We bring to you today the inspiring story of an IPS officer, who is not only managing the law and order situation of his district smoothly, but also taking time out to guide hundreds of students onto the right career path. He is 2016-batch IPS officer and SP of East Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh, Mr. Rahul Gupta. Mr. Gupta started an outreach programme called ‘Unnati – Towards the Milestone’ for career counselling of students to steer the young minds on the right track of success in life. And in a short span of time, this programme has achieved its goal and is earning praises from the people of this hill district.
Started in August this year, Mr. Gupta’s aim is to increase the outreach of police within the community and guide students of class 9 and 10 in a right direction, for career as well as for being a good human being. In phase 1 of this programme, he could cover most of the schools of the district and guide more than 1200 students.
Indian Masterminds interacted with Mr. Rahul Gupta, SP, East Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh to know more about his initiative.
UNNATI PROGRAMME
Speaking to Indian Masterminds, Mr. Gupta said, “Awareness about careers and education in this district is very low and superficial in many places here. Many people do not even know that being a scheduled tribe, they are entitled for reservations. That is why I took this initiative, as it is very important to tell these children about their career and future.”
As of now, phase 1 of the initiative is going on. In this, counseling of the students of 9 and 10 is being undertaken. In the second phase, that will start after Diwali, the children of 11 and 12 classes will be counseled, and in the third phase in December, there is a plan to take this initiative to the colleges, too, according to the requirement of the college students.
“In the sessions with the children of 9th and 10th, we talk about the career options before them. There are also sessions on how to prepare for the competitive exams after intermediate, like engineering, medical,IIT, commerce or army. There is also general counselling, like how to improve oneself in studies, personality development, etc. They are also guided on UPSC/APCS exams, SSB/SSC exams and other career choices like performing arts and sports. These are open sessionsand so the students can ask all kinds of questions, too.”
3 QUESTIONS
Right in the beginning of each session, the students are asked three questions. What do you want to achieve in your life? What do you want to become in your life? Why do you want to achieve that in your life?
“Most of them do not know the answers to these questions, and even if they know an answer, they do not know how to do it and when to do it. This is the purpose of this initiative of ours,” the officer said.
COUNSELLED MORE THAN 1200
A small team carries out the entire initiative. Three main people are in charge of it. The officer and two people from NGOs, who have come on scholarship and are helping out in this initiative. “They select the school first, then we go there. We first give presentation and after that, the Q and A session starts. So far we have taken 8 sessions and I have counseled more than 1200 children,” Mr. Gupta said.
EARNING PRAISES
People of the district are lauding this initiative and it has been received with much enthusiasm by the educators and students alike. Lauding the initiative, a school principal said that the session was organised to motivate and make the students aware about the career choices before them.
Happy that the initiative is being enthusiastically received by the students, Mr. Gupta said, “Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve. Whenever I emphasise this to the students, their eyes always light up.”
