AP police launch Balmitra proj to wean childrenfrom crime

New Delhi, Nov 24: To improve police community relationship, the Andhra Pradesh police has launched a unique programme of 'Balmitra' under which children from the underpriviledged community would be encouraged to see police as a friendly force and source of inspiration.

Under the Balmitra Programme, the police force is planning to set up children's park in premises of big police stations to have a lot of open space. These children's park would inspire children, especially from underpriviledged sections of the society to come to the police stations and play there instead of wasting their time with anti-social elements. This would help wean children from getting involved in petty crimes which ultimately result in bigger and heinous crimes in the future.

Moreover, public perception about the police as a force to be afraid off would also change and people, especially future generations would considers as a friendly, helpful security agency, Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police Swaranjeet Sen said here.

''In these parks apart from amusement and recreational facilities like games and toys, films and vedio programmes on the healthy lifestyle would be continuously shown so that the children should adopt good behaviour practices,'' said Mr Sen, who has made a presentation on the project at the on-going three-day National Conference of DGPs and AGPs Conference here.

According to Mr Sen, a large number of seminars, workshops and talks could not change the crime situation at grassroots level than such people friendly projects as children would be tempted not towards ''becoming Gabbar Singh but an honest police officials like Thakur of Shole.'' At present two such Balmitra Parks are already functioning in police stations at Kavilin in Nellore districts and Gajuvata in Vishakhapatnam Commissionerate, he informed. Regarding the financial needs for the project, he said that the local philanthropic organisations, individuals have come for the first two such parks and in future also many such people/ organisations wouldnot hesitate to donate money for the welfare of children.

Regarding the naxal problem, Mr Sen said stringent action taken against naxals have resulted in such miscreants fleeing the state.

''Now we donot want children to follow the path of these miscreants so Balmitra has been launched.''

UNI