Be Accessible To People: CM To Police Officers

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday called on the police officers to be accessible to the people and responsive to their problems while striving to live up to their expectations.

Addressing the valedictory session of the 61^st Senior Police Officers’ Conference at the Police Bhawan here, he urged the officers to provide exemplary leadership to the police force of the state.

Stating that his government is committed to providing a safe and secure environment to its citizens, the Chief Minister said that his government’s special focus is on implementing policies for the overall development of the state to ensure inclusive growth of the people by providing transparent and pro-people governance.

“Protection of rights of the women, children, weaker and vulnerable sections of the society has been the top-most priority of my government. I congratulate the noble initiative taken by Odisha Police in conducting statewide social awareness ‘Paree’ campaign against child sexual abuse with a special focus on such violence on minor girls,” he added.

Expressing happiness over the opening of the counselling centres to deal with problems of women and children in 19 districts, he said such centres should be opened in the remaining districts at the earliest.

Congratulating the police officers and all members of the Odisha Police force for their commendable work in 2018 in maintaining law and order, countering the Left-wing extremism effectively and in preventing and detecting crime, the Chief Minister also praised the efforts of the Commissionerate Police for smooth conduct of Hockey Men’s World Cup, which has earned international appreciation.

The Chief Minister further said that his government is sympathetic and considerate towards the genuine problems of the police force and has been constantly working in modernizing the police force, bringing in technology to increase professionalism, augmenting logistics, infrastructure and mobility as well as continuous skill upgradation through training.

“I understand that the police work under extreme hardship while discharging their duties. My government is continuously striving to provide a better working environment for our police force and their welfare. I also acknowledge the supreme sacrifice made by the police while tackling the Maoist menace,” he added.