CHENNAI: A video-conferencing facility for easy interaction among senior police officers will be created in the State at a cost of Rs 6.10 crore, said Chief Minister ‘Edappadi’ K Palaniswami on Friday.
Speaking at the passing-out parade of a new batch of Sub-Inspectors of Police at the Tamil Nadu Police Academy, he also said that new CCTV cameras would be installed in Salem, Rameswaram temple, Karaikudi and the Erwadi dargah. The total cost of these initiatives would be Rs 18.68 crore.
A total of 1,028 Sub-Inspectors passed out of the academy on Friday.
The Chief Minister pointed out that this batch included a transgender and recalled how former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was committed to the cause of transgenders’ welfare.
“Only if there is peace can a nation grow and progress,” Palaniswami said. “The Police department helps maintain peace. I hope you will all work towards maintaining law and order in Tamil Nadu. In order for people to sleep in peace at night, you as police personnel will have to stay up and take care of the people just like a mother and friend.”
There are 254 women Sub-Inspectors who passed out of this batch. He credited the late AIADMK supremo with modernising the police force during her first term in 1991. “Women earlier hesitated to visit police stations,” he said. “In 1992, the first ever all-women police station was started near Thousand Lights. The first women commando force was launched in 2002.”
The CM went on to highlight a number of programmes that the government had carried out for the betterment of the department ranging from master health check-ups to building houses for the police and starting departmental stores that sell items at lower rates.
He drew special attention to the incidence of white collar crimes and urged the police to remain alert and keep themselves updated with the latest technology in order to tackle these kinds of crimes.
“Law is the biggest weapon that the police department possesses,” he said, adding, “The law is in place to serve the people and it is the duty of the police to work for the people with humility.”