KOZHIKODE: STUDENT Police Cadet (SPC) project can improve the calibre of the police force in the future, said Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan. He exuded confidence that the SPC would inspire more kids to join the police force.
Inaugurating the SPC project here on Monday, the Chief Minister said that a team of courageous and socially responsible school kids can eradicate social evils.
Anti-social activities like the sale of drugs and alcohol near schools, immoral activities and other evils can be prevented to an extent with the introduction of the new force, he said. Though the kids will not be able to take action, they can inform the police about the anti-social activities and prevent it, he added. Delivering presidential address, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that various school managements were coming forward demanding the inclusion of their schools in the SPC project. Managements have even promised to sponsor uniform and other facilities if they are included in the project, he added.
The project is aimed at spotting the lawbreakers among the law-abiding majority, the Home Minister said. A legal literate community will be formed with the introduction of SPC, which in turn, will help to fight against communalism, extremism and terrorism. A model generation, which is against drugs, alcohol and other bad habits will be formed with the new initiative, said Kodiyeri. Student Police Cadets have proved their efficiency in crowd management and traffic management and their potential can be put into use in the future also, he added. Education Minister M A Baby who released the SPC logo and the book ‘SPC Saran’ said that SPC project is an outcome of the combined efforts of Education Department and the Police. To make the SPCs more efficient, the departments have jointly decided to train them in swimming. It would help the them to protect themselves and to rescue others during accidents, said the minister.
Chief Minister handed over the flag of SPC to Director General of Police Jacob Punnoose. The website of SPC and news letter were released by Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. MLAs A Pradeep Kumar, P M A Salam, Mayor M Bhaskaran, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K Jayakumar, General Education Secretary James Varghese, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest T M Manoharan, IG Sudhesh Kumar and District Collector P B Salim were present.