CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Governor and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh, S.F. Rodrigues, on Saturday visited the Police Station in Sector 36 and inaugurated three sub-divisional grievance redress units for the public as part of an international effort organised by the Atlas Global Alliance.

The aim of this project is to ensure community participation and active involvement of citizens in bringing transparency to the service delivery system in the police stations.

Gen Rodrigues called for immediate steps to change the outdated laws enacted during the British regime and bring necessary modifications in the Acts to meet the changing needs of India's democratic and social system.

He said the provisions in the Police Act and other laws reflected the British mind-set and new laws should be framed without any further delay keeping in view the democratic traditions enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

Emphasising the need for reinventing and revalidating traditional systems, Gen Rodrigues called for modification of "our internal mechanisms by bringing about change in our rules, procedures, attitudes and behaviour''.

He said efforts for establishing a better rapport and ensuring cordiality with the public must be made.

"Unless the police genuinely regard the community as an equal partner and give up their patronising attitude, it cannot succeed. It also requires an alert and mature citizenry to support the community policing system.''

He said the Chandigarh Administration had started the process of implementation of various policies and programmes for upgrading the lives of the needy and disadvantaged with the active participation of the peoples' representatives.

Elaborating the plans for rehabilitation of slum dwellers, rickshaw pullers and rag pickers, Gen Rodrigues said that good living conditions and infrastructure were being created for them near Mauli Jagran, Maloya and other suitable places in a time-bound phased manner. Another programme for the economic empowerment of the poor and downtrodden was also in the process of implementation, by giving them suitable training and avenues of self-employment. He appealed to the people to extend their cooperation and helping hand in the removal of encroachments.

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