A good step in right direction makes all the difference when it comes to creating a positive atmosphere. Such step becomes a benchmark for others to follow. ‘Police Dadalora Khidki’ is one such initiative of Gadchiroli Police that has won praise from the beneficiaries and awards at national and international levels. Now, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs is studying this model of community policing. The ‘Police Dadalora Khidki’ is a unique initiative launched by Gadchiroli Police in the year 2021. Ankit Goyal, the then Superintendent of Police (SP), Gadchiroli, (now SP in Pune Rural), has won several honours for the initiative. These include Arun Bongirwar Public Service Excellence Award-2021, FICCI Smart Policing Awards-2021, Dr S S Gadkari Memorial Award, Maharashtrian of the Year Awards-2022, the coveted International Association of Chiefs of Police Award for the year 2022, and the best unit in community policing award amongst all districts of Maharashtra.

 

Under the said initiative, the first help-desk or assistance kiosk by the name ‘Police Dadalora Khidki’ (Window set up by Police Brother) was first started at Bhamragarh sub-division office. Over time, it has proven to be a boon for the tribals in remote, Naxal-affected parts of Gadchiroli district. At present, such kiosks are functional at 54 police stations, sub-police stations, and armed out posts. At these kiosks, people in various parts of this tribal-dominated district visit for different works. They submit applications for issuance of various certificates, benefit of different welfare schemes, job card, or even applications for opening bank accounts, Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, filing applications online on MahaDBT portal for direct benefit transfer, etc. The cops process applications to respective departments and with effective inter-department co-ordination, many of the applicants get the documents or benefits of schemes.

 

“Gradually, the initiative has expanded covering more utility functions and more areas. In fact, this civic action programme of Gadchiroli Police has proved to be a game-changer in fight against Naxalism in this hyper-sensitive Left Wing Extremism theatre,” Neelotpal, Superintendent of Police, Gadchiroli, told ‘The Hitavada’. According to him, Gadchiroli Police have been able to reach out to more than 2.19 lakh beneficiaries in 2022 alone through the community policing initiative. The cops have delivered the benefits of several Government schemes at the doorstep of tribals and citizens in deeper pockets of the district. Police Dadalora Khidki built the image of Gadchiroli Police as ‘handholder in times of need’, among the people. The most effective part, as far as weaning away the support of Naxalites/Maoists is concerned, has been ‘Jan Jagaran Melawa’. In 2022, the cops organised 240 Jan Jagaran Melawa in which 71,202 tribals participated. Besides, four Maha Jan Jagaran Melawa were organised at armed out-posts in sensitive areas like Gyarapatti, Katezari, Dhodraj, and Kotmi. ‘Jan Maitri Melawa’ and peace rallies were organised on ‘specific occasions observed or celebrated by Maoists’ to engage the identified members of Area Rakshak Dal (ARD) and Gram Rakshak Dal (GRD) and Naxal sympathisers so as to prevent them from committing offences and causing damage to public property or attacking security forces. “Due to these meetings and rallies, zero incidents were reported during Naxal weeks in 2022,” Neelotpal said with pride. According to him, the community policing initiatives have proved that development and mainstreaming alongside anti-Naxal operations form two-pronged approach in fight against Left Wing Extremism.