Amaravati, June 16 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Minister for Home Affairs and Disaster Management, Vangalapudi Anitha, on Tuesday, affirmed the government’s commitment to making Andhra Pradesh the safest state in the country through public participation, police-public coordination, the use of technology, transparent administration, rapid response, and strict law enforcement.

She stated that the government’s goal is to prevent crimes before they occur, rather than simply responding after a crime has been committed. The Minister affirmed that the government is working uncompromisingly towards public safety, the dignity of women, the future of the youth, and social harmony.

Addressing a press conference, she claimed that under the leadership of Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the coalition government has achieved remarkable results by implementing comprehensive reforms across various sectors—including law and order maintenance, women’s safety, drug control, curbing cybercrime, disaster management, prison reforms, and police welfare—over the past two years.

She said that the government has restructured systems—which were previously confined to serving political interests—into an administration dedicated to public service and accountability. She emphasised that the government views maintaining law and order not merely as a display of authority, but as a responsibility to earn the public’s trust.

The minister stated that since the government assumed office, the overall crime rate in the state has dropped by approximately 14.1 per cent through the use of technology, efficient surveillance systems, scientific investigation methods, and improved inter-departmental coordination.

She noted that the government has successfully moved towards proactive crime detection and prevention by implementing “invisible policing” through CCTV cameras, drones, AI-based analysis, and digital surveillance systems. Measures are being taken to increase conviction rates by monitoring the movements of criminals, rapidly gathering evidence, and expediting investigations.

The minister emphasised that the government treats women’s safety as a top priority, guided by the belief that true independence is achieved only when a woman can walk fearlessly on the streets even at midnight. To this end, the government has established dedicated women’s protection wings and district-specific security systems, and implemented a technology-driven response mechanism, the ‘Shakti’ app for emergency assistance, and special monitoring for crimes against women.

She mentioned that over 11.15 lakh emergency SOS calls have been received via the ‘Shakti’ app so far, and immediate action has been taken on them.

The minister stated that ‘Operation Muskaan’—an initiative launched to identify missing children, women, and the elderly and reunite them with their families—has been immensely successful. Through this programme, 8,396 missing individuals were identified and returned to their families. She remarked that these achievements reflect the humane side of the police department.

The minister noted that the government treats POCSO cases with the utmost sensitivity and takes stringent action against those who commit sexual crimes against children. Measures such as the formation of special investigation teams, expedited forensic testing, and a dedicated prosecution system are in place, alongside the provision of psychological and social support to victims. So far, 2,293 children have received counselling and rehabilitation services.

–IANS

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