More than 1300 officers/officials of Punjab Police today got lifetime gift from the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal as he decorated and pipped with stars offering them out of turn promotion, motivating them to excel in professional policing. This was the second mass promotion order issued by Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal during last three years as in September 2011 he had at the same venue promoted 5199 police personnel.Presiding over a special function organized here at PAP Complex, Mr. Badal congratulated the Punjab Police force for working in the most professional manner. He said that the Punjab police during last 3 years has done exemplary job especially on the front of seizure of narcotic, busting militant modules and tackling law and order situation. He said that when we took reign of the government, the Home Department was most neglected department in the government. He said that resultantly the Punjab Police force was most demoralized due to depletion in the cadre strength, stagnation of Police force especially at constabulary rank, and with no investment on modernization of police force, the force seem to be fighting a losing battle.
He said that he was surprised that Punjab police force that was known as most professional force in the country that had been able to tackle decade long militancy in the state was finding itself helpless due to the callous attitude of previous governments. He said that during last 3 years he has taken series of steps including record recruitment of more than 20000 at different levels in police force, record promotions at every level besides initiating a series of welfare and housing steps especially for constabulary. Mr. Badal said that for the first time that during last 65 years that service rules of each category were drafted and finalized that could tackle most of the legal tangles being faced by the force in various course resulting in stagnation. He said that he was proud of the fact that Punjab Police jawan was highest paid in the country and as per comparative data compiled by me our jawans were drawing even more pay than inspectors of other states. He said that the Punjab government has taken a number of steps to expand, re-organize, and modernize the Punjab Police so that it could met the multifarious challenges of militancy, smuggling, drug-peddling, cyber crime, street crime etc. The Punjab government has also launched a number of people-friendly schemes and Community Policing initiatives, such as the Night Policing Scheme, Saanjh Suvidha Kendras, Women Helpline, Women Armed Special Protection Squads (WASPS), Sexual Assault Response Teams (SART), Women Police Stations, NRI Police Stations, etc., he added. He said that DGP Mr. Sumedh Singh deserve congratulations for unique distinction for evolving a procedure for fastest promotions in any police force in the country.
Stressing the need for humane face of Punjab Police, Mr. Badal said that he was envisioning for a force that was thorough professional, people friendly, stern and effective besides used most scientific techniques of investigation and general policing. He said that with the same he has introduced Community Policing under which 153 SAANJH Kendras were working and he had sanctioned 300 more SAANJH Kendras in next two years at the cost of Rs. 87 crore. He said that he has already okayed a separate cadre for SAANJH Kendras and personnel working in these kendras would be cyber savvy and would get special training in public etiquettes. Mr. Badal said that the state police has already recruited more than 20000 police personnel at different levels and out of which 2000 were lady constables. He said that he was targeting to have 15 percent in the force as lady police for better gender sensitization.
Announcing separate wing for NRI Policing, Mr. Badal said that the cabinet would soon take a decision for this special wing that would be under ADGP or IGP (NRI Affairs) with a dedicated NRI Police Force directly reporting to them under their direct command. He expressed satisfaction at working of Night Policing and said that many states were sending queries to Punjab as they want to replicate this model in their respective states. He said that the state government has also planned to roll-out many more new initiatives including the Rural Rapid Police Response System (RRPRS)under which police assistance would be made available in the villages and remotest rural areas within less than 20 minutes. Besides this, Safe City Project in Ludhiana and Amritsar, Senior Citizen Helpline, NRI Helpline are some other measures, which are likely to be implemented state-wide soon.Mr. Badal pointed out that when in September 2011, he took the bold step of ordering mass promotion of 5199 constables and head constables in a single day, a message went to the police force that there was a government to take care of their interests. He said that he had announced series of welfare steps including raising of ex-gratia to Rs. 5 lakh, house rent for all constables, wards of gallantry police personnel to be recruited as SIs, Rs. 1 lakh grant at the marriage of daughter of those police personnel, who died on active duty.
Earlier welcoming the Deputy Chief Minister, the Punjab DGP Mr. Sumedh Singh thanked him for path breaking decision for motivating the police force. He promised that Punjab Police force would work day and night to translate the dream projects of Deputy Chief Minister into reality.Later the Deputy Chief Minister symbolically pipped one each newly promoted SP, DSP, Inspector, Sub Inspector and ASI. It may be mentioned here that today 39 DSPs were promoted as SPs, 136 inspectors as DSPs, 246 Sub Inspectors as Inspectors, 305 ASIs as Sub Inspectors and 271 Head Constables as ASIs. The Deputy Chief Minister also announced the promotion of 300 more Head Constables as ASIs in next two days.
Prominent amongst others include Mr. Chuni Lal Bhagat, Local Bodies Minister, Mr. Avinash Chander, Mr. K.D. Bhandari and Mr. Pawan Tinu, all CPS, Mr. Pargat Singh and Mr. Gurpartap Singh Wadala, both MLAs, Mr. D.S. Bains, Principal Secretary Home besides the top brass of Punjab Police.Later talking to media persons, Mr. Badal said that all decisions of the State Government including law to regularize illegal colonies or introducing e-tripping to bring transparency in the revenue collection were collective decision of council of ministers.