Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan recently lauded the state’s police force for their exceptional contributions to society, extending far beyond their traditional duties of maintaining law and order. During the inauguration of a two-day alumni gathering for the Student Police Cadet (SPC) and Helping Others Promote Education (HOPE) initiatives, Mr. Vijayan underscored these projects as shining examples of how police can drive meaningful social change.
He emphasized that initiatives like HOPE and SPC clearly demonstrate how police can foster a better society by actively uplifting lives and instilling crucial civic values, rather than solely focusing on law enforcement.
Bringing Children Back to Education
The HOPE project, established in 2017, focuses on helping children under 18 who have either left school or struggled with exams to re-enter the formal education system. Impressively, 1,426 students have rejoined their studies through the program by the 2024–25 academic year, with an additional 1,067 enrolling this current year. In total, this initiative has successfully guided 4,364 students to pass their public examinations.
Similarly, the Student Police Cadet (SPC) program, a collaboration with the General Education department, has seen significant expansion. Initially implemented in 431 schools by 2016, it now reaches 1,048 schools, including 70 new additions this year.
During the event, the Chief Minister also honored nine police officers who achieved medals at the recent World Police and Fire Games held in Birmingham, USA. State Police Chief Ravada A. Chandrasekhar presided over the proceedings.