An idle mind is the den of evils! If every mind is engaged in gainful activities, policing becomes much easier as a task. Joint Commissioner of Police, Southern Range, Delhi, senior IPS officer Devesh Chandra Srivastva is focused and strongly believes in nipping the crimes in their bud by adopting different tools of policing. He is very particular as the Nodal Officer of ‘YUVA’ scheme, a novel initiative of community policing by the Delhi Police, about making the most of the talents of those who are school dropouts, juvenile offenders and victims of crimes by arming them with a set of skills which not only enhance their employability but also increase their ease of life, as they start earning money to meet their basic needs and that of their families.

“I firmly believe that bureaucracy in general and policing in particular is all about empowering the poor among us in more ways than one. Delhi Police is running a skill development programme for the economically and socially weak youth both boys and girls, who may go astray in case they are not shown the right path, as well as to make them role models for the resettlement and unauthorized colonies. So far over 10,000 youngsters have already undergone skill training at 22 police stations all over Delhi, out of which 7,000 have been gainfully employed in the past three years in organized sectors,” he told Rajeev Ranjan Roy of Bureaucrats India in an exclusive interview. “We can ensure sustainable peace in the society only by ensuring that every person uses his talent gainfully, for which they need some training and guidance, which the Delhi Police is imparting under the ‘YUVA’ Skill Development Programme”  under the guidance of  Lieutenant Governor, Delhi, Anil Baijal and close supervision of CP/Delhi SN Shrivastava, he added. Here are edited excerpts from the interview:

How policing can be made more effective by using skill as a tool for vulnerable youths?

It can do wonders in multiple ways. Skills play a major role in increasing the employability of the people. If we train our youths for certain skills, they will get jobs as their employability increases. As a result, they will not deviate to the path of crimes or other such acts. I firmly believe that joblessness is a major challenge to those who are engaged in maintaining law and order and peace in the society. Since we all aspire and strive for a zero crime society, we have to work together to check the deviation of youth to the wrong paths, in particular those who are school dropouts, juvenile offenders and victims of crimes.

Is YUVA making a difference?

Oh, yes! Let me tell you that ‘YUVA’ is a unique community policing initiative of the Delhi Police under which we engage and steer street children and youth juvenile towards the mainstream of society, providing them with the opportunities to realise their potential and creating awareness about their potential through sports, ‘Nukkad Nataks’ and skill development training. This is an initiative, not only to prevent the youth from committing crime and delinquent acts, but, also to encourage them to partner with police in maintaining law and order, management of crime and connecting with the community at large.

Who are the target groups?

First a detailed exercise was conducted through the field staff in all 15 districts of the Delhi Police to select the youths in the age group of 17-25 years. The focus was on school dropouts, juvenile offenders, victims of crimes, and also the families in a dire strait, due to the incarceration of the bread earners of the family. After selection, they are counseled by professionals and career consultants to select the particular skill for training based on the educational qualification, background and their aptitude. YUVA aims at ensuring that the maximum number of youth who participate in this training get subsequently employed in the industry under PMKVY scheme.

How has been the response from those enrolled under YUVA campaign?

It is more than satisfying. They are getting jobs. Interviews are organised for their placements. They are being selected by various companies. Delhi Police is really happy to help out the children, who for want of proper educational and sports facilities, might have gone astray. We are engaging with NSDC, willing NGOs, corporate houses, CII-Delhi and social volunteer organizations and bodies for augmenting resources for the execution of these initiatives. It is our collective responsibility to mainstream the lesser mortals among us to realize the dream of ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ in true sense.

How was the virtual job fair, which the Delhi Police organised recently?

It was a three-day long job – from November 2-4, 2020. More than 600 interested candidates from all 15 districts of Delhi Police participated in the job fair, virtually connected from their designated places in respective districts. They appeared in the online interview for 16 reputed companies for getting suitable placements at a monthly salary of Rs 12,000 to Rs 20,000 per month. The job aspirants were trained in the field of  field technician in computer periphery (FTCP), refrigerator and AC mechanic (RAC),  self-employed tailoring course (SET), and  data entry operator, and so on.

Delhi’s Southern Range is quite challenging. You have posh colonies and huge semi-urban areas as well. How tough gets going for the police?

Policing is a challenging task irrespective of the areas you are taking care of. Yes, there is a difference in dynamics, but the task is equally daunting. We lay a lot of emphasis on basics and ground level policing. There is no laxity in registering FIRs/complaints. Investigation is carried out quite meticulously. There is a constant vigil on crime prone spots (hotspots). All these have contributed quite significantly in keeping crimes under control in the range, and we are constantly striving for improvement.

Street and cyber crimes are also becoming an area of concern?

You are right. In order to tame street crimes, we have intensified bike/foot patrolling and PCR patrolling as well. Police pickets have been set up. We are also arresting those buying stolen/robbed goods. Cops doing well are being motivated and rewarded by senior officers, including CP/Delhi. We have initiated many such steps. Similarly, several efforts have been made to check cyber crimes as well. It is a new world order where digitization is a new norm. Accordingly, we are upgrading ourselves with capabilities/induction of technology.

In hindsight, how challenging was the policing during Covid-19 induced lockdown in the capital?

It was a new kind of challenge, something unforeseen. People were inside their homes and all cops were on roads, to ensure that they did not face problems. It was quite satisfying for all of us to serve the people in the best possible manner when they needed us the most. From attending to distress calls to taking food packets to the needy, we did everything round the clock. It was also an opportunity to showcase the humane face of policing. Delhi Police really earned the title of ‘Dil Ki Police’ by virtue of sheer hard work and extraordinary sense of duty by all its ranks and files.