Maharashtra requests UN body to train police in cyber security: Ranjit Patil

Mumbai: Maharashtra Government has requested the members of Strong Cities Network of the United Nations to train the state police force in cyber security, MoS for Home Ranjit Patil said on Tuesday.

The minister represented Mumbai at a recent meeting of the global body.

"The UN has identified 35 top cities for the network and Mumbai is one of them. Mayors or political representatives who are responsible for security of these cities, along with police officials, attended the meeting at Turkey on May 11 and 12.

"Comprehensive discussions regarding security of the cities as well as the global strategy formed the core part of the meeting," Patil said.

Launched at the United Nations in September 2015, the Strong Cities Network (SCN) is the first ever global network of mayors, municipal-level policy makers and practitioners united in building social cohesion and community resilience to counter violent extremism in all its forms.

He said engaging with the youth to prevent them from falling prey to the terror network was one of the important issues that were discussed at the meeting.

"We apprised the international body of our efforts regarding communal harmony ? the mohalla committees etc.," the minister said.

Patil said they also visited vocational training institutes at Turkey to understand their efforts in the field of skills development.

"We should be able to use some of these concepts at industrial training institutes (ITI) across the state," said Patil who also heads the Skill Development department.

He said the government is planning to introduce a few new trades across the ITIs and is actively seeking industry's intervention for that purpose.

"We want to make all the institutes self sufficient in all aspects - from intake to placements ? for which several old trades will have to be shut down and new trades will have to be brought in," the minister added.