Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Green Police:Friendly Tourist Police


BANGALORE, JULY 20, 2009: Perhaps, for the first time in the country, Karnataka government’s Tourism Department has decided to deploy an exclusive security force called the Green Police in 30 tourist places to ensure the safety and security of tourists visiting Karnataka.
The security force would offer protection to tourists in cases related to robbery, attacks on tourists and molestation and any other incidents. Several ugly incidents have been reported from different parts of the State which led to reduction in number of tourists.
Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Monday launched the Green Police force at a simple function in front of Vidhana Soudha and said the force, comprising ex-servicemen and Home Guards, was the first such security agency in the country raised to protect tourists. In the first phase, a 150-member force would serve to provide security for the tourists at key destinations in the State.
The Green Police would be given separate uniforms and deployed at tourist places such as Badami, Aihole and Mysore, Hampi, religious places, and the beaches. However, the Green Police have no powers to take action against culprits and they will act as coordinators of security between tourists and the nearest police.
The Chief Minister said the Green Police force would instil a sense of security among the domestic and international tourists visiting different tourist spots in the State.
Home Minister Dr V.S. Acharya said Green Police personnel, who would be deployed for 24/7 vigil at tourist places and will serve the tourists as friend and guide.
Tourism Minister G. Janardhan Reddy said that the Green Police will not be an alternative to the existing State police. Tourism Secretary K. Jothiramalingam, and top Police officials were present.

2 comments:

Shrinidhi Hande said...

This is a good initiative. Train them to provide some basic tourist information to visiting tourists.

Let them also help tourists find quality service at reasonable price without being looted by vendors and hawkers.

Unknown said...

Wonderful Initiative!... Way to go!

Another thing that we need to control is the touting by small vendors. Many street small vendors just get after the tourists until they buy something.

We should get that stopped. Also, sympathising with those poor vendors, we should provide alternative opportunity for them..

But, gr8 initiative Dr. Acharya ji..