Date:05/08/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/08/05/stories/2005080504200400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Police chief turns to NGOs for help

Staff Reporter

They can assist with restoring domestic peace through counselling: Nataraj

CHENNAI: The increasing number of petitions piling up at the All Women Police Stations (AWPS) in Chennai call for a concerted effort from NGOs and counsellors. "Police cannot be counsellors, being front-end law enforcers," Commissioner of Police, R. Nataraj, said.

Inaugurating the Udayam - PCVC Community Support Unit at the K-4 Women Police Station at Anna Nagar on Wednesday, Mr. Nataraj said all the 35 AWPS in Chennai were functioning effectively. With increase in nuclear families and decrease in parental control and guidance, there was an immense need from NGOs to support with counselling.

The AWPS in Chennai alone were receiving 10,000 petitions each year. "When action has to be taken, the police do it, but in other cases counselling is required to help restore domestic peace," he said.

K. Radhakrishnan, Inspector General of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, said that the Anna Nagar AWPS would apply the Queens Award Data Management and Record Keeping Software to record cases. "Last year in the 195 AWPS all over the State, 55,000 petitions were registered."

There must have been around 1,000 petitions in Anna Nagar alone and all the problems cannot be solved by the Police alone, he said, highlighting the tie-up with Udayam. The NGO has been in the field of helping women facing domestic violence for the past six years now, he said.

The Inspector General of Police, Administration, Letika Saran, commended the Greater Chennai police stations for their ISO certification and its effort in going for community policing.

Computer registration facility

The Commissioner of Police inaugurated the computer registration facility of the Queens Award Data Management and Record Keeping at the Anna Nagar AWPS.

Dr. Prasanna, Director, International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care, said that it was a non-profit organisation offering support for victims of domestic violence, particularly women and children.

The Udhayam is its support unit with a help line: 98407 66666 beside the Women's Police Helpline 1091.