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(YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE BY KERALA POLICE )

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I. INTRODUCTION

The STUDENT POLICE CADET Project is a school-based initiative by

Kerala Police 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 247 high schools across Kerala with

a combined strength of over 15,000 SPCs.

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II. WHY STUDENT POLICE CADET PROJECT?

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:

a. Democratic Policing 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. At the same time, in a truly democratic

state, there must occur a paradigm shift in the policing function

from “enforcement” to “facilitation” of law. The SPC project works

to strengthen the Indian democratic framework by enabling youth

to evolve from compulsory obedience to voluntary respect for the

Law.

b. Impact of Information & Communication Technology (ICT)

Rapid developments in Information and Communication Technology

contain immense opportunities as well as threats to contemporary

youth. Youngsters are heavily exposed to and hence vulnerable to

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cyber crime, misuse of social media and mobile phone technology.

The SPC project influences youth to utilize ICT productively for

personal and societal development.

c. Deviant & Separatist Behaviour

Our communities today face challenges in criminal, anti-social,

terrorist and separatist behavior among youth. The question before

us is, whether Police action or Military action is the only solution for

these pressing problems? Does eliminating the terrorists of today

put an end to the problem of terrorism? The SPC project attempts

to find a solution to this social problem by training youth in positive

thinking and inculcation of patriotic values.

d. Encashing India’s Demographic Dividend

Today, 50% of India’s population is less than 25 years of age. It

has been predicted that by the year 2030, India will have the

world’s 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’s youth must

become capable of leadership in all fields of human activity. The

SPC project is a school-level intervention to develop the inner

potential of the younger generation and make them flag-bearers of

a prosperous India.

e. Civic Sense, Social Responsibility and Inclusiveness

Today’s communities experience contentious issues such as poor

waste management, environmental degradation, disregard of rules

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and regulations, and lack of respect for others’ 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. Other problems experienced by

students include substance abuse, alcohol consumption and

violence. A primary objective of the Student Police Cadet project is

to provide high school students with the internal framework and

motivation to grow as well-developed individuals and capable future

flag-bearers of a prosperous India.

III. UNIQUE FEATURES OF SPC PROJECT

i. An association between the educational and security frameworks

of a state, that trains and encourages youth to develop respect

for law and abiding by law as a way of life.

ii. Uses existing network, infrastructure and leadership qualities of

Police to supplement the physical, mental and educational

development of youth

iii. Empowers school communities to create safe school

environments and confident youth willing to react against social

evils

iv. Stimulates parents and community leaders to work with police in

creating safer communities

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IV. OBJECTIVES OF SPC PROJECT

• To mould a generation of youth who willingly respect and abide by

Law, and who practice civic sense, democratic behavior and selfless

service to society as the natural way of life.

• To facilitate development of good health, physical and mental fitness,

self-control and discipline in youth, thereby enhancing their capacity

for hard work and personal achievement

• To enable youth to work with police and other enforcement authorities

including Forest, Transport, and Excise in preventing crime,

maintaining law and order, promoting road safety, and improving

internal security and disaster management.

• To develop social commitment in youth and empower them against

deviant behavior in themselves and others, thereby preventing growth

of social evils such as drug and alcohol abuse, intolerance, vandalism,

separatism, and terrorism in society.

• To enable youth to explore and develop their inner potential in

achieving success, by inculcating in them leadership, teamwork skills,

innovative thinking and problem solving ability.

• To increase knowledge and understanding of effective use of

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) among youth,

preventing its negative influence and enabling them to benefit from the

vast potential of ICT.

• To motivate youth to develop secular outlook, respect for other’s

fundamental rights and willingness to carry out their fundamental

duties as enshrined in the Constitution of India by developing in them

qualities of Patriotism, Open-mindedness, Large-heartedness,

Inclusiveness, Capability and Effectiveness (POLICE)

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V. IMPLEMENTATION METHODOLOGY

• Schools are selected for the SPC project, based on availability of

infrastructure and teachers to carry out various training programmes.

• In each SPC school, students who fulfill certain stipulated criteria are

formed into platoons of cadets, who wear specially designed uniforms

and undergo training.

• Drill Instructors attached to local Police Units (Police stations or

Reserve camps) are assigned to each SPC school to train cadets in

physical fitness, parade drill, etc.

• Police officers of various ranks, and officials from Excise, Transport,

Forest, and Fire & Rescue Services visit schools and interact with the

cadets in each school, imparting training in their respective areas of

law enforcement.

• In addition, eminent personalities, professionals from various

disciplines and social workers interact with cadets to sensitize them on

contemporary social issues.

• Cadets undertake study trips to government establishments such as

Law Courts, Jails, Police and Fire Stations, and places of historical

importance.

• Cadets also participate in residential camps, visit forests and

environmentally protected areas, and organize community-level

campaigns against social evils.

• At the conclusion of their training, cadets undergo assessment tests

with physical and academic components, based on the training

received. Successful cadets are eligible for grace marks and other

benefits based on their performance in these tests.

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VI. TRAINING MODULES

The SPC Project comprises five training modules for student police

cadets, as follows:

a. OUTDOOR TRAINING: comprises regular training in Physical

Fitness, Parade Drill, Route March, etc. The physical training module

with group activities such as parades, cross-country runs, unarmed

combat, yoga etc. not only leads to better fitness and health, but

also helps to create a sense of purpose and self-worth in each

cadet.

b. INDOOR TRAINING: Awareness classes and activity workshops

by subject experts in various fields, in conjunction with direct

exposure to ground realities gives cadets an awareness of existing

social conditions.

c. FIELD VISITS: Supervised visits to Government institutions that

administer and execute the Law, such as Courts, Jails, Police

Stations, Collectorate, etc. leads to a better understanding of proper

democratic processes.

d. PRACTICAL TRAINING: Community-oriented projects designed

to train students in appropriate response to contemporary issues.

Personal involvement in activities promoting legal awareness,

disaster management, environmental protection, road safety and so

on enables cadets to experience law enforcement in practice, as

well as the need for community involvement for their success.

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e. RESIDENTIAL & NON-RESIDENTIAL CAMPS: During the 2-

year training period, SPCs attend various camps, both residential &

non-residential. The purpose of these camps is to provide cadets

with opportunities for leadership development, life-skills acquisition

and personality enhancement, enable creation of healthy team spirit

and create better understanding of the SPC Project.

VII. IMPACT OF SPC PROJECT ON STAKEHOLDERS

A statewide study by SIEMAT (State Institute for Educational

Management and Training), Kerala reveals that the project has had a

positive impact on various stake holders of the society:

a. STUDENTS:

� Improvement in physical fitness, physical and mental endurance.

� Increased physical fitness, better attitude, confidence, self-

discipline, responsibility and readiness to serve others.

� Fearless and healthy interaction with police and better

understanding of functions and roles of police.

� Improvement in academic performance and better participation in

extra-curricular activities.

� Willingness to abide by law and motivate others to do the same.

b. SCHOOLS:

���� School premises freed from sale and usage of tobacco and tobacco

products, other intoxicating substances and influence of antisocial

elements.

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���� Schools freed from accident and traffic congestion.

���� Improvement in internal discipline.

���� Children with deviant behavior brought to teacher’s attention.

���� Neat, clean and plastic-free School Campus. In some schools,

gardens flowers, medicinal plants are developed.

���� Smooth and effective organizing of school-level events.

c. PARENTS

���� Willingness to change. Being forced to obey law since their children

insist upon them doing so.

���� High appreciation of behavioral changes and responsible behavior

among their children.

���� Increased interest in better and effective parenting.

d. POLICE:

���� Police experience improvement in morale and self-worth

���� Willing to become mentors and role models for younger generation,

as well as for the entire school community

���� Better future policing since today’s high school students are

policemen (and women) of tomorrow

e. TEACHERS:

���� Change in impression towards police.

���� Realized the importance for discipline.

���� Increased awareness of problems of adolescents.

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VIII. ENDORSEMENT OF SPC PROJECT

a. The potential of the SPC Project for community development has been

endorsed by successive Chief Ministers of Kerala, Ministers of Home,

Education, Forest, Transport and Excise, Members of Parliament, MLAs

and Judges of the Kerala High Court.

b. National-level dignitaries who have been favourably impressed by the

project include Dr Manmohan Singh, Hon. Prime Minister of India, Sri

Hameed Ansari, Hon. Vice-President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

(former President of India) 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), Smt Jija Harisingh IPS, Smt

Lathika Saran IPS etc.

c. The project also evoked appreciation at the All India Police Science

Congress in 2011, which recommended that all states implement the

SPC project. Government of Rajasthan has decided to launch the

project as a pilot project. States of Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Chandigarh

and Punjab have also expressed interest in the SPC scheme.

d. Agencies such as Kerala Legal Services Authority (KELSA), Kerala Road

Safety Authority, Bharat Petroleum Corporation, and several others

have associated with the SPC project as a partner organization to take

forward their own community-level activities.

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IX. NATIONAL ACTION PLAN (PROPOSED)

� Facilitation of SPC project implementation in all states, initially as a pilot

project in selected schools, and subsequent wider rollout.

� Initiation of steps for project implementation in all schools, irrespective

of whether they are Government-run or under private management,

including Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, schools under

CBSE and ICSE, etc.

� Inclusion of the SPC indoor training module in the regular school

curriculum, which would include personality development, road safety,

substance abuse prevention, environment protection, legal literacy,

responsible waste management, internal security, and safe use of

Information and Communication Technology.

� Establishment of SPC Training Academies in each state, to impart

training to all officials connected with project implementation in that

particular state.

� Formation of a National Task Force - comprised of qualified,

experienced and committed officials, from various fields including

police and education - to support, study, and evaluate the potential of

the SPC project for community development, by formulation of a

National Act enabling SPC project rollout nation-wide.

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In Conclusion…

The Student Police Cadet Project does not create more policemen, rather it

seeks to grow the policeman within each young (and impressionable) member

of our communities. Thus, the SPC project is a farsighted school-level activity

that will generate significant nation-wide benefits, such as greater internal

security, healthier and safer communities, and responsible future citizens of a

stable democracy.

P Vijayan IPS

STATE NODAL OFFICER – SPC &

DISTRICT POLICE CHIEF, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM CITY

CONTACT ADDRESS State Nodal Officer,

SPC Secretariat, Police Headquarters,

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Mob: 09497996909

Email: statenodalofficerspc@gmail.com

Website: www.studentpolicecadet.org