Chandigarh, November 17 — Punjab’s Saanjh community policing project is being expanded into a broad-based public engagement system that connects cyber safety programmes in schools with digital police services and local outreach centres, officials said on Monday.
The Saanjh framework, introduced by Punjab Police as a partnership-based model of community engagement, now operates through district resource centres, 114 sub-division units and 363 police station outreach centres across the state. Officers said the structure is designed to move policing away from purely enforcement-led approaches.
Under this framework, the police have been holding weekly awareness sessions in schools, speaking to students about online fraud, cyberbullying and digital safety. The sessions tie into the Cyber Jaago programme, which is set to reach nearly 4,000 government high schools.
Officials noted that the focus on children stems from increasing digital usage among teenagers, with a majority now accessing social media on smartphones. Police personnel are also conducting in-person seminars on issues such as child protection, drug abuse and emergency helplines through the Shakti Helpdesk programme.
Special DGP (Cyber Crime) V. Neerja said the department’s current work reflects a broader shift toward preventive awareness. “Children are engaging with complex digital content at a very young age,” she said, adding that many parents are not fully aware of the risks.
In addition to school outreach, Saanjh incorporates technology-led services. The PP Saanjh mobile application allows residents to download FIR copies, carry out verification processes and access other police services remotely. Officials said the digital platform is intended to reduce the need for in-person visits to stations.
Each Saanjh centre functions as a registered society, allowing police-public committees to take part in decision-making on community-related policing priorities. The model, officers said, aims to improve public trust by making police stations more accessible and responsive.
Police officials described the initiative as a long-term effort to integrate prevention, awareness and service delivery. With cyber safety training for teachers underway, authorities said they expect the outreach to extend to thousands of children and families over the coming months.
