Disaster management: Police to bank on locals

KOCHI: Cashing in on the success of the popular Janamaithri policing scheme, the city cops are coming up with another similar initiative. The city police are all set to launch ‘Citizen for Security’ scheme, a mission to be implemented with the active participation of the locals.According to the police officials, ‘Citizen for Security’ will be the first of its kind initiative in India, where police will join hands with various residents’ associations and other NGOs to deal with the security issues and double up its strength for disaster management activities. Envisaged as part of ‘Kochi Security Review Meet 2012’, the new project would be launched on Thursday.Under the new scheme, as many as 26 ‘Citizens for Security’ groups will be formed. Each group will have 50 volunteers, whose number can be increased in the later stages. The scheme will cover approximately three divisions of the Kochi  Corporation. According to the police officials, some lapses in the disaster management surfaced last month when a tsunami alert was issued. This prompted the formation of ‘Citizens for Security’ along the same lines as the Janamaithri police. “There are no proper agencies in the city that can volunteer to operate during natural calamities. Many agencies were seen to be confused regarding a plan of action when the tsunami alert was given,” the official said.The team members would be selected from the Janamaithri Police Stations and various residents’ associations. The selected persons will be trained on a holiday, every month. The training will focus on providing first aid service, disaster management and precautions to be taken in case of an emergency. “The volunteers will mingle with the public and create awareness about the precautions to be taken in case of natural calamities. Besides, they can also help us in disaster management,” the police officials said.