Top 10 suggestions for Govt. against Terror

A month after 60 hours of horrific Mumbai siege ended, there is widespread fear and anger amongst the country's citizens.


A CNN-IBN and Hindustan Times campaign Citizens against Terror gave voice to that anger and compiled a citizens charter containing all anti-terror recommendations, which is now ready to be presented to the Home Minister.


Here’s a look at what went into the process of bringing your voice to the country's leadership.


Thousands sent in their suggestions to hindustantimes.com and CNN-IBN website IBNLive.com. Hundreds spoke at web kiosks that were set up in all major metros.



“You don't need political interference into security agencies deployed at any place,” an angry citizen suggested at one of the kiosks. Another said, “We don't want our policemen dying of bullets. They are not even equipped with proper helmets.”


An independent panel comprising former top cop Kiran Bedi, anti-terror expert Major General Afsir Karim and former Jammu University vice chancellor Amitabh Mattoo chose the most practical and concrete suggestions.


The charter comprising the 10 best recommendations will be presented to Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday. Here is what it suggests:

• Better crisis management and emergency response systems
• Uniform electronic identity cards for all
• Extensive use of technology to fight terror
• Fixing accountability for previous lapses
• Urgent modernisation and reform of police
• Provisions for citizen-driven anti-terror initiatives like widespread survival training programmes
• Corporate help to overcome anti-terror resource crunch
• Trained citizens' vigilante groups
• Citizen-led observation posts for coastal areas
• War book for emergency situations

“All must keep pressure on the political executive to deliver. Every three or six months, we need to know directly from the Home Minister what has happened,” Kiran Bedi says.

[akhilesh dubey]

TIME TO ACT: CNN-IBN - Hindustan Times Citizens against Terror jury picks out the best recommendations