The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu today called upon the police forces to be extra sensitive in matters relating to crimes against women. He observed that creating a safe and enabling environment for women is very important to help them grow and attain their full potential.

Addressing the police personnel after presenting Presidential Police Colours to Tamil Nadu Police in Chennai today, Shri Naidu praised Tamil Nadu for having the highest number of women police stations and the second highest strength of women police personnel in the country. Women form half of our population but a lot still remains to be done to provide them equal opportunities on various fronts, he stressed.

Expressing concern over the increasing incidents of cybercrime and other modern-day offences such as online frauds and transboundary crimes, the Vice President exhorted our police forces to skill and equip themselves to deal with these 21st century crimes in an effective and speedy manner. He appreciated Tamil Nadu Police for establishing a separate Cyber Crime Wing with 46 Cyber Crime Police Stations in addition to various cyber forensic facilities to investigate cybercrime cases on scientific lines. “Upgradation of skills, improvement of infrastructure facilities, and change of attitude of the Police force are key elements in the modernisation of the Police,” he added.

The Vice President also lauded Tamil Nadu Police for an exclusive Idol Wing, first of its kind in the country, to investigate cases of theft or loss of cultural artefacts. Commending the state police for retrieving ten priceless antique idols from the USA and Australia recently, he said that we must make every effort to preserve our age-old cultural heritage and civilisational values. Referring to rich and glorious cultural heritage of the state of Tamil Nadu, he emphasised the need to preserve it for our future generations.

Describing Tamil Nadu as one of India’s most prosperous and industrialised states, Shri Naidu observed that the role of the police is of paramount importance in a rapidly changing socio-economic environment. “One of the primary reasons behind the economic progress of the State is the role of the state police in maintaining public order and social harmony, which is essential for attracting investment, growth and development in the State,” he added.

Expressing happiness over several welfare measures for police personnel, the Vice President particularly praised Tamil Nadu for launching a “Police Well-Being Programme” as a countermeasure for stress and prevention of alcoholism and suicides in the force. He also appreciated the state police’s role in effectively guarding the Tamil Nadu’s 1076 km coastline and ensuring safety and wellbeing of fishermen.

Describing the presentation of President’s Police Colours as a glorious moment in the history of Tamil Nadu Police, Shri Naidu conveyed his best wishes to all serving and retired members of Tamil Nadu Police. “This is a recognition of your dedication, professionalism, selfless service and sacrifice,” he said. The Vice President also congratulated the Director General of Police and Head of Police Force, Tamil Nadu, Dr C. Sylendra Babu under whose stewardship the personnel of Tamil Nadu Police put up an impressive show of parade. Shri Naidu also released a postage stamp on this occasion.

During his address, the Vice President recalled his lifelong association with Chennai and described it as a beautiful city which never ceased to amaze him. This was Shri Naidu’s last visit to Chennai as the Vice President of India.

Shri M.K. Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr. V. Irai Anbu, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, Dr. C. Sylendra Babu, DGP, Head of Police Force, Tamil Nadu, Shri K. Phanindra Reddy, ACS (Home) to Govt. of Tamil Nadu, Shri Shankar Jiwal, DGP/COP, Chennai, Shri B. Selva Kumar, Chief Postmaster General, Tamil Nadu Circle, senior police officials and other dignitaries attended the event.

Following is the full text of speech –

It gives me immense pleasure to be here with you in Chennai today to present the Presidential Colours to the Tamil Nadu Police. This beautiful city of Chennai has always had a special place in my heart and in an association of a lifetime, has never ceased to amaze me. This is my last visit to Chennai as the Vice President of India, but the boundless love and warmth of the people of Tamil Nadu will keep beckoning me to this place.

Dear friends,

Today is a red-letter day in the history of Tamil Nadu Police. Today, you have joined the elite group of states to receive the highest honour conferred upon any military or state police unit in India. It is indeed a proud moment for every Tamilian and I feel very happy and privileged to bestow this honour on Tamil Nadu Police on behalf of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of India. This Award is a recognition of your commendable service and many achievements. My heartiest congratulations to all members of Tamil Nadu Police. This is a recognition of your dedication, professionalism, selfless service and sacrifice.

Since its birth in 1859 as Madras Police, the Tamil Nadu Police has, over the years, emerged as one of the best police forces in the country by endearing itself to the public. The force, has, in sunny and difficult times, always strived to provide security to the common man, the underprivileged and weaker sections of society and has helped effectively bolster communal harmony and public order in the state.

I am very happy to know that Tamil Nadu has the highest number of women police stations and the second highest number of women police personnel in the country. It also holds the distinction of establishing the first women Commando Force in the Country. These are praiseworthy achievements towards our goals of gender parity and equal rights for all women.

Dear friends,

Women form the half of our population but a lot still remains to be done to provide them equal opportunities on various fronts. Creating a safe and enabling environment for women is very important to help them grow and attain their full potential. Therefore, I would urge the police forces to be extra sensitive in matters relating to crimes against women.

An emerging area of concern today is a sharp rise in incidents of cybercrime and other modern-day offences such as online frauds and transboundary crimes. Our police forces must be skilled and equipped to deal with these 21st century crimes in an effective and speedy manner. I am glad to note that Tamil Nadu Police has recently established a separate Cyber Crime Wing with 46 Cyber Crime Police Stations. I learn that a cyber forensic lab with high-end forensic workstation, disc forensic, mobile forensic and social media tools at a cost of Rs.6.90 Crores is also coming up under the Safe City project to investigate cybercrime cases on scientific lines.

It is worth mentioning that Tamil Nadu is the only State in India to have an exclusive Idol Wing, a unit dedicated to investigating cases of theft or loss of cultural artefacts such as idols, paintings and other treasures of our heritage. Recently, the Idol Wing retrieved ten priceless antique idols belonging to the state from the USA and Australia. This is commendable work. We must make every effort to preserve our age-old cultural heritage and civilisational values. The state of Tamil Nadu is a proud inheritor of a rich and glorious culture from our forefathers and it must be preserved for our future generations.

Friends,

Tamil Nadu with a coastline of 1076 km boasts of one of the best Coastal Security units called the “Coastal Security Group,” which was formed with an aim to prevent transborder activities and ensure safety of the fishermen. I am told that there are 12 Marine Police stations in the State and about 100 checkpoints.

It also gives me immense delight to state that Tamil Nadu is a forerunner in initiating many welfare measures for police personnel for boosting the morale of the force. It is the only state in the country so far to launch a “Police Well-Being Programme” as a countermeasure for stress and prevention of alcoholism and suicides in the force. Apart from this, the state police has introduced several measures for health, insurance and education of police personnel and their wards.

Upgradation of skills, improvement of infrastructure facilities, and change of attitude of the Police Force are key elements in the modernisation of the Police. In addition to the Government of India grants, the State Government has been sanctioning funds for the modernisation of the Police force, which covers programmes for improving buildings, housing, mobility, communication, training, weapons, Finger Print Bureau/ Forensic Sciences Lab, data processing, computerisation and equipment with the objective of creating robust infrastructure.

Today, Tamil Nadu is one of India's most prosperous and industrialised states. The role of the police is of paramount importance in a rapidly changing socio-economic environment. One of the primary reasons behind the economic progress of the State is the role of the state police in maintaining public order and social harmony, which is essential for attracting investment, growth and development in the State. I extend my congratulations and compliments to all the personnel of Tamil Nadu Police for ensuring peace and tranquillity throughout the State and for creating conducive conditions for economic growth and prosperity.

My special congratulations to the Director General of Police and Head of Police Force, Tamil Nadu, Dr C. Sylendra Babu under whose stewardship the personnel of Tamil Nadu Police have put up an impressive parade. In recognising the services of the personnel of the forces, the Nation also acknowledges the immense contribution of the Tamil Nadu Police. I once again extend my congratulations to all the personnel of the Tamil Nadu Police on being bestowed with the honour of the prestigious Presidential colours.

*****

MS/RK/NS/DP