Training of Police Officers IN JMI

             JMI collaborates with Delhi Police for Refresher Training of Police Officers

 The Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre and Department of Social Work, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) have collaborated with the Delhi Police’s Special Unit for Women and Children (SPUWAC) to organise a series of three-day Refresher Training Programs for the police officers posted at the SPUWAC and its District Units. The fourth training in this series is being held from February 1^st to February 3^rd , 2024 at Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre, JMI. The training aims to augment the knowledge, attitudes and skills of participants in effectively working with women experiencing violence in the matrimonial relationship.

The inaugural session of the programme was graced by the presence of Joint Commissioner of Police SPUWAC and SPUNER , Shri P.N Khrimey; Professor Mohammad Muslim Khan, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Veera Gupta, Director, Malviya Mission Teacher Training Centre, and Professor Neelam Sukhramani, Head, Department of Social Work, JMI who introduced the trainees to the idea behind the refresher training. Each of the speakers talked about the importance of the training in creating a mutual learning experience through integration of theory and practise, academicians, development sector specialists and police personnel.

Shri P.N Khrimey highlighted how this collaboration offers police officers who are often busy in the field an opportunity to refresh their understanding of gender dynamics and also upskill. He expressed his gratitude to JMI for agreeing to organize the series of training.

Prof. Neelam Sukhramani drew attention to the National Family Health Survey- 5 (2019-21) data that reports that about one-third of women between the ages of 15 to 49 years still experience domestic violence. This calls for the service delivery systems to strengthen their response mechanism to deal with the rising cases of violence. She also delineated that the training programme had four segments – understanding the triggers of domestic violence, impact of domestic violence, counselling skills and working with self.

Dr. Rashmi Jain provided a brief of the various individuals and institutions who were instrumental in the organisation of the training. Dr. Hem Borker introduced each of the speakers including their specific contribution towards working on the theme of the training.

The three-day training programme covers a range of themes prepared in light of contemporary reality and the expressed need for skill augmentation. The training sessions focus on perspective building related to gender, power, patriarchy, forms of domestic violence and its impact on mental health and children, alcoholism and its impact on marital relationships, and issues of sexual intimacy. The training also helps to build resilience in police officers in the backdrop of the emotionally overwhelming work. Skills of counseling including couple enrichment for dealing with complex issues will be enhanced through experiential learning sessions. A unique addition to this batch of training was non-violent communication.

The sessions will be led by expert facilitators from the Department of Social Work, JMI and Delhi University, along with renowned field practitioners and experienced professionals. The 35 participants for the fourth batch of training are drawn from all the District Crime Against Women and Children Cells including the nodal office at Nanakpura.

The Department of Social Work, JMI has a long history of collaboration with SPUWAC. The first training programme dates back to 2008. Since then, regular training sessions have been conducted at different intervals. Additionally, the department was one of the Technical Support Agencies for an intervention project in 20 police stations of Delhi with financial support from the Nirbhaya Fund. The pilot project from 2017-21 is a testament to its abiding commitment to combating crimes against women and children. The training team of faculty members is also supported by research scholars, Arshi Showkat and Anjali Joshi from the Department of Social Work, JMI. Each of the trainees is given reading material designed and collated by the training team which includes key takeaways from the sessions, handouts and readings.