Now, drop your complaints in box in schools, colleges

In an attempt to reach out to the students and bridge the gap between police and students, the police department in the district has taken up a novel initiative of installing the complaint and suggestion box in the schools and colleges across the district.

However, the venture is in the preliminary stage and Karkala taluk has been taken up on pilot project to carry out the endeavour.

Superintendent of Police Boralingaiah M B told Deccan Herald that the plan was designed and executed two months ago and Karkala taluk has been selected for the initial phase.

The plan would cover the entire district in next one and half months.

The schools and colleges that have more number of students are considered.

“We have sent the messages to all colleges. It will be useful to get the feedback from students, besides they can also share their problems, if they are hesitant to come to the police station.

The girls who suffer against eve teasing and other sorts of trouble can bring the issue to the notice. Names and other identifications are not needed and if at all, the students reveal their identification, it will be kept confidential and action will be taken.

The initiative also helps us to know the problems encountered by the students.

The students can also provide useful information with regard to traffic woes. We will try to monitor it effectively. In the beginning, the complaint and suggestion boxes will be opened by police once in every week. Depending on the response, decision will be taken to check the box twice a week,” he said.

In a way, an attempt is made to curtail the increasing number of crimes and atrocities against girl students.

However, this is not the only cause behind installing the complaint and suggestion boxes. It may not be possible to consider all schools and colleges, as the number is too big.

Until now, nine complaint and suggestion boxes are installed in schools and colleges in Karkala, the SP added.

Karkala ASP Annamalai, under whom the project has been carried out said that initially the schools and colleges that have 1,000 and above students are considered.

Students could generate lot of information. They are good sources. The initiative is taken up to help the students who come from far away places and from other states and simultaneously to help the students who come from rural areas.

The language barriers, which might be one among several other reasons for the reluctance of the outside students to approach police, will be sorted out.

Background check is done to know the genuineness of the complaint and suggestion letters, before taking action.

He said the response has been good and the students not only drop the letters that are concerned to police department, but also drop the letters carrying the issues related to panchayats.

The letters that are received will be despatched to the panchayats and departments concerned.

He said that the response so far has been encouraging and the principals of many colleges in Karkala are themselves coming forward to install one in their colleges and schools. By another two to three weeks, the entire Karkala taluk will be covered.

Currently, the police complaint and suggestion boxes are operating in colleges coming under Nitte Education Trust; Madhwa Engineering College, Bantakallu; Bhuvanendra College, Karkala; MSR College in Shirva; Dandatheertha College in Kaup; and Vidyanikethan School in Kaup, the ASP added.