Government to raise Student Police Cadet units

BENGALURU: To tackle crimes against children and make them law-abiding citizens, the government is raising Student Police Cadet (SPC) units in schools.
To begin with, 25 government schools in Bengaluru, which have playgrounds, have been selected for the project, which aims to help high school children inculcate respect for law, discipline, civic sense, empathy for vulnerable sections of society and resistance to social evils.
In all, 1,100 students — 44 from each school — have been shortlisted. Police, teachers and education department officials will participate in the project, for which the government has already released Rs 1.8 crore. The syllabus for indoor and outdoor trainings is also ready.
The project will also help youths explore and develop their capabilities, resist negative tendencies like social intolerance, substance abuse and violence, and strengthen family and community bonding.
Kerala has successfully implemented the SPC project, while Rajasthan and Gujarat have planned to adopt it.
Bangalore additional commissioner of police (crime) P Harishekaran is the nodal officer for the project, which will be launched in coordination with the education department. Deputy director of physical instruction Kagle is the nodal officer from the department.
Before finalizing the modalities, a five-member team headed by Harishekaran visited Kerala to study the initiative there. He said young teachers have been selected as community police officers (CPO) and assistant community police officers (ACPO). Students, CPOs, ACPOs are given uniforms. The project will remain an extra-curricular activity and won’t affect the regular teaching schedule, he added.
“The plan is to include private schools too,” said additional director general of police (administration) Alok Mohan.