Schoolchildren in Kalyan East marked Raksha Bandhan with an unusual gesture on 25 August — visiting Kolshewadi Police Station in Thane district, Maharashtra, to tie rakhis on the wrists of police personnel and seek their pledge of protection. The annual tradition, now an established community event at the station, is designed to dismantle the fear children often associate with law enforcement and replace it with trust.

What Happened at the Station

The children arrived at Kolshewadi Police Station and tied the sacred thread on the wrists of officers and staff as a mark of respect and affection. They also distributed sweets to personnel, turning the occasion into a warm exchange between young students and the local police force. The students were subsequently taken on a tour of the station, where they observed its day-to-day functioning, including policing operations and security arrangements.

What the Police Told the Children

Assistant Police Inspector Pramila Kawale addressed the students, stressing that ensuring children's safety was a core responsibility of the police. She urged them to remain fearless and situationally aware, and to approach the police without hesitation whenever they face difficulty or feel unsafe. Kawale specifically encouraged girl students to stay alert about incidents occurring in their surroundings. She also said that education must extend beyond academics — children, she argued, need to understand social circumstances so they can respond wisely when confronted with difficult situations.

The Larger Initiative

Police officials confirmed that children visit Kolshewadi Police Station every year during Raksha Bandhan to tie rakhis to personnel. The initiative is part of a broader effort to build a sense of belonging between the community and law enforcement. Officials said their objective is to ensure children view the police not as an authority to fear but as trusted safety partners they can approach freely. This comes amid wider national conversations about child safety awareness and community policing outreach programmes.

Why It Matters

Community policing events of this kind serve a dual purpose: they humanise law enforcement for young citizens while also giving police an opportunity to communicate safety messaging directly to children. Notably, programmes that build early, positive contact between children and police have been shown to improve reporting rates when children encounter unsafe situations. The Thane initiative reflects a grassroots model that other districts could replicate.