Kanyakumari Police Initiative 'Vetri Padhai' Bears Fruit with First SI Exam Success
A police outreach program aimed at youth welfare in Kanyakumari district has begun to deliver tangible results, marking a significant step in community engagement and educational support. On April 8, 2025, the Kanyakumari district police inaugurated 'Vetri Padhai', a free study centre located at Maravankudieruppu in Nagercoil, specifically designed to assist underprivileged youth in preparing for the police sub-inspector (SI) examinations.
Inspiring Success Story of G Joyson
The initiative has already produced its first success story with G Joyson from Anjugramam, who recently cleared the SI exams after training at the centre. Joyson, who lost his father at a young age, was initially preparing for TNPSC exams but decided to enroll at 'Vetri Padhai' upon his mother's encouragement. "Initially, I had no plans to join the police department. My mother told me that the centre would be good as police personnel themselves provided training. She asked me to give it a try," Joyson recalled, highlighting the personal motivation behind his journey.
Comprehensive Training Structure and Quality Control
The study centre operates with a robust educational framework that includes:
- Guest lectures by professors and scholars to provide academic depth
- Monthly polity classes conducted by Superintendent of Police R Stalin himself
- Regular classes by serving SIs and school teachers throughout the week
- A library stocked with approximately 1,000 books personally purchased by SP Stalin
Joyson emphasized the quality of preparation, noting that while many expected easy questions, the trainers prepared students with challenging material that proved invaluable during exams. "Everyone said the questions would be easy, but the trainers prepared us with tough questions. It helped me in the exams," he said. Furthermore, the centre maintains strict quality control with SIs conducting classes while other SIs monitor sessions and report training quality directly to the SP, ensuring trainers are changed if standards aren't met.
Addressing Social Issues and Building Trust
Superintendent of Police R Stalin explained the broader social objectives behind the initiative. He cited long-standing distrust between the public and police following the Mandaikadu riot as a key motivation. "We wanted to fill that trust gap. Besides, youngsters in fishing villages got addicted to drugs. We decided that this should not continue further, and so started the free study centre," Stalin told TOI, underscoring the program's dual purpose of educational empowerment and community rehabilitation.
Current Impact and Future Aspirations
Today, approximately 150 students and police personnel have enrolled at the centre, actively preparing for various examinations. Joyson shared how the centre provided not just education but essential support, including subsidized meals that helped him manage daily hunger during intensive study periods. He expressed gratitude toward the police department for this transformative initiative and advocated for more such centres across Tamil Nadu to benefit underprivileged youth statewide.
The 'Vetri Padhai' study centre represents a innovative model of police-community partnership, combining educational opportunity with social intervention to create pathways for youth advancement while strengthening public trust in law enforcement institutions.
