BLOW THE WHISTLE FOR POLICE REFORMS IN MAHARASHTRA
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and Police Reforms Watch Press Statement, 24th September, 2014 On the eve of Maharashtra polls on 15th October, 2014, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative working on the issue of better policing for nearly two decades in India and Police Reforms Watch Mumbai, (an umbrella of various voluntary groups and activists committed to monitoring the implementation of police reform in Maharashtra) is all set to launch 18 days campaign beginning 26 September, 2014 to catalyze voters in Maharashtra and especially in the city of Mumbai to vote for a representative and a party that commits to and is vested in better policing in the state. CINEMA SLIDES: The campaign officially kicks off with a 2 week campaign beginning 26th September to 10th October, 2014 in 56 cinema halls of Mumbai where a ten second cinema slide specially designed by us will be broadcast 4 times a day. Each slide has a message with a catch Phrase 'I am Mumbai......................." RADIO MESSAGES: Our second component of the campaign involving Radio Messages will go live from 6th-13th October, 2014 in three FM radios namely- Radio City (91.1) , Radio Fever (104) and Big FM-92.7 with a message asking ........Mango, Mango, Mango Kaun Dega Sacha Police Sudhar... WEBSITE: For all those interested to join the campaign and see our materials on policing and resources related to Maharashtra you can log on the website www.policereformswatch.org that will go live on September 27, 2014. MANIFESTO: Both Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and Police Reforms Watch, Mumbai have drafted a People's Manifesto for Better Policing titled 'Ten Giant Steps to Police Reforms in Maharashtra' which we want all the Political Parties in the fray to commit to if they are truly vested in better policing. Facebook Campaign on Police Reforms: A dedicated Page titled 'Fix Policing Now' https://www.facebook.com/FixPolicingNow looks into all aspects of policing in India whether housing, encounters, police misconduct, exceptional good behaviour by the police, landmark cases. This facebook page of more than 51,000 followers with catchy titles and appealing images, has become a platform for healthy debates and discussions. Now the page is geared towards crystallizing public opinion online for better policing in Maharashtra for the upcoming polls. One of the major hallmarks of this campaign is the "WHISTLE". Every message whether Radio or the Cinema Slides begins with the sound of 'Whistle' and also ends with it. So do come and join us in our campaign for making policing an issue in the forthcoming Maharashtra polls and yes do not forget to "Blow the Whistle in favour of police reforms" in your state. For more information Contact 1) Mr Dolphy D'Souza, Convenor Police Reforms Watch, at 09820226227; policereformswa...@gmail.com 2) Mrs Maja Daruwala, Director, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative at 09810199745 3) Ms. Devika Prasad, Coordinator, Police Reforms Programme, CHRI at dev...@humanrightsinitiative.org; 9810727469. Yours sincerely Aditi - Aditi Datta Senior Programme Officer, Police Reforms Programme Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative 4th floor, 55A, Siddhartha Chambers, Kalu Sarai New Delhi 110016 Ph:9250074650 Visit Network for Improved Policing in South Asia (NIPSA): http://www.nipsa.in/ More info on our website: www.humanrightsinitiative.org CHRI is an independent, non partisan, international non-governmental organization headquartered in New Delhi.
