NEWS

• The Karnataka State Police has launched ‘Sanmitra’, a community-centric initiative aimed at combating the rising drug abuse problem among the youth.
• The programme emphasizes rehabilitation, mentorship, and continuous monitoring rather than focusing solely on punitive measures.

HIGHLIGHTS

Objective of the Initiative

✔ Rehabilitation-Driven Policing

• Move beyond conventional policing such as arrests, seizures, and chargesheets.
• Adopt a holistic approach with empathy, guidance, and structured support.

✔ Root-Cause Identification

• Identify underlying social, psychological, and environmental causes of addiction.
• Ensure sustained intervention to prevent relapse.

Key Features

1. Sanmitra Helpdesk at Every Police Station

• Dedicated helpdesks to record cases confidentially.
• Only senior officers will access personal details, ensuring privacy.

2. Appointment of Trained Police Mentors

• Each affected individual will be assigned a trained police mentor.
• Mentors will:
  • Maintain constant communication
  • Engage with the individual’s family
  • Coordinate with mental health professionals
  • Track monthly progress

3. Monitoring Social Circles

• Police will discreetly assess the social environment of each individual.
• Friends showing signs of substance abuse will be flagged for medical counselling.

Special Focus on Students

• Avoid uniformed visits to educational institutions to eliminate stigma.
• Police will interact informally, acting as “friends” to help youth reintegrate into mainstream academics.

Accountability and Reporting Structure

• Station-level:
  • Sanmitra personnel must submit fortnightly progress reports to Station Heads.
  • Monthly confidential reports submitted to SP/DCP.
• Higher-level:
  • SPs and DCPs will compile quarterly assessments for IGPs, DIGs, and Commissioners.
  • Annual operational report due every December.