The STUDENT POLICE CADET Project is a school-based youth development initiative that trains high 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 behavior, 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 – both boys and girls – 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 Dr Manmohan Singh, Hon. Prime Minister of India, HE Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Former President of India, successive Chief Ministers and other Ministers of Kerala, MPs and MLAs, as well as Judges of the Kerala High Court. Other dignitaries who have been favourably impressed include Sri T K A Nair (Advisor to Prime Minister), Sri V N Rai (Director, Sardar Valabhbhai Patel National Police Academy), Sri Hormese Tharakan IPS (former Director, RAW,) late Radha Vinod Raju IPS (former Head, NIA) etc. The Kerala Legal Services Authority (KELSA), Kerala Road Safety Authority, 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 statewide 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.
UNIQUE FEATURES OF SPC PROJECT
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 communitie
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