Abraham Maslow wrote about the hierarchy of human needs. A sense of security is the most important human need right after food and shelter. When we are plagued with a sense of insecurity, it affects everything else in our lives. No organisation, mohalla, city, state, country or geopolitical area can survive if they are constantly plagued with a sense of fear, uncertainty and insecurity. The news in Pune is full of scary things like the ‘Koyta Gang’, crime against women, cyber frauds, illegal drugs and communal discord. Add to this we have high profile cases of honey trap and espionage like the Pradeep Kurulkar DRDO’s R&DE (E) laboratory, cases of ISIS terror modules in Pune and the Lalit Patil Drugs and escape from Jail case. Kolkata is India safest City according to the National Crime Records Bureau 2022 report “crime in India”. It reported 86.5 cases of cognizable offences per lakh people. Pune is the second safest City but after a huge margin with 280.7 cases per lakh people followed by Hyderabad with 299.2 cases. But when it comes to women’s safety, we are not even No 1 in Maharashtra:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/nagpur-safer-than-mumbai-and-pune-for-women-ncrb-data-2022/articleshow/105740371.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst   So, our overall second rank should not lull us into complacency. Maharashtra is known as a progressive state. We have an almost 1000 year legacy of Sants (Sant Parampara). We have a legacy of rule of law and fraternity from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to Mahatma Phule to shahu Maharaj and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.  We can do much better than a distant second rank. Numbers Game  Crime records often do not provide the whole picture. Many crimes go unreported due to fear and shame.  There is an almost obsessive focus in the police department on these figures.  This often incentivises the system to artificially suppress the real numbers. While measurement and numbers are important, what is more important is to work on the fundamentals and the roots. Currently we are like the unhealthy person who gets their medical check up and blood tested every month, and demands medicines from the doctors, who have in fact prescribed A complete change of lifestyle to deal with fundamental diseases.    Pune Crime Data

We demand that our police system be completely overhauled using innovative plans that have been proven to work in this very state. People are under the misconception that if only police were provided with bigger budgets, better weapons, more recruits, more salary they will perform better. People also think that if the police were made independent from their political masters, they will be more honest and effective. This is a complete falsehood. It has been proven around the world that without political oversight, police functioning gets much worse especially in a developing country like India.  So then what is the solution? Under the Pune Model, we propose the following:

• Redefine the role and priorities and mission of the Police
• Overhaul the structure and working of the Police (on the lines of what we have proposed for the rest of the bureaucracy).
• Strengthen Intelligence Gathering
• Alternate Dispute Redressal Systems so that the burden on the police and judiciary is reduced and our dangerously low rate of convictions is improved.
• Focus on communal and caste harmony
• Community policing for Cybercrime

Part I] Kamsudhar Mandal 1] Priorities of the Police 2] Kamsudhar Manda: Work improvement committees

• There is a vast gap of status/self esteem between junior and senior bureaucratic servants like the caste system in india. Work improvement committees based on the Indian joint family system, quality circles and kaizen of Japan is a proven model for improving efficiency and effectiveness of bureaucracy.
• In this, everybody from the junior most class 4 employees to the senior most employees working in the same office regularly come together, discuss, brainstorm all the problems faced by the office, exchange the views, make suggestions and finally agree upon the solution. Everybody thinks that the decision was their own, hence they implement it sincerely and enthusiastically.
• Emphasis is laid on improving personal and professional growth of every member of work improvement committee
• This process results in an atmosphere of innovation

Part II] Mohalla Committee Mohalla Committee concept is a brainchild of a Punekar – Suresh Khopade IPS (Retd), who was posted as DCP of Bhiwnadi which had witnessed many Hindu Muslim riots. He witnessed how rumors spread, how people with malicious self-interest took advantage of the situation, how the communities segregated and how it all eventually lead to complete breakdown of law and order. Policing in a fast changing socio-economic environment is a complex task. In a democracy it is an accepted view that policing cannot be accomplished without people′s participation. This is more so in a democracy such as ours with its pulls and pressures due to various religions, castes and the sheer numbers involved. Mohalla Committees (Mohalla Committees) are an integral part of the community policing initiative. As the name suggests, Mohalla Committees are formed at the local area level and consist of a cross-section of society. The local Police Station acts as a facilitator for the formation and functioning of the Mohalla Committees. The main task of the Mohalla Committees is to assist the Police in maintenance of law and order and prevention of crime in the area. The Mohalla Committees members act as eyes and ears and pass on relevant information pertaining to communal, social, law & order related issues to the local beat officer with whom they are constantly in touch. Besides this, they play an important role in prevention and management of law and order situations. The Mohalla Committees′s meet at regular intervals throughout the year. They discuss and solve issues relating to local crime and disputes through active involvement of the beat staff. During major festivals, special meetings are convened in order to ensure that peace prevails in the area.  Special care is taken to nominate suitable and respectable members of the community to the Mohalla Committees. Measures and decisions taken during the meetings are disseminated to the community through its members. Suggestions of the Mohalla Committees members are given due weightage by the Police Station in identifying and implementing crime prevention measures. People′s participation and democratic approach of the Mohalla Committee movement has been widely appreciated over the years. Mohalla Committees have proved their usefulness time and time again and need to become an integral part of the Maharashtra Police′s community policing initiatives. This model is nationally and internationally appreciated including by the United Nations and many countries like Switzerland, China, Nepal etc. Later on it was expanded to include All government departments, not just the police, creating a model of participatory governance. Mohalla Committees as part of Pune Model For better administration pune city has 41 multi members wards and each ward has average 105048 population. There are total 162 corporators. Each corporator has to communicate with average 26586 people. For forming community and having real conversation,communication,forming emotional bond the present population of the ward is too large/ huge. The tribe mentality which was part of human evolution is still prevalent in Indian society.Hence civil society may be organised at mohalla,lane,galli level. It should  be named as ‘mohalla committee’ of that area.

• Mohalla committee is a group of people selected by the public Administration for improving quality of life and standard of living/ overall development/ of mahalla,galli,lane.
• All mohalla level public servants and selected members of civil society of all strata of life e.g. all genender,religion,varna,caste, economic,political and social group,ism,come together periodically on one platform at mohalla level.
• It creates brotherhood in diverse society and enhances sense of security
• It solves all petty, non cognizable,civil matters at mohalla level under leadership of government employees of that area. It reduces the burden on the judiciary and creates a sense of security.
• Creates strong chain of intelligence gathering which help authorities to take preventive measure
• It creates Transparency which helps in reducing corruption.
• Since equal status, equal voice, equal power is given to every mohalla committee member, it genuinely motivates people to innovate solutions for their problems.
• Creates mutual checks and balances on each other by enhancing accountability, responsibility, answerability
•  The brain storming atmosphere  tremendously accelerates innovative solutions.
• Mohalla committee is a panacea for many of our social problems, and can transform a city.

3] Intelligence Gathering 4] Alternate Dispute Redressal Systems Low rate of convictionsThe low rate of convictions in Pune is also a major concern. This is likely due to a number of factors, including delays in the court system, corruption, and a lack of resources for the prosecution. The low rate of convictions can contribute to a sense of impunity among criminals and can make victims feel like justice is not being served.  At an alarmingly low 11% in December 2022, the rate of conviction for both serious and non-serious crimes in the city remains a cause for concern  While the conviction rate touched a high of 43% in 2019, it dropped to 32% in 2020 and 26% in 2021 and an alarming 11%  in Dec 2022. The Maharashtra conviction rate was around 50%.  According to data shared by the Pune city police, the conviction rate in 2019 stood at 43% wherein a total 5,462 cases were cleared out of which 2,339 were convicted. In 2020, the conviction rate was 32% with a total 1,591 cases cleared out of which 505 were convicted. In 2021, the conviction rate was 26% wherein a total 2,808 cases were cleared out of which 750 were convicted. In 2022, Pune city police have achieved a conviction rate of only 11% wherein a total 6,170 cases have been cleared so far with 605 cases convicted. 5] Focus on communal and caste harmony This is one of the biggest challenges in India today with tensions between religious and caste groups at an all time high. 6. Cybercrime Finally, the increasing cybercrime in Pune is a serious threat to individuals and businesses alike. Cybercriminals are constantly developing new methods of attack, and it can be difficult for people to keep up with the latest threats. Cybercrime can have a devastating impact on victims, both financially and emotionally.   The city has seen a 16% rise in incidents of cybercrimes as of August 2023 as compared to 2022, data from the police revealed. According to the police, a total of 22,671 cybercrimes were recorded as against the 19,500 registered last year.  The police said all types of cybercrimes — online cheating/frauds, ATM card frauds, online business frauds, oil and seed frauds, multi-level marketing fraud, social media crimes (defamation, abuse), hacking, data theft – have witnessed a spike. With an aim to reduce the burden on the cyber police station, the Pune police in September last year constituted cyber cells in police stations and urged officers to register and probe cybercrimes. The cyber police had received just over 19,000 complaint applications in 2021.  The Cyber police recorded a maximum complaints – 492 – of fraud and cheating followed by 366 cases of defamation and abuse.  It has  become a cause of concern as educated people, especially software professionals , are responding to messages of fraudsters and falling prey to scams. The rise in cybercrimes, especially in cases of cheating and fraud, can be attributed to the greed of victims. Online fraudsters contact different ponzi schemes by promising celestial gains on a nominal investment luring people to invest their money. People do not consult experts, police and other authorities before transferring money to the fraudsters. Solutions to Cybercrime

1. Strengthen cybersecurity laws and regulations: This includes laws that require businesses to protect their customers’ data and laws that increase the penalties for cybercrime.
2. Invest in cybersecurity technology and training: This includes investing in new cybersecurity technologies and training law enforcement and businesses on how to use these technologies effectively.
3. Establish international cooperation to combat cybercrime: This includes working with other countries to share information and resources to combat cybercrime.

But the most important plan would be to increase awareness of cybercrime on a mass level. And the Mohalla Committee is the best platform to do so. It can especially reach senior citizens, youngsters, and the non tech savvy people to hold regular training, discussion and support groups for cybercrime awareness.