The Prime Minister stressed the need to change the image of police and security personnel in India

While dedicating a building of the Rashtriya Raksha University to the nation in Ahmedabad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for stress-free training activities for police personnel in the country. Considered as an institution of national importance, the Rashtriya Raksha University commenced its operations from October 1, 2020.

“Stress-free training activities are the need of the hour for strengthening the country's security apparatus”, Prime Minister Modi said, while delivering the first convocation address at the University. He emphasized on the need for experts to deal with stress and relaxation including yoga experts in the forces.

Speaking on the occasion, he said the earlier notion of internal security during the colonial time was based on instilling fear among the masses for keeping peace for the colonial masters.

He said earlier the security forces had more time to prepare which is no longer so as technology and transportation and communication has improved so much.

He also said today’s policing requires skills like negotiating and other soft skills that are needed to function in a democratic scenario.

The Prime Minister stressed the need to change the image of police and security personnel.

Depiction of police in popular culture has not helped in this regard, either.

He praised the humane work by the police personnel during the pandemic.

“Post-independence, there was a need for reforms in the country's security apparatus. A perception was developed that we have to be careful of the uniformed personnel. But it has transformed now. When people see uniformed personnel now, they get the assurance of help”, he said.

The Prime Minister also noted shrinking of the support network of joint families for police personnel in dealing with the stress of the job.

He underlined the importance of technology in the security and policing work. He said if criminals are using technology, technology can be harnessed to nab them also. He said this emphasis on technology would also enable even the divyang people to contribute in the field.

On this occasion, he also urged the students that they should always keep the values of humanity as integral to their uniform and there should never be dearth of service spirit in their efforts.

He noted with satisfaction the growing number of girls and women in the security field. “We are seeing greater participation of women in the defence sector. Be it Science, Shiksha or Suraksha, women are leading from the front”, he said.