In the wake of the recent violent incidents involving school students, especially the alleged ragging-induced suicide of a 15-year-old boy, the Ernakulam Rural police have come up with a novel programme, Urappu@School, for ensuring the safety and security of students by offering a platform for the school authorities and parents to raise issues affecting the smooth functioning of schools in real time.
The project, a brainchild of District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) Vaibhav Saxena, has already been rolled out in schools across Aluva and Perumbavoor sub-divisions with other sub-divisions to be covered shortly.
To begin with, WhatsApp groups will be formed with members of the faculty, parents, school management, and the police, including the Station House Officers concerned. These groups will be used to conduct awareness sessions and give tips on dos and don’ts. Faculty members will have the opportunity to flag issues related to schools. A special police team will monitor the interactions round-the-clock ensuring that issues are addressed promptly.
Among the focus areas of the project would be sensitisation programmes on drug menace. Experts will conduct special sessions. The police can be alerted about any sale or consumption of drugs on the school premises and in the neighbourhood either through WhatsApp groups or calls. Students will also be given training on how to tackle drug-related challenges.
Shops in the immediate neighbourhood of the schools will be constantly monitored. Strangers found loitering near schools should be immediately reported. Awareness sessions will be held on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act for both students and parents. They will be educated on the need to report such cases without fail and the consequences of not doing it on time.
“In the second phase, the District Police Chief will interact with schools online on a monthly basis. Students will also be trained on how to avoid the pitfalls in cyberspace. Parents will be made stakeholders in such sessions. The school authorities and students will be educated about the role of the police in society as also in the smooth functioning of educational institutions,” said Rural police sources.
Published – February 05, 2025 07:59 pm IST
