Mohammad Shoaib

The situation is grim due to Covid-19 but that is no reason to delay the passing out of trainees at the Sher-e-Kashmir Police Academy (SKPA) in Udhampur. Trainees have already completed several months of training and it is sufficient to work efficiently in the field, especially for those trainees who got a chance to have practical experience of work in the field for four months when training centers all over the country were closed due to the outbreak of Covid-19. It would be pertinent to mention here that with face masks on, trainees of Delhi Police, CISF, CRPF, and cadets of IMA (Indian Military Academy) and NDA (National Defence Academy) all have taken part in passing out-parades that were telecast online. The higher-ups in J&K can follow the same procedure for the passing out of trainees at SKPA. In these pandemic times, passing-out parades need to be organised as online education and exams are organised. The parade, with all SOPs and norms followed, can be shown electronically to the authorities, families, friends, and the general public.
Across the country, schools and universities are suspending classroom teaching and relying on online learning and examinations. Retaining police trainees for a further 3 months or more is not a good idea. If online exams are held and a passing-out parade organised for virtual viewing, it would be an effective way to induct the trainees into the police force. The Home department and Police Headquarters should consider this idea. It would be a historic event to look forward to.

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