Awareness on Managing Disasters Vital

Udupi, Nov 28: Strategies should be evolved to efficiently face any natural or man-made disasters, said district minister-in-charge Dr V S Acharya here on Saturday, Nov 27.

He was speaking at the 'Disaster Reduction Day' observance and rally held in the TMA Pai English-medium School here. The event was jointly organized by the district home guards, civil defence, fire and emergency services units, Bharat Scouts and Guides and the Academy of General Education.

Expressing concern over the rise of terrorism and related incidence of disaster, he cited the example of Israel, which has been managing disasters efficiently and providing training to other countries.

District commandant of home guards Dr Ganapati Bhat welcomed the gathering. School headmaster A V Manjunath proposed the vote of thanks.

The programme was also marked by a demonstration by fire officer Shivappa Gowda and his team on how to rescue persons in distress and how manage fire mishaps efficiently. A rally of school-children to create and awareness on the subject was held by way of a procession from Kadiyali to Kunjibettu. (Mangalorean/ Janardan Kodavoor)

Disaster preparedness is better than disaster relief

Home GuardsGovt to increase Home Guards to 40,000

UDUPI: The Home Guards, a force to be reckoned with in the state, play a vital role in maintaining law and order, especially during emergencies and exigencies by helping the police, home minister V S Acharya said in Malpe, near Udupi, on Sunday.

He was delivering the inaugural address, after formally inaugurating the Malpe unit of the Home Guards. The government has decided to increase the strength of Home Guards to 40,000 from the present 25,000 by 2011-12. The DA of Rs 100 to Home Guards volunteers has been increased to Rs 150 in all other places and in Bangalore, the increase of DA is from the present Rs 150 to Rs 175.

While lauding the Home Guards' activities in general, Acharya said the service rendered by 250 Home Guards constabulary in recent times, while forming the Mangalore police commissionerate, was commendable. Acharya said the parameters of a civilized society is how its law and order was maintained. Acharya, talking about the police force in the state, said the country has observed a silent revolution through the police force, which has resulted in low crime rate. Stolen property worth Rs 51 crore was given back to its owners. Acharya said the government has decided to recruit 400 more sub-inspectors and 6,000 police constables in two phases of 3,000 each.

Acharya and Udupi district sessions judge Narendrakuamr Gunike inaugurated the legal awareness programme for the Home Guards. Udupi Bar Association president C Vijaya Hegde, Ganapathi Bhat, district commander, and K C Rajesh, deputy commandant, Home Guards, also spoke.

Report: TOI/ Photo of Home Guards on Mock disaster drill: Daijiworld

Acharya to journos: Go easy on the cops

Aug. 17: Home minister V.S. Acharya on Tuesday made an unusual request to the media: Don’t haul cops over the coal as it will demoralise them.

Speaking after inaugurating a new building of the district home guards training centre here, he said the media should motivate policemen to work with enthusiasm instead of criticising them through news reports for even the small mistakes that they may commit.

He said police personnel were like “Lord Hanuman”, “endowed with a lot of energy to do several things at the same time”. Therefore, the media should awaken their strength by encouraging them instead of criticising them.

“There is a need to infuse confidence among the policemen and encourage every step that they have taken for a good cause as they are expected to work day and night,” he said.

Hinting that the state government will introduce a group insurance facility for personnel of home guards department, Dr Acharya said the government is likely to hike the honorarium for the personnel. (Deccan Chronicle)

17.08.2010: Tumkur

Fire Safety: Preventive steps

More youngsters to be recruited to Home Guards

Acharya inaugurates Home Guards Training Centre in city

New facility:Home Minister V.S. Acharya inaugurating the Home Guards Training Centre in Mysore on Tuesday. Director-General of Police (Home Guards) Jija Madhavan Harisingh and IGP, Fire and Emergency Services, P.S. Sandhu, are seen.

MYSORE: Home Minister V.S. Acharya on Tuesday said that the Government was strengthening the Home Guards in the State and would recruit more youngsters. He was speaking after inaugurating the Home Guards Training Centre in the city. Mr. Acharya said that the Home Guards played a supporting role in maintaining law and order and the Government was committed to launching welfare measures for their benefit.

Four more centres The new centre was the seventh such facility in the State and had been constructed at a cost of Rs. 38.4 lakh. The Minister said that four more training centres would be set up in the State in due course. Mr. Acharya said that there were plans to recruit youngsters to the Home Guards and train them to handle new challenges. The existing Home Guards personnel would also receive training and the State would initiate a slew of measures to strengthen the force, said Mr. Acharya. He said that the Home Ministry was striving to maintain law and order in the State and it was only some people were fomenting trouble and disturbing the peace.

Director-General of Police (Home Guards) Jija Madhavan Harisingh; Inspector-General of Police, Fire and Emergency Services, P.S. Sandhu; IGP (Southern Range) Jeevankumar Gaonkar; Commissioner of Police Sunil Agarwal; Deputy Commissioner P. Manivannan; MLCs Tontadarya and Siddaraju; and H.S. Shankaralinge Gowda, MLA, were present. (The Hindu)

Relief measures

As many as 169 people lost their lives, over 1.2 lakh houses collapsed, over 350 villages were marooned, and 3,048 animals were washed away in the incessant rains that wrecked havoc in the 16 districts of Northern Karnataka over the last week. Home Minister VS Acharya said that 1,77,425 people have been given shelter in 589 relief camps across the state. The total damage caused by the rains is estimated to be around Rs 10,000 crore.
“We have not yet done an assessment of the losses as we are waiting for the water to recede from villages and fields. But the losses could be about Rs 10,000 crore,” Acharya said at a press conference on Sunday.
The toll is likely to go up as it is feared that about 20 people have been buried alive in a landslide in Karwar district. Eight helicopters and 73 boats have been engaged for relief and rescue operations.
“The entire government machinery from village level to the state level is attending rescue and relief operations,” Acharya said, adding that the government has released Rs 400 crore. (Express)

Thoughts on safety...

ಗೌರಿ ಗಣೇಶ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು

ವಿಘ್ನ ನಾಶಕ್ಕೆ, ದುಷ್ಟರ ದಮನಕ್ಕೆ

"ಪೋಲಿಸ್ ಗಣಪ"

ಸಂಭ್ರಮ, ಶಾಂತಿ , ಸೌಹಾರ್ದಯುತ , ಗೌರಿ ಗಣೇಶ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಆಚರಣೆಗಾಗಿ, ಪೋಲಿಸ್, ಗೃಹ ರಕ್ಷಕ ದಳ,ಅಗ್ನಿಶಾಮಕ ದಳದವರಿಗೆ ಸಹಕಾರ ನೀಡಿ.

ಈ ಆವೇ ಮಣ್ಣಿನ ಕಲಾಕೃತಿ ಗೃಹ ಸಚಿವರ ಗೃಹ ಕಚೇರಿಯಲ್ಲಿದೆ.

ಇದನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿದವರು ಪ್ರಸನ್ನ ಆತ್ಮ , ಪೋಲಿಸ್ ಕಾನ್ಸ್ಟೇಬಲ್ , ರಾಜಾಜಿನಗರ ಪೋಲಿಸ್ ಸ್ಟೇಶನ್

06.08.2009

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.

07.06.2009

Govt keen on amending Moolageni Act: Acharya: MANGALORE: The draft of Moolageni Abolition Act has been prepared and the official discussions are on to bring amendments to the draft, said Dr VSA. Responding to the pleas of Moolageni Okkalu Rakshana Vedike members at the convention held here on Sunday, Acharya said the problem related to the moolageni (permanent tenancy) of non-agricultural lands has been unresolved for years as it was not brought under the orbit of the Land Reforms Act. However, the state government was committed to solving problem as promised in the BJP's election manifesto during the assembly elections, he said. Favouring an amicable settlement for the problem, he said the state government was thinking of issuing absolute title to the moolageni tenants and sufficient compensation for the moolageni right holders. Hence, various forms of moolageni problem have to be resolved. So, it may take 6-8 months for the government to bring a legislation in this regard, he said. Pointing out the possibilities of the Act being questioned in the court of law, he said the state government was contemplating fixing the compensation at 200 times more than the tenancy rent that the moolageni right holders enjoy. A high compensation rate may help the government defend itself in the court, he said. Acharya said the state government will amend the law to remove restrictions on non-agriculturists buying agriculture lands. (TOI/Pic: Mangalorean)
Udupi: 10,000-km-long roads to be upgraded in State: Udupi June 7: Home Minister V.S. Acharya said on Saturday that the Government had decided to upgrade 10,000-km-long roads in the State. He was speaking at the “janaspandana”, mass contact programme of Udupi hobli at Tenkanidiyur here. Dr. Acharya said that the roads to be upgraded included State Highways, Zilla Panchayat Roads and rural roads. The Government had implemented 80 per cent of the promises made in the budget. As many as 100 permanent unaided private colleges would start functioning in the State this year, he said. The Government had earmarked Rs. 15 crore for the development of city municipal councils (CMC) and Rs. 10 crore for the development of town municipal councils. “The Government has provided Rs. 30 crore for Udupi CMC alone,” he said.
He directed the officials to formulate plans for prevention of floods in Udupi district as monsoon had set in. They should prepare proposals for the next year’s budget as well, Dr. Acharya said.
MLA Raghupati Bhat urged the Government to ensure distribution of below poverty line (BPL) ration cards to 7,000 poor families in the district. The Cabinet sub-committee set up by the State Government should consider making Brahmavar and Byndoor in Udupi district as taluk headquarters, he said. Dr. Acharya distributed certificates and bonds to beneficiaries of various schemes.(The Hindu)
Udupi: Home Guards need more facilities - Acharya
Kollur, June 7: Karnataka Home Minister V S Acharya today opined that Home Guards serving the people in all government activities be provided with facilities on par with the state police. Delivering the valedictory address at the one-day state reorientation workshop of the Officers of Home Guards at the temple town here, he said the Home Guards, like the state police were eligible for accident and other benefits. He assured that he would discuss this issue with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa soon. He also complimented the Home Guards unit in the state for rendering remarkable service during the recent Lok Sabha election. Director General of Police, Home Guards Jija Madhavan Hari Singh, in his address called upon the Home Guards to make use of the vehicle training programme taken up by the department. (Mangalorean)

Suraksha Mitra program in Bangalore

Civil Defence is enrolling volunteers and will train them in neighbourhood security. To volunteer as an Area Suraksha Mitra, one must be at least 18 years old, must be a registered voter, without any criminal record, have a high sense of integrity and a spirit of volunteerism. By volunteering, candidates will be eligible for honorary appointment for Civil Defence services, which is a Union Government organisation. They will also be eligible for commendation/ medals conferred by DGP, Chief Minister and President in recognition of meritorious work. Certificates will be handed out to wardens that will give them priority for appointment in government and civil services.
Are you interested to join?
Enrolment as Area Suraksha Mitra
Janaagraha

New Delhi to Hasan

Every citizen is a cop sans uniform’

Internal security wing to be set up

Bangalore: Home Minister V.S. Acharya has said that in view of theincreased threat from terrorists, the State Government is in theprocess of constituting an internal security wing of the State Police.He was speaking at the Home Guards annual day function organised bythe office of the Commandant, Home Guards, Bangalore district, here onThursday.Dr. Acharya said the Coastal Security Force and the intelligence wingwould be merged with the proposed internal security wing, which wouldhave police personnel trained to tackle terrorist activitieseffectively. Coastal Security Force had earned the distinction ofbeing a well-knit unit, and it would be further strengthened, forwhich sಅಪ್

port had been sought from the Centre.The Minister said the Home Guards, a voluntary organisation, assistedthe police during emergencies such as natural disasters and fires, andelection-related security services. Its services could be utilisedeffectively for security purposes if volunteers were given specialtraining.The Government was also contemplating enrolling more number of HomeGuards. It had taken measures to enhance the allowances of Home Guardsserving in rural and urban areas, Dr. Acharya said.The Commandant General, Home Guards, and Director of Civil Defence,Jija M. Harisingh, presided over the function.
(The Hindu)

BANGALORE: “Every policeman is a common man in uniform and every citizen is a policeman without uniform. Both share responsibility towards their nation,” said DG&IGP R Srikumar at an interactive session organised by the Janahita Rakshana Samiti in Malleswaram on Wednesday.
The event was to help create a synergy between citizens and the police.
Samiti president Bhagawan Das Alva said: “Many people have a wrong notion about the police and they are often reluctant to visit the police station, unless it is a major case.
"There is a fear that they may lose their ‘dignity’ if others find them visiting a police station. Hence, the police should take initiatives to make sure that people feel comfortable visiting a police station to file their complaints." Home Minister V S Acharya, who presided over the event, said that people should understand that police are also part of the society.
E arlier, they just had to maintain law and order. But now with increasing terrorist and naxal attacks, the department has new challenges to face. “Unless the citizens join hands with the police, crimes will be difficult to tackle,” he added.