Union minister of state for home Sri Prakash Jaiswal (third from right) with other leaders at the Vaishya Adhikar maharally in Ranchi on Sunday. Picture by Manik Bose

Ranchi, Jan. 11: Union minister of state for home Sri Prakash Jaiswal today stressed the need to strengthen the intelligence system at the police station level.

He was addressing a news meet after attending a Vaishya Adhikar maharally organised on Morabadi grounds.

Maintaining that the intelligence department was supposed to be a place of punishment posting, Jaiswal said the trend should be reversed. He went on to add that efficient police officers should be given the responsibility of collecting intelligence information.

“The system can still function with a lesser number of policemen, but compromise should never be made on the intelligence front. It is the backbone of the security system.

“Hence, if intelligence information gathering system is strong at the police station level, no one can conspire against the country and we can check terrorist attacks like that of Mumbai,” Jaiswal said.

The minister said that the Union government has taken the Mumbai attacks as a challenge. He also highlighted the need of establishing of a multi-agency centre at the state level like the one in place in New Delhi.

“The state government should ensure the establishment of a multi-agency centre, comprising representatives from the army, airforce and navy other than the officials of the state intelligence bureau. We have a same system in the national capital for sharing important intelligence information about the country,” Jaiswal added.

Speaking about challenges of internal security, Jaiswal drew attention to the posts lying vacant in the police department. “Vacant posts in the police department should be filled immediately. “The number of vacancies should not be more than 10 per cent in any case,” he said.

Union minister of state for coal Santosh Bagrodia, who also attended the programme, dwelled on the achievements of Central Mines Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL) after an inspection of the same.

“CMPDIL is all set to enhance its present drilling capacity of 2 lakh metre per annum to 10 lakh per metre per annum by 2011-2012. It will meet coal demands of the entire country,” Bagrodia said.

He added that small coal consumers of the state would now get adequate quantities of coal.

Earlier, both the ministers boosted the morale of the Vaishya community.

“Vaishyas never ask for job. Rather, they are the job-givers. They are a community of peace-loving people,” Jaiswal said.

Bagrodia asked the community to make its presence felt in politics.

“Vaishyas have a positive attitude towards life. But their representation is negligible in politics. The members should do something about it. They should enter politics. Only then, the community will be able to develop a better society,” he said.