Hubballi-Dharwad PSIs conduct free workshops for competitive exams

Pic: Police organised workshops in local colleges to help job aspirants crack competitive examsHubballi: UPSC hopefuls from Gadag, Haveri, Vijayapur, Bagalkot, Kalaburagi, Bidar, and other North Karnataka districts often camp in Hubballi-Dharwad to prepare for competitive exams, with some coaching centres here even offering hostel facilities to outstation students. Now, the Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissionerate has stepped in to hold workshops and training sessions for job aspirants. Experienced staff from the police department double up as instructors at these workshops and training centres. Last month, the police department held a workshop to help candidates crack competitive exams. Its initiative received an overwhelming response with more than 8,000 candidates attending these workshops. Buoyed by the response, the police department is holding a five-day free workshop at ten colleges of Hubballi-Dharwad from Monday onwards. Police commissioner N Shashikumar told TOI that during their visits to colleges and coaching centres, they came across many candidates who were in dire need of proper guidance. "In our department, we have staff members who have recently cracked these exams to join the police force. So, we decided to help students by allowing them to interact with our staff. We organised a workshop last month in Dharwad, attended by more than 8,000 students," Shashikumar said. He added: "Now, we have organised a five-day free workshop for students at ten colleges in Dharwad. We have roped in 10 PSIs [police sub-inspectors] who are on probation and have come to Belagavi to attend to their duties at the legislative session. These staff are now conducting the five-day workshop on the sidelines of their duties." From economics, to precis-writing, to current affairs and science and technology, to name just a few disciplines, these PSIs take turns on a rotational basis to help students sort out their doubts and queries. DCP (law and order) Mahaning Nandagavi said they received a good response during the last workshop, with around 500 students attending the current one in each college.