The Rashtriya Raksha University (erstwhile Raksha Shakti University) was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a grand ceremony on March 12. The occasion also coincided with the first convocation of this unique institution.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and Prof. Bimal N. Patel, vice-chancellor of the university, were also present at the ceremony.
PM at the dedication of the Rashtriya Raksha University to the nation and its 1st Convocation, at Ahmedabad, in Gujarat. The Governor of Gujarat, Shri Acharya Devvrat, the Union Home and Cooperation Minister, Shri Amit Shah, and the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel are also seen.
Stressing on the importance of an integrated system for security education to meet the challenges of the 21st century, the Prime Minister said the university must focus on research-based education to make the security services responsive, relevant, and updated.
Remembering the vision behind the three universities in the state during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, PM Modi said the forensic science, security services, and justice system must work in coordination and that was the main reason behind creating the three globally unique universities, Forensic Science University, Security Education (Rashtriya Raksha University) and a Law University.
The Prime Minister said these institutions were created to strengthen evidence-based security and justice system that would address the modern challenges of security through high-quality research, teaching, and training at the institution. He emphasized the need for greater cooperation and collaboration among these three institutions.
Tracing the historical evolution of security services in the country, PM Modi said that the security services have deep roots in the system created during the colonial rule and, therefore, the recruitments and selections in the system were based on physical fitness rather than considering the psyche of the society and tailoring a relevant security system. The formation of an independent and modern security university was an innovation in reforming and improving the security systems that will not only be modernized in technology but would also be an expert in understanding and serving the community and society’s security needs.
The PM highlighted the need for developing sensitivity and empathy while training security personnel in the country. He said while public perception towards military and armed border forces is very positive when it comes to policing people have an entirely different perception linked to negativity. He said the media and Bollywood were also accountable for creating such negativity about the police force. He called for working to change this perception which could be possible through developing empathy, promptness, and service orientation among the security personnel who are being educated through this university.
Earlier, remembering the Salt March of Mahatma Gandhi, which started on the same date, March 12, the Prime Minister offered his tribute to all those who participated in the freedom struggle.
During his presidential address, Home Minister Amit Shah elaborated how the vision of this university was conceptualized and implemented by PM Modi when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Vice-Chancellor Patel presented the progress report of the university and highlighted the growth vision for the time to come.
It is important to note that the Rashtriya Raksha University is now mandated as a Central University to coordinate and offer education and training programs across the country. It is likely that the university may expand its campuses to other states in the country for accelerating the holistic development of the much-needed education-linked security reforms.
