In a significant move to bolster security and streamline commerce, the Federation of Jharkhand Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) has launched a series of direct dialogues between traders and the police at the station level in Ranchi. This initiative aims to tackle pressing law and order challenges faced by the business community in various localities.
Ground-Level Dialogues Begin in Ranchi
The first of these localized meetings was held at the Daily Market police station on a Wednesday evening. The discussion zeroed in on critical issues plaguing the area, including road encroachment by street vendors and the nocturnal gathering of drug addicts. This practical step follows a high-level meeting between an FJCCI delegation and former Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Gupta in October. Gupta had emphasized the need for enhanced coordination between traders and the police force.
FJCCI officials confirmed that the program, which started in the state capital, will gradually be rolled out across other parts of Jharkhand. The federation has already conducted a similar meeting at Kotwali police station on November 7, where concerns like drug addicts congregating near Bada Talab at night were raised.
Key Demands and Proposals from Traders
During the Daily Market meeting, traders presented a list of actionable points to the police. FJCCI President Aditya Malhotra outlined the core objective, stating the aim is to make the state's commercial centres safe, organised, and trade-friendly. He specifically advocated for the deployment of a "tiger mobile patrol" and a dedicated women's unit at the police station, acknowledging he would take up the issue of police resource constraints with the DGP.
Mukesh Agrawal, Chairman of the FJCCI's law and order sub-committee, identified traffic congestion, encroachment, and anti-social elements as the primary problems on Main Road. He stressed that a tripartite coordination between the police, Ranchi Municipal Corporation, and traders is essential for resolution.
The business community highlighted that illegal vendor occupation is exacerbating parking woes on Main Road. Their suggestions included:
- Public display of traffic police helpline numbers for real-time jam reporting.
- Increased night patrolling in the Daily Market area.
- Proper preservation of CCTV footage from the police station for investigative purposes.
Statewide Expansion Planned for 2024
The FJCCI has charted an ambitious plan to institutionalize this dialogue mechanism. The federation announced that regional-level police-trader meetings will be organized across Jharkhand in January and February of the coming year. Furthermore, district-level chambers of commerce and industries throughout the state have been urged to conduct similar meetings at their respective police station levels.
This structured, bottom-up approach signifies a proactive shift towards collaborative governance, where the business community and law enforcement work in tandem to create a more secure and conducive environment for trade and daily life in Jharkhand.
