Modern policing seems to be reaching Udaipur at last, thanks to the modern concepts of Udaipur's youthful Police Superintendent, M.L.Lather and the go-ahead Additional S.P., Anand Shukla. Bit by bit they are looking at how the police force is running and working out how to make it more consumer-friendly and efficient.
The latest scheme to be introduced is the Police Assistance Point at the railway station. A sort of 'Fare's Fair Scheme' is operating from there, particularly for the benefit of tourists. The scheme is a zero-hassle exercise to ensure that rickshaws charge the approved rate and are obliged to take the customers where they, the customers ask to go.
As Mr.Anand Shukla sees things, this is only the start of good news for visitors. The two police chiefs have been working on the idea of a tourist police section to help and advise visitors in the local tourist hot spots, especially around the Jagdish Temple - City Palace area. The officers involved will be easily identifiable and will have special training in dealing with potential problems tourists may face, from loss of direction to harassment.
This is not to say that tourists in Udaipur are always facing problems. Actually Udaipur is generally fairly crime and problem-free, but the chiefs believe that prevention is better than cure. Tourist police officers will be carefully selected for suitability; they must be fluent in at least one Western language, friendly, helpful, locally-knowledgable and approachable. These are certainly qualities possessed by the two chiefs so they know what to look for in their team. Also on the agenda is a wide-ranging scheme for a much needed improvement of the traffic and parking situation. A huge increase in the amount of motorized transport is causing many problems to city streets that were designed for horses and pedestrians. Parking restrictions are already in force in one or two areas of the city, and will be extended. Lane markings are soon to be put down and motorists will be expected to obey them, and for those motorists who flout every rule in the book, BEWARE! There are yet more changes on the way.
The 43 year old Anand Shukla is researching policing methods with great care. He is looking at those of the USA and Western Europe for ideas. In his capacity as a member of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force he has travelled in at least 40 countries and speaks several languages. He served in Bosnia and has had training in Human Rights. He is a man of much experience, including a stint on an Adriatic nudist beach that seems to have added a new dimension to his life! He will be interested to hear directly from tourists if they have points to make about the local policing, and his office is to be found in the Collectorate next to the main Indian Airlines office.
