സ്റ്റുഡന്റ് പോലീസ് കേഡറ്റ് STUDENT POLICE CADET

ABOUT SPC PROJECT

The STUDENT POLICE CADET(SPC) 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.

THE SPC PROJECT

• Is 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 communities

SOCIAL CONTEXT

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:

•  - DEMOCRACY 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.
•  - CHALLENGES OF DEMOCRATIC POLICING
• In a truly democratic state, there must occur a paradigm shift in the policing function from “enforcement” to “facilitation” of law. However, Police today also have to respond to challenges in increasing violent, terrorist and separatist activities from aggrieved sections of society, triggering outbursts of social disharmony and anti-establishment violence.
•  - PROBLEMS OF CONTEMPORARY YOUTH
• Increasing intolerance, criminal and deviant behavior among youth has been attributed to weakening of family ties, declining moral standards in society and liberal use of intoxicants, among others. Other problems experienced by students include poor physical and mental endurance, lower self-esteem, and lack of personal goals.
•  - IMPACT OF INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
• Rapid developments in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) throw up immense opportunities as well as pose threats to youth. Youngsters heavily exposed to such technology become vulnerable to cyber crime, misuse of social media and mobile phone technology.
• - 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.
• - CIVIC SENSE, SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND INCLUSIVENESS
• Today’s communities experience contentious issues such as poor waste management, environmental degradation, disregard of rules 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.