The government on Wednesday indicated that it would continue to avail of the services of the country's first woman IPS officer, Kiran Bedi [Images], without clearly stating what it intended to do with her application for voluntary retirement from service.

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"We have decided to put a big new responsibility on your shoulders and that means anchoring the National Police Mission in the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) despite the reservations raised by Bedi with reference to the staff constraints and other matters," Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta said turning to  Bedi at the BPRD Foundation Day celebrations.

However, it was not clear whether Bedi's services would be utilised when she would continue to be in service or after accepting her VRS application, which she had put in recently.

The proposal for a police mission was mooted by Prime Minister two years ago with the aim of giving the police a new outlook and sense of purpose and create a new vision for it. The mission will seek to transform the police forces into effective instruments for maintenance for internal security.

In his speech, Gupta also commended the work done by BPRD under the leadership of Bedi saying a number of new projects were initiated by the 58-year-old officer.

On her comments about constraint of funds and staff in effective functioning of BPRD, he said, "We are in the process of devising systems and structures in order to be able to address that as well."

Gupta said for the first time a plan allocation of Rs 150 crore was made for the police think tank this time.

"This is an opportunity for the BPRD officials to act and work with renewed zeal and vigour," he added.