Kerala Police To Offer Counselling For Victims And Offenders Of Crime To Start Life Afresh

Janamaithri police or people friendly police in Kerala have once again shown their humanitarian gesture, this time by helping victims of crime. Kollam subdivision in Kerala has decided to provide counselling for victims of crime and their relatives. They will give counselling to the offenders too. Nine police stations under Kollam subdivision will soon commence counselling facilities to curb the escalating crime rate.

The department decided to launch this novel initiative since there were several instances of crime and the area was becoming a crime hotspot. Many cases related to missing people, child marriage, domestic abuse, and juvenile abuse were reported in the district. ‘Nanma’ counselling centres attached to Punalur, Anchal, Kunnicode, Pathanpara, Eroor, Kulathupuzha, Thenmala, Kadakal, and Chadayamangalam will counsel and help the victims and offenders to deal with the trauma.

Modus Operandi

The ‘Nanma Counselling’ will categorise the people into two sections – victims and offenders. The department will contact all the victims related to the cases registered during the past two years.

“Since most of the existing counselling facilities are city centred and private, people find it difficult to afford. People living in the rural areas are not even aware of such facilities. 95% people living in these areas are financially backward. The problems were there in the past. But people feared to report. Now, the situation has changed. As a result of awareness programmes, many people came forward to report crimes. But we don’t think that the sole problems will be solved when we arrest them or give them punishment. We have to give them a new life,” said B Krishnakumar, DySP Punalur to The Logical Indian.

A team of volunteers including professional psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors, NGO and ORC volunteers, SC/ST promoters and Kudumbasree workers will conduct the counselling sessions.

The Nanma Counselling centres will also deal with creating awareness among people to curb crime rates in the district. They will conduct awareness programmes in schools and colleges and among tribal communities.

According to Krishna Kumar, the society approach both victims and offenders with a negative attitude. “There are very few who have concern for them. More often, the poor financial situations and unhealthy family atmosphere force them to commit crimes. Even if they want to lead a normal life, the stereotyped images about them will not change easily. We want to wipe out such notions existing in our society,” Krishna Kumar added.

People-friendly police in Kerala

The term Janamaithri Suraksha or community police refers to the method of policing by members of the police department and the method is different from the traditional style. “It seeks the cooperation of the community, understands the needs of the “community”, gives priority to the security of the “community”, and, taking into account the resources available within the “community”, attempts to streamline the activities of police personnel at local police stations to address the special problems of each community to increase their efficiency and productivity,” states Kerala Police’s official website.

• Janamaithri Kendras were opened in each district and battalion headquarters. Its objectives are:
• To prevent crime
• Co-operation between the Police and the Public in security matters
  To ensure mutual cooperation among members of the public in the domain of security