Reforms needed to make police stations people friendly: NITI Aayog

Ranchi, August 1: Renowned Economist and NITI Aayog member Bibek Debroy today said police reforms were needed to make the police and the police stations more people friendly.

"The most pressing reform that we need is police reforms, to make the police and police stations more people friendly," Debroy said in a statement.

Speaking at the third and final day of the International Conference of Inclusive and Sustainable Development in Jharkhand, Debroy said the greatest priority for any government should be make law and order and justice systems people friendly.

Giving example as to how Rajasthan police stations have become models as people friendly, accessible and inclusive police stations, he said police reforms should be the greatest priority for any country.

The release also quoted another economist Jean Dreze as saying Jharkhand has made huge strides in improving social programmes, ICDS, PDS, Mid-day Meals over the last decade.

Dreze expressed hopes it would soon come up to the level of states like Kerala, adding there is tremendous evidence that higher social policy spending does not hinder growth.

India has increased social-policy spending over the past decade and continued to remain one of the highest growing nations, he added.

Ashok Bhagat, secretary, Vikas Bharti and member, State Planning Board, stressed upon the need to do extensive resource mapping within the state, which included, physical, natural and human resources and traditional skills.

"Government programmes such as the skill development make people forget their own traditional skills and look for employment in companies in more developed states. Therefore, policies must be based on first recognising the local natural and human resources, skills, talents and building upon them," Bhagat said.

PTI