The first-ever student police cadet (SPC) programme in Manipur was launched at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Lamphel, in Imphal West district on April 22.
The SPC is a project to train high school students to respect the laws, practice discipline, and develop civic consciousness and empathy for vulnerable sections of society. The programme aims to build a bridge between the police and the community by inculcating values and ethics in the school going students through indoor and outdoor classes and activities. For the first time in the country, the programme was launched in Kerala in 2010.
In Manipur, the project is being implemented by the Manipur police department joining hands with the education department and supported by departments of transport, forest, excise and local self-government.
The launching function was attended by Manipur DGP, P Doungel, commissioner (education) M Harekrishna, additional DGP, L Kailun who is also nodal of the SPC programme, principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya Lamphel Hari Raj and other top officials of the police department and stakeholders of the project.
Speaking on the occasion, P Doungel said that the implementation of the project in Manipur was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Doungel added that the project aimed to train high school students to respect the laws, practice discipline, and to develop civic consciousness and empathy for vulnerable sections of society.
“The project will strengthen the students’ commitment towards the family, community, and the environment, enabling them to resist negative tendencies such as substance abuse, deviant behaviour, intolerance, and other social evils,” he said.
In the first phase of the project, the SPC programme will be introduced in 20 different schools and it will be expanded to 50 more schools across the state in the second phase, the police chief said. All the required materials including computer sets will be provided by the police department. The department will also provide vehicles for outdoor programmes of the project, the DGP further added.
Speaking on the occasion, education commissioner, M Harekrishna hoped that the project, if successfully implemented, will help in producing good citizens. He then assured all possible co-operations from the education department in the successful implementation of the project.
