This story is from August 14, 2020

Kerala: Amid CDR row, police to take Janamaithri route

Amid the mounting criticism from various corners regarding the overarching powers given to the police for tracing contacts and managing containment zones with an iron fist, the police have taken the Janamaithri route.
Kerala: Amid CDR row, police to take Janamaithri route
State police chief said he wants all policing activities to be for empowering citizens
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid the mounting criticism from various corners regarding the overarching powers given to the police for tracing contacts and managing containment zones with an iron fist, the police have taken the Janamaithri route.
The latest order by state police chief Loknath Behera in this regard shows a clear change in the strategy. “As a strategy of policing to contain Covid-19, we have decided to implement the concept of partnership between the community and the police as envisaged in Janamaithri policing programme.
The activities of policing will be centered in empowering citizen groups in the society, including housewives, students, etc. in bringing a change in the methodologies adopted for enforcing social distancing, etc.,” the message by the state police chief to all the district police chiefs, DIGs, IGs and ADGPs said.
The DGP also sanctioned Rs 67.5 lakh for awareness programmes through Janamaithri police. Each police district has been sanctioned an amount ranging from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. All the activities will be coordinated from various Janamaithri centres. The funds will be used for printing banners, posters, notices, etc. The shift in the approach comes close on the heels of disaster management department clarifying that the police are responsible only for enforcing the restrictions imposed in containment and micro-containment zones, and not identifying them. “The Kerala state disaster management authority is responsible for identification and delineation of containment zones and micro-containment zones in consultation with the police that is responsible only for enforcing the restrictions imposed in containment and micro-containment zones,” the circular issued by principal secretary (revenue and disaster management) A Jayathilak on Wednesday said.
The circular has been addressed to all district collectors, police, land revenue commissioner, disaster management authority commissioner and the KSDMA member secretary.
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