Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 13 September 2024
In an initiative to promote safety and well-being among students, Police Station Ograbraj, in collaboration with various police units and PRAYAS NGO, organized a comprehensive awareness campaign at Government Senior Secondary School, Port Mout. The event, aimed at educating and empowering youth, saw the participation of around 300 students and 15 teachers.
Key law enforcement representatives from the Traffic Unit, Anti-Narcotics, Cyber Crime, and the NGO PRAYAS addressed pressing challenges that today’s youth face. The awareness program focused on critical issues like road safety, substance abuse, cybercrime, and child protection laws.
Traffic Safety Awareness:
Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Pal Murugan from the Traffic Unit led the session on road safety, emphasizing the importance of following traffic rules to reduce accidents. Students were taught about the significance of responsible behaviour on the road, whether as pedestrians or future drivers.
Dangers of Substance Abuse:
Insp. Pritam, Station House Officer (SHO) of the Anti-Narcotics Division, along with Sub-Inspector (SI) Rahil Islam, addressed the harmful effects of substance abuse. Their session focused on how drug use could devastate young lives and futures, urging students to stay away from drugs.
Cybercrime Prevention:
Police Constable Bhupinder Singh from the Cyber Crime Unit educated students on the increasing threat of cybercrimes. He shared practical tips for staying safe online, advising them on ways to protect personal information and avoid falling victim to cyber threats.
Engaging Skits and Performances:
To make the session more interactive, the Police Entertainment Team presented skits on traffic safety, drug abuse, and cybercrime. These performances not only entertained but also reinforced the important lessons shared by the officers, deepening the understanding of the students.
Empowerment Through Child Protection Education:
Representatives from PRAYAS NGO, Mr. Vijay and Ms. Mariya Sheela, took the stage to educate students about the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Their session empowered students by informing them of their rights and safety measures, ensuring they understood how to protect themselves from abuse.
Concluding Remarks and Community Collaboration:
The awareness session concluded with a brief summary of the key points by SI Devanand Pathak, SHO of Police Station Ograbraj, who also shared important helpline numbers to ensure students had access to support when needed.
This initiative was made possible through the joint efforts of the South Andaman District Police and PRAYAS NGO and was widely appreciated by the students, teachers, and the school principal. The event underscored the importance of collaboration between law enforcement and youth, highlighting the crucial role of legal awareness in creating a safer community.
The program was conducted under the guidance of Mr. Brij Mohan Meena, DANIPS, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Bambooflat, and the overall supervision of Ms. Niharika Bhatt, IPS, Superintendent of Police, South Andaman District.