The Student Police Cadet Project is a school-based youth development initiative that trains school students to evolve as future leaders of a democratic society by inculcating within them respect for the law, discipline, civic sense, empathy for vulnerable sections of society and resistance to social evils. The project also enables youth to explore and develop their innate capabilities, thereby empowering them to resist the growth of negative tendencies such as social intolerance, substance abuse, deviant behaviour, and anti-establishment violence. Equally, it strengthens within them commitment towards their family, the community, and the environment.
Implemented jointly by the Departments of Home and Education, and supported by Departments of Transport, Forest, Excise and Local Self-Government, the SPC project was launched in August 2010 in 127 schools across Kerala, with 11176 students &ndash both boys and girls &ndash enrolled as Cadets (Ref: G.O (P) No 121/2010/Home dtd 29-05-2010). The project has now been expanded to a total of 234 high schools across Kerala with a combined strength of nearly 16,000 SPCs.
The potential of the SPC Project for community development has been endorsed by His Excellency Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Former President of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India.
Bharat Petroleum Corporation, and several other organisations have partnered with the SPC project to take forward their own community-based activities.
A recommendation by the All India Police Science Congress (Dehra Dun, 2011) that all states implement the SPC project led to a team of police officers from Rajasthan visiting Kerala to study the project, and enquiries from states of Punjab, Goa, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, etc. for details of the SPC scheme.
A state wide field-level assessment of the SPC project by SIEMAT (State Institute for Educational Management and Training, Kerala) has established the value of SPC training for students, parents, teachers and police personnel. The ever-increasing community demand for the project reveals a deeply-felt need within society for better coordination between citizens and uniformed authorities to ensure a safe and healthy future for the country.
An association between the educational and security frameworks of a state, that trains and encourages youth to develop respect for law and practice abiding by law as a way of life.
Uses existing network, infrastructure and leadership qualities of Police to supplement physical, mental and educational development of youth
Enables school communities to create safe school environments and confident youth willing to react against social evils, and find solutions to community problems
Stimulates parents and community leaders to work with police in creating safer communities
The need for a school-level intervention such as the Student Police Cadet (SPC) project derives from a combination of philosophic, demographic, sociological and economic factors that are expected to influence the future global standing of the nation. The significance of the SPC Project lies in its potential to positively impact the following:
Democracy And Respect For Law
Democracy is a system of governance whereby people adopt, enact and give to themselves a framework of rules, called Laws, which they are expected to abide by voluntarily. Ownership of law by a community implies that children inherit the Law by birth. Children in a democracy must not grow up in dread of or with contempt for Law. Rather, these children must be brought up knowing that law exists for their safety and security, and that obeying Law is part of their general civic duty.
Challenges Of Democratic Policing
In a truly democratic state, there must occur a paradigm shift in the policing function from &ldquoenforcement&rdquo to &ldquofacilitation&rdquo of law. However, Police today also have to respond to challenges in increasing violent, terrorist and separatist activities from aggrieved sections of society, triggering outbursts of social disharmony and anti-establishment violence.
Problems Of Contemporary Youth
Increasing intolerance, criminal and deviant behavior among youth has been attributed to weakening of family ties, declining moral standards in society and liberal use of intoxicants, among others. Other problems experienced by students include poor physical and mental endurance, lower self-esteem, and lack of personal goals.
Impact Of Information & Communication Technology
Rapid developments in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) throw up immense opportunities as well as pose threats to youth. Youngsters heavily exposed to such technology become vulnerable to cyber crime, misuse of social media and mobile phone technology.
India&rsquos Demographic Dividend
Today, 50% of India&rsquos population is less than 25 years of age. It has been predicted that by the year 2030, India will have the world&rsquos largest population, at approximately 153 Crores, of which the youth would constitute about 95 Crores, i.e. 63%. For the country to benefit from this demographic profile, India&rsquos youth must become capable of leadership in all fields of human activity.
Civic Sense, Social Responsibility And Inclusiveness
Today&rsquos communities experience contentious issues such as poor waste management, environmental degradation, disregard of rules and regulations, and lack of respect for others&rsquo rights. Youth must come face-to-face with such issues early in their personal development. Only then will they grow as socially responsible citizens with a willingness to empathize with and find solutions to problems of wider humanity.
The district office of Student Police Cadet Project is in passport cell Idukki under the supervision of Special Branch, and the District Nodal officer of SPC Project is Sri V N Saji DySP Special Branch , ADNO of SPC Project is Sri S R Suresh Babu RASI A R Camp and the District Coordinator of SPC Project is Sri P G Mohanan SI of police.
Nature Camps :
As part of the nature study SPC Cadets were attended Nature Camps in various Wild Life Sanctuaries like Chinnar, Iravikulam, Thattekade, Vellappara, Thekkady.
Indoor Classes :
Classes in various subject like Personality Development, Road Safety, Child Rights and Domestic Violence, Anti &ndash Narcotic, Cyber Crimes, Health and Hygiene, Responsible Waste Management, Environmental Protection, Civic Sense, Patriotism etc.
Gandhi Jayanthi Celebration
All the SPC schools were observed &ldquoSuchithwa Muttam&rdquo in connection with District Suchithwa Mission from Oct -02 to Oct -08th . Seminars, Quiz programme, Photo Exhibition, Cleaning School Premises and Public Places were conducted as part of this programme.
District level Annual Summer Camp -2014(FLAME-2014)
District level Annual Summer Camp -2014(FLAME-2014) for SPC Cadets of Idukki District had been conducted from 01-04-2014 to 05-04-2014 at SNHSS Nankicity, Kanjikuzhy. From 13 schools 599 cadets, 18 CPO/ACPO and 26 DIs were reported on 01-04-2014 before 03.00 PM
Various activities Student Police Cadet Project such as My Tree ,Friends At Home , Smrithivanam , Suchithwa Muttom , Changathikkoru Swapna Bhavanam , Subhayathra etc.
Outdoor Training
Physical Training and Parade as per the instruction of SPC Manual , in addition to this taring in martial arts such as Kalari, Karate, Taekwondo and training in Yoga is also provided to the cadets.
Two platoons of Cadets participated in the District level parade at Idukki
Field Visit
Visits like Police Station, Court, Jail and other important Govt. Offices
Quiz Programme
Successfully conducted Quiz Programme at School Level, District level and State level
Onam Camp
Conducted Three days non residential Camp in all the 13 schools in September 2013
Orphanage visit
Cadets from 6 Schools were visited in various orphanages with their contributions
The connective Project &lsquoMy Tree&rsquo (Planting of Sapling), Friends at Home and Subhayathra( Road Safety awareness campaign) are efficiently functioning.
Medical Camp
Medical Camps are conducting in the SPC schools with the co-operation of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).
As part of the self sufficiency 5 Schools started production units of various products such as Soap, Umbrella, Note Book, Paper Bag, Bamboo Product etc.
Community Services
Dream Home for a Friend
A beautiful home constructed under the leadership of SPC unit of GHSS Panickenkudy, for a poor family as part of the project &ldquoDream Home for a Friend&rdquo
Smrithivanam
About one acre of the land planted wide verities of trees as part of the environmental protection by SPC unit of GHSS Panickenkudy.
SPC unit GHSS Rajakad constructed a new road to the house of a poor road accident victim.
The SPC Project is successfully established in 24 Schools . The details of SPC Schools are given below
|
Circle |
Police Station |
Name Of School |
|
Thodupuzha |
Karimkunnam |
St. Augustian HSS Karimkunnam |
|
Thodupuzha |
St.George HSS Muthalakodam |
|
|
Sacred Heart Girls HSS Muthalakodam |
||
|
Kattappana |
Kattappana |
St. Jerome&rsquos HSS Vellayamkudy |
|
Vandenmedu |
MES HSS Vandenmedu |
|
|
Kumily |
Kumily |
Govt. HSS Amaravathy |
|
Vandiperiyar |
Fathima HSS Mlamala |
|
|
Nedumkandom |
Nedumkandom |
Govt.HSS Kallar |
|
Munnar |
Munnar |
Govt.VHSS Munnar |
|
Kaliyar |
Karimannoor |
GovtTribal HSS Peringassery |
|
St. Joseph HSS Karimannoor |
||
|
Idukki |
Idukki |
Govt.VHSS Maniyarenkudy |
|
MRS Idukki |
||
|
Kanjikuzhy |
Kanjikuzhy |
SN VHSS Nankicity |
|
Adimaly |
Rajakkadu |
Govt. HSS Rajakkadu |
|
SN VHSS N.R City |
||
|
Adimaly |
SNDP HSS Adimaly |
|
|
Govt.VHSS Deviyar Colony |
||
|
Vellathooval |
Govt.HSS Panickenkudy |
|
|
Peermedu |
Peermedu |
MRS Peermedu |
|
Peruvanthanam |
St. Antony&rsquos HSS Mundakayam |
|
|
Upputhara |
St. Mary&rsquos HSS Marykulam |
|
|
Devikulam |
Santhanpara |
St. Xaviour&rsquos HSS Chemmannar |