The Kerala government has announced a new initiative called the “Road Safety Cadet” programme, aimed at instilling road safety awareness and responsible citizenship among school students across the state. The programme will be launched jointly by the General education Department and the Motor vehicles Department as part of Kerala’s effort to create a safer environment on roads and within school communities.

📆 Launch and First Phase

The programme is scheduled to be inaugurated later this month in Mavelikkara in the Alappuzha district of Kerala. This follows a successful pilot run that was conducted at the John F Kennedy Memorial School in Mavelikkara taluk, where students participated and completed the initial training cycle.

In the first phase, the initiative will be rolled out in one high school or higher secondary school in every educational district of kerala, with priority given to government and aided institutions. The new academic year will mark the official start of the programme’s statewide implementation.

👩‍🎓 Who Will Become a Road Safety Cadet?

Each participating school will form a cadet batch of 30 students, with equal representation of boys and girls. The selection is intended to promote inclusivity and leadership among young learners.

Cadets will undergo a structured syllabus that includes:

15 hours of academic classroom instruction on road rules and safety fundamentals

5 hours of work experience activities

10 hours of physical training to build discipline and confidence

This blend of classroom and practical learning aims to make students knowledgeable as well as proactive about safety issues.

🚦 What Training Includes

Beyond basic road safety rules, cadets will receive training in several life skills:

Trauma care and first aid — equipping them to respond to emergencies

Anti‑drug activities — promoting healthy, substance‑free lifestyles

Swimming — a survival and fitness skill taught in collaboration with the fire brigade

Technical work experience — through workshops conducted with the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC)

These elements are intended to broaden the students’ practical ability to help others and contribute safely in emergencies.

🚸 Roles and Responsibilities of Cadets

Once trained, Road Safety Cadets will play active roles within their school communities, including:

Serving as safety coordinators in school vans to help ensure students board and disembark safely

Assisting with traffic control on school campuses

Supporting Motor vehicles Department officials in analysing causes of road accidents

Their uniform — red T‑shirts with black and yellow stripes, black shoes and maroon caps — will make them easily identifiable as student safety ambassadors.

📜 Recognition and Incentives

The government has allocated ₹10 lakh from the kerala Road Safety Authority (KRSA) fund to procure uniforms for the cadets. students who successfully complete the training will receive certificates from the Motor vehicles Department (MVD), underlining their role and training.

Officials are also considering awarding grace marks to cadets, which could provide academic incentives to encourage participation.

🧠 Why This Programme Matters

Kerala, like many indian states, data-faces significant challenges with road accidents, especially involving young people and pedestrians. By integrating road safety education into schools and empowering students to take active roles in promoting safe behaviour, the government hopes to reduce accidents and build a culture of responsibility from a young age.

Teaching kids not just the rules of the road but also emergency response and community awareness helps prepare a generation that can make smarter, safer decisions — potentially saving lives and reducing injuries on Kerala’s roads.

📌 Summary

The kerala government is launching a ‘Road Safety Cadet’ programme in schools to build road safety awareness among students.

The initiative will start with a pilot in Mavelikkara and expand to one school per educational district.

Each batch will have 30 students (equal boys and girls) trained in road safety, first aid, trauma care, anti‑drug activities and swimming.

Cadets will serve as safety coordinators in school transport and assist officials with traffic safety.

The programme includes uniforms funded by KRSA, certification by the MVD, and possible academic incentives.

 

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