They log in for comp classes at cop stations

TO TEACH HIS OWN: Cops at Nagpada police station even go to students’ homes if they skip the classes

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: Fifteen-year-old Asma Sayyed never stepped into a police station until last month. Now she is a regular visitor to the Nagpada police station where she spends an hour every day, where she is learning computers.

The Nagpada police station is among several others where free computer training is being imparted. This initiative was started a month ago by an NGO, Vedanta Foundation, in collaboration with the city police. Seventy students attend the training in six batches at the Nagpada police station. The classes are of one hour each. “Around 80% of the students are girls. They are very enthusiastic about the training,’’ said senior inspector Sanjay Kadam.

Nagpada has been in the news for the wrong reasons. It is popularly referred to as the birth place of Mumbai’s underworld, where Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel spent their childhoods. However, the image of this area is changing now.

The computer centre at the police station has also strengthened the police-public relationship. “There are many girls from Muslim families who never visited a police station, but now they feel free here,’’ said an officer.

“When we came here for the first time, we were nervous. Now we feel safe. It feels like you are with your own family,’’ said a student.

Vedanta has given six computers to the police station and a female trainer. What is interesting is the police’s attempt to ensure these students attend classes regularly. “If students are absent, we send cops to their house to find out the reason behind their skipping the session. We want to ensure that they learn everything on the basics of computers,’’ said an officer.

Santosh Jadhav, the NGO’s project officer, said, “The response has been overwhelming. We have a placement cell and try to get jobs for these students.’’

The Times of India, April 15, 2010