KOZHIKODE: As the Student Excise Cadets (SECs), deployed at the State School Arts Festival on an experimental basis, lived up to the expectations of the authorities, the Excise Department is likely to introduce the initiative in more educational institutions throughout the state.
While visiting the exhibition stall set up by the Excise officials and the cadets at the Zamorin’s Higher Secondary School ground on Tuesday, North Zone Excise Joint Commissioner C M Shanavas said he would present a report before the Education Department, seeking to introduce full-fledged Excise cadets in schools.
“The installation of complaint boxes, which was once started in Kozhikode range, has now spread its wings to four districts under the North Zone. Works are on to spread it to Kasargod district. In the same manner we can develop the idea of deploying Student Excise Cadets in schools with the support of the government and the school authorities,” Shanavas said.
SECs have been deployed in the venues of the arts festival and the busy corners of the city, where drug consumption cases are frequently reported. According to Kozhikode Range Inspector M K Gireesh, the cadets have put up a remarkable performance, both in spreading awareness and doing spy work. As per the figures available with the cadets, 67 people were booked on various charges, including smoking and drinking in public places. Besides, the cadets initiated mass raids in the shops which were found to be selling tobacco on school premises.