With the increased cases of sexual assaults in schools being reported in the State, the State Home Department has decided to soon launch a Student-Police Cadet programme in high schools of Bengaluru to imbibe discipline and respect for law among students.
Home Minister K.J. George told presspersons here on Tuesday that the unique project would be launched on a pilot basis in Bengaluru. Police would visit schools one or two days in a week and provide training for students traffic rules, investigation, and other aspects of policing.
Students would also be brought to the police station to inform them about the functioning of the stations, he said.
The project would enable school communities to create a safe environment and repose confidence in the youth to react against social evils and find solutions to problems. The police officer of Additional DGP rank has been given responsibility of identifying schools and formulating the programme, he said.
Based on the success of the project in the City, the programme would be extended to other cities and districts. The project would use the existing network, infrastructure and leadership qualities of the police to supplement physical, mental and educational development of youth.
Currently, students are being roped in for traffic management in the city.
On the lines of NSS programme, the student police cadet programme would enable youth to explore and develop their inner capabilities, thereby empowering them to resist the negative tendencies such as social intolerance and substance abuse.
Guidelines
Mr. George said a committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary V. Umesh is fine-tuning the school guidelines issued to prevent sexual abuse and guidelines would be approved in a Cabinet meeting to be held in Kalaburagi on November 28.
Defence lands
The Home Minister said he had not encroached the land belonging to Defence and the matter was before the court. Defence authorities have served a show cause and eviction notice on Embassy Golf Links (EGL), an IT Park, accusing them of encroaching upon 65 acres.
The EGL is a joint venture between the Embassy Group, a real estate major in the city, and Kelachandra Group, headed by the home minister. “The people have been making allegations of encroachment of Defence lands without valid documents,” he said.
