As expected, the advent of
Sri R.Srikumar as the DGP of Karnataka has opened up a new era in the state
Police where technology will be harnessed for better Governance.
The implementation of
e-Governance in Karnataka police has started with the launching of the
website http://www.ksp.gov.in already
with some innovations.
The first innovation is the
opening of the "Crimestoppers.org", an effort to enlist the support of the
public as the extended intelligence of the Police.
The second and the most
important development for which Naavi.org had been urging for a long time
is the announcement that an "Online Complaint Lodging Mechanism" would be
launched shortly.
In fact Mr Srikumar has
listed the following as his vision:
1. Launch of new web site
www.ksp.gov.in in addition to removing all the glitches in the old one
www.karnatakastatepolice.org
2. Dissemination of all important information to those interested
through the web sites- e.g. News persons can get RSS feed of the updates.
Aim is to bring in greater transparency and uphold the citizens' Right to
Information.
3. Online complaint receipt and registration as well as status updates,
along with a method of verification and checks to prevent mischievous
complaints.
4. Selected reshuffle of Police officials to make policing professional
and people friendly.
5. Setting up an annual work plan for all officers and personnel.
6. Getting extra resources from the Government for modernizing the
police force. The current annual police expenditure is Rs1600 cores, which
is 80 paisa per capita. The target is to make it at least Rs 1 per capita.
7. Complete the drafting of a new Karnataka Police Act for seeking
opinions through wider circulation and debate.
8. Install a video surveillance and security system for the Vidhana
Soudha and open new police stations for catering to the users of the new
International Airport at Devanahalli.
9. Review and revamp the wings dealing with traffic, terrorism and the
anti hooch enforcement.
10. Improve intelligence-gathering mechanism.
Another unique feature of
the website is the section on blogs from some of the senior members of the
Police. Probably, the freedom of expression which is often stiffled in the
strict disciplinary regime of the Police will now find some creative
outlet.
Yet another notable feature
is the RSS feed which has been planned to provide information to
journalists which press people should feel happy about.
We wish the new DGP all
success in his new venture and share his vision that Karnataka Police will
become a model in e-Governance to the rest of India.
Naavi
July 11, 2008
