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‘eGujCop’, a project undertaken by Gujarat government’s home department, aims at integrating its various branches through information technology.
“The project will interconnect various branches of the home department like police stations, jails, forensic science laboratory (FSL) and passport office, etc, which will help give information access to all the branches,” Additional Chief Secretary (Home) S.K Nanda said.
All the central jails too will be connected, he said, adding the technology will not only help in creating a database of jailed persons, both under-trials and convicted criminals, but also keep a track of their activities, such as the visitors they are receiving, etc.
Sub-jails will not be a part of this integration.
The project, estimated to cost Rs 135 crore, started last year.
“Records, which are kept manually, will be digitised, eliminating (need for) duplicate records and saving time,” Nanda said.
The integrated system will enable the various organisations which gather intelligence separately, such as Intelligence Bureau, CID, etc, to share vital information, strengthening the overall intelligence gathering mechanism.
The project, when completed, would transform the police force, making it modern, Nanda said.
However, the facility of filing the First Information Report (FIR) online will not be available. According to Nanda, authorities fear that it would be misused.
“Registration of online FIRs will lead to chaos.
Somebody who may have filed the FIR online will (later) refuse having done so...and such other problems (would crop up). So, we have not included registration of FIR under the project,” Nanda said.
Every police station will have an officer with information technology expertise.
Through ‘Citizen Portal Service,’ citizens will be able to request police services online. Details of missing persons, stolen vehicles would become accessible online.
It would also be possible for a person to check the progress of his/her case, and download important forms and certificates.
Citizens can also apply for verifications, licenses, etc online, and check progress of the application.
The project will cover over 1,100 locations, including 450 police stations, 35 offices of Commissioner of Police (CP) and Superintendent of Police (SP) and 60 Sub Divisional Police Offices (SDPOs).
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