Lucknow: Girl students of schools and colleges stepped into the roles of senior police officers for a day across Lucknow’s southern zone, hearing public grievances, observing administrative procedures and gaining first-hand exposure to the challenges of policing on Wednesday.Under Mission Shakti Phase 6.0, a state initiative aimed at promoting women’s safety, confidence, self-reliance and empowerment, students took charge of the offices of the DCP, additional DCP and ACP, besides assuming the roles of SHOs at 10 police stations.The initiative included students from Classes VII to XII as well as college-goers, giving them an opportunity to understand how the police function, how complaints are handledand how decisions affecting citizens are taken.Taking charge as DCP (South), Riya Kumari, a second-year Bachelor of Fine Arts student at SKD Degree College, interacted with complainants and visitors and observed how grievances are processed and addressed. She pulled up a police officer for “siding with one of the parties in a criminal case” and directed officials to ensure compliance with the prescribed permissions for a Garba event.For Riya, it was a glimpse into the responsibilities of a senior police officer: listening to people, examining complaints and ensuring procedures are followed.Also from SKD Inter College, Class XI student Avantika Verma (16) assumed the role of additional DCP (South) and listened to citizens’ concerns, verified and forwarded them to the appropriate officials for necessary action. Second-year electronics engineering student Rashmi Mishra (20) served as ACP Krishna Nagar in the first shift.Students were introduced to responsibilities associated with policing and observed how officials deal with public complaints, maintain law and order and implement women’s safety measures.They were also familiarised with Mission Shakti centres, cyber help desks and general diary offices, which play an important role in police functioning.At Nigohan police station, the student designated as station in charge inspected the Mission Shakti centre, cyber help desk and GD office.The exposure was designed to help students appreciate the range of responsibilities handled by police personnel, from addressing individual grievances to maintaining public order and responding to cybercrime-related complaints.The programme also offered the girls an opportunity to observe how women’s safety initiatives are implemented at the police station level and how citizens approach the police for assistance.
