For cops, maintaining a ‘clean, positive image’ in public is a difficult thing to do. People, usually, are scared of the police and don’t trust them enough to share their problems. Probably this is why the witnesses of different crimes are hesitant to approach the police at first. To change the ‘corrupt, scary’ image of cops, SHO (Station House Officer) Mukesh Kumar came up with the innovative idea of adopting schools in Rajasthan.
Meet Mukesh Kumar, a Superhero who Protects Society and Delivers ‘Swachhta Lessons’ in his Free Time…
Kumar, who manages a police station in Kuaan (Seekhli Tehsil, Dungarpur) worked as a school teacher before he joined the police force in 2008. Coming from a poor family, Kumar had experienced several hardships in his student life. He’s familiar with the problems experienced by poor students in government schools therefore, he began his professional career in teaching.
Later, realising the importance of power that one holds as a policeman, Kumar switched his professions and became a policeman to influence people’s lives in a positive manner.
His dream came true when his colleagues and sub-ordinates supported his idea. Together, 27 policemen from 3 chowkies coming under the Kuaan police station, adopted a government school in Debra (a remote tribal region) to earn respect and admiration from the tribals.
These jawans regularly visit the school to fulfil the difficult mission of ensuring positive development of the students. Acting like foster fathers to government school students, these cops take turns to spend at least 2 to 3 hours at schools. They try to inculcate moral values in students and take regular classes on various subjects.
They arrange haircuts and inspiring movie shows, deliver ‘swachhta’ lessons to ensure proper hygiene and distribute fruits and other nutritional food items to prevent deficiency. Not only this, they’ve also taken up the responsibility to repair and revamp the decrepit school building to prevent future mishaps.
The school has a strength of 92 students and there was a single teacher to handle all its operations. Therefore, the cops decided to share this burden with the teacher.
But, the bigger question is what made them do this? The local policemen see this as an opportunity to interact with local students and their parents/guardians. People no longer fear them. The public willingly co-operates with them in maintaining law and order. The crime rates have rapidly declined in their region and the younger generations are more aware now. This historic step will eventually help them prevent any major crimes in future.
Today, this police station in Kuaan has emerged as the first one-of-its-kind establishments to adopt a government school. The police are hopeful that they’ll be able to change the future of young children with this endeavour.
