The passing-out parade of the district’s first batch of Customs Cadet Corps (CCC) comprising 25 cadets will be held at the Government Higher Secondary School at Karaparamba on Sunday. Labour and Excise Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan will review the parade and present the training certificates to the cadets.
It is the fifth CCC unit in the State set up by the Cochin Customs and Customs Preventive Commissionerate. The maiden unit in the district has the distinction of enrolling eight girl students from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities.
“We have altogether 14 boys and 11 girls in the team who have been trained under seasoned hands in various fields such as self-defence, personality development and English communication,” says C.J. Thomas, Superintendent at the Central Board of Excise and Customs in Kozhikode. He adds that the CCC, comprising Class VIII and IX students, will be mainly responsible for addressing student-centric issues and work for their social and academic improvement.
Karaparamba higher secondary school was selected for the project taking into account the increased presence of students from socially and financially backward sections. More number of SC and ST students was ensured in the team with an aim to address their issues more effectively among student circles.
“The CCI batch gets ready for the passing-out parade after a year-long training. We have taken them for even sea patrolling drives as part of introducing to them the basic duties and responsibilities of the Customs Department,” says Mr. Thomas. He also confirms that more number of CCI units will be considered in the district shortly besides expanding the network to Kannur district.
The cadets will also get an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the duties and responsibilities of the Customs and Central Excise Department officials at air ports. Officials say they will get on-job training from selected airports and it will be an opportunity for them to connect with the department and the public with more responsibilities.
