The scheme was launched by Superintendent of Police R. Stalin on April 25 last year with the objective of saving the youth, particularly the students, from getting addicted to tobacco, alcohol, drugs and entangled in anti-social activities and legal consequences. This team, comprising of police personnel, also creates awareness among the students and the younger generation about the evils of substance abuse, child marriage, sexual harassment and crime against women and the children.
Since the study conducted by The Rising Team found that most of the sexual offenders were school or college dropouts addicted to drug or alcohol and the victims were from poor and the ‘single parent families’, the team started monitoring the children from 2,500-odd single parent and other vulnerable families.
The team also counselled the children addicted to online games, tobacco, alcohol or drugs and the students who became school dropouts due to family problems, poverty. At the same time, those who exposed these children to tobacco, drugs or alcohol were taken to task.
“Thanks to these collective efforts, more than 600 students, including the Kaani Tribal children living deep inside the Western Ghats, have been brought back to the schools. The ‘Nimir’ team monitors constantly their continued education and their academic performance. Those who completed SSLC and Plus Two were felicitated and given due career guidance. When most of these students were found to be in need of financial assistance for pursuing higher education, it was also ensured. This initiative has proved that the usual policing alone cannot prevent crimes but the positive steps taken the police take for changing the attitude of the younger generation will also curb unlawful activities,” says the ‘Nimir’ Team.