Punjab Police youth outreach programme benefits 11,200 students: DGP

Chandigarh: Punjab Police's 'Youth Connectivity' initiative under the Student Police Cadet (SPC) programme has benefited nearly 11,200 students from 280 schools across the state since its launch in August 2023, DGP Gaurav Yadav said on Wednesday.The programme aims to build responsible citizenship, develop leadership qualities, promote social awareness and strengthen interaction between students and the police.Yadav said Punjab Police has conducted 1,965 indoor classes and 698 outdoor classes under the initiative. "The programme has received an enormous response from school-going students," he said.Under the programme, students of Classes VIII and IX attend one indoor and two outdoor sessions every month. They are also taken on educational visits to the offices of deputy commissioners and SSPs, police stations, Saanjh Kendras, the Punjab Police Academy and other institutions.Special DGP (Community Affairs and Women Affairs) Gurpreet Kaur Deo said such interactions help students understand the functioning of government institutions and the policing system."These activities remove the fear of police and develop confidence among students to approach government institutions whenever required," she said.