SUKHBIR approves grant of charge and next higher rank to 865 police personnel

Chandigarh, July 23, 2013: The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has, in one stroke, today approved the grant of charge and next higher ranks to 865 police personnel of various ranks, i.e. 40 SPs, 125 DSPs, 200 Inspectors, 250 Sub-Inspectors, and 250 ASIs. He would personally preside over the formal Pipping Ceremony to be organized for these police officers and officials, at PAP Headquarters, Jalandhar shortly.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesman said that over the last few years, the Punjab government has taken a number of steps to expand, re-organize, and modernise 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 further said that the 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. 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.

He said that improvement in the speed and quality of police response, and bringing the police closer to the people it is supposed to serve, has been the underlying theme and endeavor of most of these initiatives. For the successful implementation of these schemes, and to achieve these objectives, Punjab Police went through a recruitment drive, and about 17000 additional constables were put on the ground on a 24/7 basis during the last few years.

He said that it was felt that Speedier ranks to police officers would go a long way in motivating and encouraging the police officers who have delivered under all kinds of emergencies and difficult circumstances, such as the relief and rehabilitation measures during the recent Uttarakhand tragedy or the elections in the State or major protests movements over various socio-religious and economic issues. Keeping in mind the officer oriented nature of most of these initiatives, and the need to ensure a higher quality of service to citizens of the State through a motivated and dedicated police force, these promotions have been granted.