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Initiative
Harmony via Peace Committees
& Lending a Helpline to Elders
The Mumbai Police force is aware that policing in a fast relating to local crime and
changing socio-economic environment is a complex disputes through active
task. It appreciates the fact that in a democracy policing involvement of the beat staff.
cannot be accomplished without people's participation. During major festivals, special
This is more so in a democracy such as India various meetings are convened in
pressures and pulls come to the fore due to a mix of order to ensure that peace
religions, castes and the sheer numbers of people prevails in the area.
involved.
"Special care is taken to
From time to time the Mumbai Police authorities have nominate suitable and
been launching new initiatives to deal with evolving respectable members of the
situations across the city. Two of these initiatives worth community to the Mohalla Committees. Measures and
noting are: Mohalla (area) Committees for Peace and a decisions taken during the meetings are disseminated to
helpline for Senior Citizens called Elderline. the community through its members. Suggestions of the
Mohalla Committees
Mohalla Committees members are given due weightage
by the Police Station in identifying and implementing
Mohalla Committees are an integral part of the crime prevention measures.
community policing initiative. As the name suggests,
Mohalla Committees are formed at the local area level
and consist of a cross-section of society. The local Police
Station acts as a facilitator for the formation and
functioning of the Mohalla Committees. The main task of
the Mohalla Committees is to assist the Police in
maintenance of law and order and prevention of crime in
People's participation and democratic approach of the
Mohalla Committee movement has been widely
appreciated over the years. Mohalla Committees have
proved their usefulness time and time again and have
now become an integral part of the Mumbai Police's
community policing initiatives.
the area. This initiative helped the Mumbai police in bringing
The Mohalla Committees' members act as eyes and ears
and pass on relevant information pertaining to
communal, social, law & order related issues to the local
beat officer with whom they are constantly in touch.
peace back in areas badly affected by the communal
riots that erupted in the aftermath of the 1992 December
riot. These peace committees ensured communal
harmony when the 1993 bomb blasts took place, .
Besides this, they play an important role in prevention Edlerline
and management of law and order situations.
The Mohalla Committees's meet at regular intervals
throughout the year. They discuss and solve issues
One cannot escape the fact that senior citizens are at a
much greater risk today than even before. After all, a
worrying number of the elderly live on their own.
Abandoned by their uncaring families, some times their
children staying at far off places, they are left completely
helpless in a crisis and extremely vulnerable to criminal
elements, health problems and depression. But now they
will have a family of their own again; a family of
thousands called ElderLine.
THE PROTECTOR
Now all a senior citizens has to do to get assistance is call
ElderLine on 1090. An initiative of the Mumbai Police
with The Times of India as media partner and Spanco
Telesystems and Solutions as technology partner,
ElderLine is a Special service that will take care of the
physical and mental well-being of senior citizens, any
time. With ElderLine, help is now at hand.
Sept-Oct 2009 27