Bhopal's Mahila Thana become country's first women police station to get ISO certification

Once known for its damp walls, smelly toilets and shabby rooms, the Bhopal Mahila Thana worked on its infrastructure in the last three years to be the city's second ISO-certified police station, the first being the Misrod police station. The International Organization of Standardization presented its certificate to the police station on Wednesday.

Earlier there was a warehouse in the police station; the goods in the warehouse were deposited in court as per prescribed rules and the place was sanitised, police officials said.

Moreover, the place was revamped to make sure there was zero risk for the staff in the police station while conducting meetings. Separate rooms and computers were provided for the investigating officers and staff. CCTV cameras were also installed at the police station.

The police station was made 'victim friendly'. A swing house has been set up for children and more than five toilets have been built. A feeding room has also been set up for women.

ISO is an independent organization with membership of about 160 countries. The organization issues certificates to businesses after checking their products or services for quality, safety and efficiency.

The ISO certificate is issued for three years.

The Misrod police station of Bhopal received the ISO certificate in May this year.

Director of Infinity Certification Services Hemlata Sharma presented the certificate to Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayan Chari Mishra.

"The ISO has very strict standards which this police station has fulfilled. People have been working at the police station for about three years and finally they got success," she said

"With this, the police station will be promoted and people will have confidence that better facilities are available. This will help in better policing and people's problems will be resolved soon," the Director added.

Mahila Police Station SHO Shilpa Kaurav said, "Ever since this police station was being revamped, we had kept in mind that the best facilities would be provided in the police station as per the instructions given to us by senior officers. We followed the instructions in the last three years and emerged successful."

Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra said that the Bhopal Police Commissionerate is making continuous efforts to bring down crimes against women under community policing.

"This is a new experiment. It is a foundation stone. Mahila Thana has already established new dimensions especially in cases of crimes related to women and in terms of working methodology," Mishra said.

"Basic things like how should officers and personnel of police stations behave with the common man and the victim. The staff here has been trained and sensitized according to these standards. At the same time, work has been done on infrastructure for a long time," the CP said.

"We congratulate the entire team of Mahila Thana, especially that this police station has got ISO 9001:2015 certificate and hope that they will continuously conform to its standards and live up to the expectations of the government and the general public. Other police stations of Bhopal will also be built on this line," he added. (ANI)