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Residents’ associations taking the lead Neighbourhood watch

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Residents associations are responding positively to different awareness programmes taken up by the city police. Even though the formal inauguration of the Stree Surakha Sandesam (Womens Safety Message) is pending, the police have started conducting awareness classes at individual association levels.

The programmes include short videos on different ways employed by criminals to dupe women and awareness classes by women police team led by N.A. Mary, Circle Inspector, Women’s Cell, city police.

The number of video films was 22 when the project was conceived, it has become 32 now. “The number is constantly updated with inputs from the District Crime Records Bureau,” said Manoj Abraham, City Police Commissioner.

A preview of the 30-minute project was made at the monthly meeting of Police and Residents Associations Initiative in District Ernakulam (PRIDE). “Since then we have been getting many enquiries. A formal inauguration will be made next week, after which we will take the project to more associations,” said Mr. Abraham.

The formal inauguration will be made at the women’s meeting to be held after the public meeting of Ernakulam District Residents Apex Council (EDRAAC) at UPAD Hall, Paramara Road on July 8. Greater Cochin Development Authority chairperson M.C. Josephine will inaugurate the women’s meeting and Kochi Deputy Mayor C.K. Manisankar will inaugurate the public meeting.

“Already the programme has been held at five associations and they gave a good feedback,” said P.K. Gopalakrishnan, general secretary of EDRAAC.

Residents associations gave a similar reception to the drive against narcotic drugs, and ‘Subhayatra’, the traffic awareness show and street play. “We are planning to take ‘Subhayatra’ to more schools once the rainy season is over, since we have been getting enquiries from many schools,” said Mr. Abraham.

Residents associations have a vital role to play in the overall development of the region and the Corporation would extend support to initiatives taken by them, said Mercy Williams, Kochi Mayor. She was speaking after inaugurating the Vysali – Thammanam Link Road Residents Association here. Association president Crucial Mathews presided over the meeting.

State president of Residents Associations Apex Council Hashim Parakkadan; Corporation councillors T.J. Vinod, Aji Francis and K.D. Vincent; EDRAAC vice president Joe George Palocaren; and association office bearers spoke.

A presentation of ‘Subhayatra’, led by D.S. Suneesh Babu, Circle Inspector, City Traffic Police (West), was made after the meeting.

Preventive medicines for chikunguniya were distributed to nearly 300 people under Vennala Sneham Nagar Residents’ Association.

The medical camp was organised jointly by the Youth Club of the Association and Government Homoeopathic Hospital. Chief Medical Officer of the hospital, M.P. Laila Beevi, led the camp. The Association has 90 families as members.

Medical camp for distribution of preventive medicines were organised by the West Kochi region of Residents Associations and Kochi Corporation. Councillor V.J. Hyacinth inaugurated the camp at Santhinagar Community Hall,

Koovapadom. K.M. Hussein, West Kochi region president of Residents Associations, presided. Nearly 2000 persons were given medicine at the camp.

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