Taking cue from PM Modi, MHA to set up SMART police station in each state

New Delhi, Dec 29: Taking cue from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pitch for SMART policing, the Home Ministry has decided to establish one such model police station in each state and has asked the state governments to submit their proposal by January 31, 2015.

The Prime Minister had said at a meeting of the country's top police brass in Guwahati last month that he wanted a force which takes care of the country's law and order in an efficient and SMART manner.

"By 'SMART' policing, I mean S for strict but sensitive, M for modern and mobile, A for alert and accountable, R for reliable and responsive and T for techno-savvy and trained", Modi had said.

As a first step towards SMART policing, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has decided to set up one model SMART police station in each state and asked the state governments to submit their proposal with specific location and components by January 31, 2015.

The Home Ministry has decided to allocate specific funds for setting up of SMART police stations shortly, an official statement said.

The central government will work with the state governments for setting up more SMART police stations during the next financial year. Efforts will also be made to involve the private sector and their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes to expand the roll out of SMART police.

The SMART police station would become the foundation towards SMART policing.

A SMART police station should be citizen-friendly and clean. It should also meet the operational and welfare needs of the police personnel posted there, the statement said.

Some suggested features of a SMART police station are: basic amenities for visitors, waiting area, toilets, drinking water, rest room for constables, including separate room for women constables.

PTI