With the number of crimes and traffic violations involving teenagers increasing, the Uttarakhand police are all set to launch a Student Police Cadet (SPC) Project. It aims at training school students on how to abide by laws, practise discipline and civic sense and develop empathy for the vulnerable sections of the society. A proposal has been sent to the State Government, asking for its nod.
State Inspector General of Police (IG) Amit Sinha said that SPC Project is a school-based youth development initiative that trains high school students to evolve as future leaders of a democratic society. The project aims to mould a generation of youth who willingly respect and abide by the law, and who practice civic sense, democratic behavior and selfless service to society as the natural way of life. The project would also enable the youth to explore and develop their innate capabilities.
“This project will help in inculcating social commitment in the youth and keeping them away from deviant behaviour involving themselves and others. This would go a long way in preventing growth of social evils, such as drug and alcohol abuse, intolerance, vandalism, separatism, and terrorism in the society,” he added. Moreover, this project would strengthen commitment towards family, community and the environment. It would also enable them to resist negative tendencies such as substance abuse, intolerance, bigotry and other social evils.
There are five components of the programme, - Physical (Outdoor) Training, Indoor Training (Study Classes), Field Visits, Practical Training Projects, and Camps.The project would motivate the youth to react against the evils the society is beset with, to do everything to ensure safe and healthy academic environments, free from drugs and narcotics. Positive values that help life to endure and thrive with dignity would be instilled in the students studying in schools.
It should be mentioned here that Kerala had initiated SPC project which was launched on August 2, 2010 in 127 high schools/higher secondary schools across the State with 11176 students, both boys and girls, enrolled as Cadets and 254 teachers trained as school-level Community Police Officers (CPOs).