IPS Dr Pritpal Kaur is a 2016-batch officer of the Nagaland cadre and is currently posted as the Superintendent of Police in Phek district. Known for her strong determination and community-centric approach to policing, she was the only Indian officer to be selected for the prestigious ‘2024 IACP 40 Under 40’ award by the US-based International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).

Kaur, a former dentist, is setting a powerful example by blending the compassion of a doctor with the firmness of a police officer.

Phek, being a border district, brings unique challenges. “My goal is to ensure the people of Phek remain safe and secure in every possible way,” Dr Kaur says. But her mission goes far beyond regular policing, at its core lies the empowerment of youth and combating the drug abuse in the region. “To address this, we are working on two major fronts” she explains.

The first front is helping youth caught in addiction through rehabilitation support, including Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST). Skill training is also provided so that those in recovery can rebuild their lives and pursue careers of their choice. “Whatever they want to learn, we make it available” Dr Kaur shares.

To further guide the youth, free coaching classes are offered every morning from 6:30 to 10:30 AM for those preparing for competitive exams like UPSC, NPSC, SSC, and others. “Many of these students come from remote border areas and cannot afford expensive coaching. That’s why we’ve formed a team that dedicates time to teach them for free,” she shares.

Additionally, under her leadership a community drug squad carries out random checks.

Secondly Recognizing that school dropouts and unemployed youth are often vulnerable to drug use or insurgent recruitment, Kaur has introduced entrepreneurship training. “We’ve already trained a group and even launched our own brand,” she reveals. In one initiative, 26 women were trained in food processing, resulting in 17 food products. “These efforts are designed to be sustainable, even in our absence” she adds.

Kaur is also partnering with the health department to raise awareness about the harmful effects of chewing tobacco and paan, both of which are known to cause cancer.

With her initiatives, Kaur is bringing a new wave of change and proving her philosophy  “Actions are always louder than words”