Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) and the Auroville Foundation have launched a security education and training centre that will offer customised programmes in confidence building and character development for an estimated 600 children in eight Auroville schools and certificate courses to create job opportunities for local youth.
According to a press note, the RRU-Auroville Security Training Academy (RASTA), launched on the occasion of Vinayaka Chaturthi at Bharat Nivas, pioneers a model for security education that prioritises character, cultural values, and community empowerment.
D. Manikandan, Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, said the swiftness with which the RASTA moved from concept to reality, in a span of a fortnight, represented a seamless partnership between the government and the RRU.
The academy’s core mission was to fuel the local economy by creating skilled employment opportunities in the rapidly growing public and private security sectors and to protect youth from rising economic and cyber crimes, he said.
Bascarene, Superintendent of Police – Cyber Cell, said the institution, by blending ethical digital literacy with technical prowess, could bridge the existing vulnerabilities in the way society accessed the web.
Koshy Varghese, retired Assistant Director of the Intelligence Bureau, said while formal security was a new concept for the Auroville community, “the present-day security scenario has created a need for upgrading our system.”
Jayanti S. Ravi, Additional Chief Secretary of Gujarat-cum-Secretary of Auroville Foundation, joined the event virtually and outlined RASTA’s comprehensive scope, spanning from school students to aspiring professionals and covering emergency response, firefighting, foundational military training, cyber security, and drone operations.
Nirima Oza, Governing Board Member of the Auroville Foundation, Ram Bahadur Saru, ESM Trainer at RRU, and Arsh G., Campus Director (In-charge) of RRU, Puducherry, spoke on the occasion.