Jaipur: Rajasthan Police has begun training 22 personnel in French to help foreign tourists communicate with police and seek assistance more easily. The month-long programme covers personnel from Tourism Assistance Force (TAF), Jaipur and Jodhpur police commissionerates, with more foreign language courses planned.Launched on the directions of DGP Rajeev Kumar Sharma, the training is being conducted by professional French instructors. The selected personnel are posted at tourist police stations, police lines and other offices.The lessons are already being put to use. After 15 days of training, a TAF constable recently approached French tourists near Albert Hall Museum in Jaipur and introduced himself in their language. He asked about their age and travel experiences, leaving the visitors pleased with his effort.“Rajasthan is a global tourist destination. We have tourists coming from different corners of the world, and we want to ensure they do not face any problems,” a police officer said.Police officials said tourists travelling in organised groups often have guides or translators to help them. However, independent travellers, including backpackers and solo tourists, may find it difficult to communicate when seeking directions or police assistance.Jaipur and Jodhpur, two of Rajasthan’s major tourist destinations, attract international visitors who may need help navigating unfamiliar places or dealing with local authorities. The language training is aimed at helping personnel communicate directly with them, particularly in situations requiring police intervention.The department is also developing a dedicated webpage and an Instagram account to provide prompt assistance to tourists and showcase its public service initiatives.Police officials said other foreign languages could be included in future training programmes to make tourist policing more accessible to international visitors.
