stressed the inclusive potential of information technology. He asked them to keep pace with the developments in the world of cybercrime. He also asked the young officers to send their suggestions for improving digital awareness.
The Prime Minister also interacted with Mohammad Nazim, an Officer Trainee from Maldives. The Prime Minister conveyed his appreciation for the nature loving people of Maldives. He said Maldives is not just a neighbour but a good friend also. India is assisting in establishing a Police Academy there. The Prime Minister touched upon the social and business ties between the two countries.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister noted that the coming 15th August will herald 75th anniversary of Independence. Last 75 years have seen efforts to build a better Police Service. In recent years, significant improvement has taken place in the infrastructure related to police training. He asked the Officer Trainees to remember the significance of the time they are entering their career when India is undergoing transformation at every level. Their first 25 years in the service is going to be a critical 25 years in the life of the country as well when Indian republic will move from 75 years of independence to the century of its independence.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need to keep police ready in these times of technological disruptions. He said the challenge is to prevent new types of crime with even more innovative methods. He stressed the need to undertake novel experiments, research and methods for cyber security. “Your will have to be aware of all the roles in the society, your need to remain friendly and keep the honour of the uniform supreme” said the Prime Minister.
Modi acknowledged the bright young women officers of the new generation and said that there have been efforts to increase the participation of women in the force. He expressed the hope that our daughters will infuse the police service with the highest standards of efficiency, accountability and will also bring in elements of politeness, ease and sensitivity. He also mentioned that the states are working on introducing the Commissioner System in the cities with more than 10 lakh populations.
The Prime Minister said that police officers from neighbouring countries, undergoing training at the academy underline the closeness and deep relation of the countries. He said that whether it is Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives or Mauritius, we are not just neighbours but we also share a lot of similarities in our thinking and social fabric. “We are friends in times of need and whenever there is any calamity or difficulty we are the first responders for each other. This was evident during the corona period also,” he said. /BI/
