Now, customs to inculcate discipline among school students
- Students are given training in self-defence, personality development and communicative English
- The first unit, containing 27 cadets, was launched in Thiruvananthapuram
- Customs Preventive Commissionerate and Cochin Customs will give training to cadets
FollowTaking a cue from the success of student's police, excise and fire and rescue services cadet corps, Kerala has launched Customs Cadet Corps. The move aims to inculcate civic sense, discipline and respect for law among students.
Customs Preventive Commissionerate and Cochin Customs gave the training to students, and five units were launched in the first phase.
The first unit was launched in Thiruvananthapuram with 27 cadets, while the fifth one, at Kozhikode, has 25 student cadets.
"After police and excise cadets now we have customs cadets. This is indeed a proud moment for the entire state," Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan said.
The main aim of cadets is to instil discipline among students. Their help will also be sought in conducting investigations. The students are given training in self-defence, communicative English and personality development. Students will also get some degree of exposure to Customs Department's areas of operation. This include visits to outer sea, on board patrol vessels of customs, Cochin port and airport.
Like student cadet corps, which was replicated all over India, we have already received enquiries from other states to replicate the project, Excise and Labour Minister T P Ramakrishnan said.
Students from Class VIII to IX can join the corps in the first stage. Gradually, training will be extended to students of other classes. The training will help students to address their issues more effectively, Central Board of Excise and Customs superintendent C J Thomas said.
Student cadet corps of Police Department is playing a crucial role in maintaining law and order in the state. Police is conducting special drives with the help of student cadets to eradicate sale and use of drugs and tobacco in schools across the state. Last week 175 persons were arrested, and 177 cases were lodged in a special drive carried out by the police with the help of student cadet corps, in Kochi. A total of 1,170 raids were conducted across the district.
