Bhopal, Apr 23: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Home Minister Himmat Kothari will address the first state-wide training workshop of members of village and town security committees to be organised at Motilal Nehru Stadium on Thursday. More than ten thousand members are expected to attend the workshop. The workshop will be held in two sessions. The first will start at 11 am and the second session from 4 pm onwards.

Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country where social policing has been given constitutional powers. The MP State Village and Town Security Society Act was enforced in the state in the year 2003. Under this Act, 48486 Village Security Committees have been set up in 48 districts of the state with more than five lakh members. 5721 Town Security Committees were also set up with 69000 members.

These committees have been set up with a view to help the police to control law and order situation and maintain communal harmony throughout the state. Members of the committees are given training in a planned way and this is the first workshop in this direction. Later on, selected members will be given special training at the police stations. These trained members would train other members of the societies.

Main job of the committee members include helping the police to maintain law and order, eradication of dacoits, maintain communal harmony during the festive seasons, delivery of summons, help to prevent atrocities on children, women, minorities, scheduled castes and tribes etc.