For every police force in the modern day world, the never ending challenge is to keep track of the changing nature of crimes committed. Every data comes along with various sections or segregation and the law takes its own route with sequential detection, assessment and judgment. However, in reality, the present law and order scenario demands more than that. A vibrant society demands critical outlook in this context where profiling the culprits, going deep into their delinquent acts and assessing the mode of operation— all have become a global trend today. The Kolkata Police, which has always been exemplary with its outlook and approach, has come outwith a completely fresh approach in this regard.
The Shuddhi Project is a perfect example of such attitude, expediting rehabilitation of the victims of drug and substance abuse.
Aparajita Rai, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, South Division Kolkata, remarked: “In Kolkata Police, we closely analyse the nature of the crimes committed and ample importance is given to individual profiles of the offenders. In the last few years, we noticed that in various crimes committed in Kolkata, the drug peddlers and those addicted to various kinds of drugs are getting in the close circles of crime. Interestingly, the pattern of their operation suggests that neither are they habitual offenders, nor are they dealing in any nexus or rackets. In many such cases we found that they are getting into crime while arranging the money for drugs through illegal means. We then decided to take up this issue and frame possible wayouts to truly reform them. This is how the Shuddhi project came into practice and now, it has become a model project for the City of Joy, transforming such hapless individuals into better human beings. We began our journey with two persons and now we are getting calls from as far as Burdwan. Truly, Shuddhi has given us a new direction altogether which has been a life changing one for so many.”
Mostly it is seen that people from the under-privileged sections of society are most susceptible or vulnerable to drugs and substance abuse. Often such families are financially not in a position to ‘take proper care’ of the afflicted persons. This indirectly aggravates the law and order situation in the city and the mere crime record fails to appreciate the backdrop. The Shuddhi project includes these people who are in the habit of petty crimes due to their reliance on drugs. The programme looks to transform these individuals through an inclusive rehabilitation procedure where they can get back their confidence and revive their self-esteem to work and earn for their family through honest means. No doubt, this ambitious project itself takes care of numerous significant perspectives through a sensitive and balanced approach. The best part about Shuddhi is that it can play a life-changing role for juveniles who have been booked under different crimes and are also victims of substance abuse.
In India, over 87 percent of juveniles who are booked under various crimes have a history of substance abuse. It goes without any saying that possession of the contraband substance is a crime in itself and let’s not forget that its consumption has far-reaching consequences on crime.
The project began with Jitu Mullickand Sunny Mullick, brothers in crime, admitted to a private rehabilitation centre on December 15, 2017. Since then, there has been no looking back. This crowd-funding project has received tremendous response from people from all walks of life. Not only people from India but also many fromabroad have extended their help and support too.
In fact, within a year itself, two people have got jobs in Bankura and another has been officially absorbed ina company near Kolkata. The families of the drug victims are also elated with such welcome changes in society spelling out distinctly a deep sense of belonging. The whole procedure right from admission to release is done with the consent from the concerned families. At present, there are three rehabilitation centres where victims of drug abuse are being treated and there is indeed hope among them and also in their peers.
The whole procedure of Shuddhi project itself is also a transparent one. First and foremost, each local Police Station identifies such persons who are involved in crimes due to their dependency on drugs. The families of these persons are then contacted, counselled and their consent acquired for the process ahead. The local Police Station uploads data of these persons on the Kolkata Police Shuddhi webpage and each person gets a unique ID number. Now, volunteers can adopt these persons via online and as per the existing rule and regulations. Not only the local Police Station keeps a tab on them but also monthly reports are submitted internally for individual updates. In fact, there are dedicated WhatsApp groups for daily updates on those who are treated in the rehabilitation centres.
According to Jayanta Mukherjee, Officer-In-Charge of Crime Record Section, Lalbazar: “We can definitely say that the Shuddhi project has achieved a positive impact on the criminal record of the city. Be it snatching, burglary, mobile thefts or incidents of housebreaking, Kolkata is indeed witnessing a sea change. Interestingly, those areas which are by and large considered to be susceptible to criminal activities are also faring well. Within a year itself, the moral transformation has become very prominent by virtue of the Shuddhi project.”
The USP of the Shuddhi Project has been the transparency of funding, employability of people after the rehabilitation phase and obviously the cause itself. The whole idea of crowdfunding has worked wonderfully with the people and no doubt, the project has indeed become a unique flagship scheme of the Kolkata Police. In the days to come, it won’t be surprising if other states too adopt similar approaches in the greater interest of society.
By our Correspondent
