The commissionerate of Police has decided to designate at least 1,000 youths from different slums in the state capital as police mitras (friends), who, in turn, will assist the cops in controlling crowds and regulating traffic on major festive occasions in the city.
This apart, the police are planning to organise a mega talent hunt programme in the slums to give the youths there a platform to showcase their talent. The broader objective is to make the slums free of crimes and drug smuggling.
As part of the Basti Ku Chala initiative, the police commissioner and his deputy have been holding regular interactions with the slum dwellers. Nodal police officers (basti mitras) have been asked to conduct bike and foot patrolling, engage with slum residents and keep tabs on the movement of suspicious people. The police personnel have been giving pleasant surprises to many slum children by celebrating their birthdays and offering them cakes, sweets and bouquets.