An officer in Haryana is working tirelessly to free his district from the drug menace. Having observed that the addicts are ruining their livesand cross-border trafficking of drugs is leading to various crimes,the 2014-batch IPS officer of Haryana cadre, Dr. Arpit Jain,launched Operation CLEAN in Sirsa. In conversation with Indian Masterminds, the officer explained what the project is all about.
QUIT MEDICAL COURSE FOR UPSC
Mr. Arpit Jain is currently the Superintendent of Police in Sirsa. However, before joining IPS, he was all set to become a doctor. After completing his MBBS, he was pursuing MD when he decided to quit his medical studies to concentrate on cracking UPSC to become a civil service officer. “While I was doing my MBBS, the thought of civil services crossed my mind for the first time. It got stronger after I enrolled for Master’s. Medical profession definitely gives an opportunity to serve people, but through civil service, one can impact people and society on a larger extent. It allows you to be on a leadership position from a young age, from where not only can you lead the change but also inspire others.”
ON OPERATION CLEAN
Like Punjab, Haryana is also getting largely affected by drugs with numerous gangs operating in the drug trafficking business. Mr. Jain believes that this problem needs a two-way solution. While the law enforcement agency needs to continue targeting the drug lords and peddlers,it is equally important to create awareness among people about the need to fight drug addiction.
With this thought in mind, the officer started Operation CLEAN. Where C means Cutting the Supply, L means Law Enforcement, E means Empathetic Rehabilitation, A means Awareness Generation, N means New Ideas. “It’s been one and a half months since the project started. Our prime focus is to put the drug gangs behind bars and, at the same time, to launch rehabilitation for the addicts. Both are connected to each other. With no drug consumer, there will no drug seller, and if there will be no market, there will be no supply.”
EMPATHY FOR ALL
Being an ardent animal lover, the officer looks out for the strays, as well. When the first and second waves of Covid19 hit, Mr. Jain was posted in Faridabad. With the help of various NGOs, clubs, and religious institutions, he not only ensured that people who were struggling with basic necessities got food, he also made sure that the street animals were fed.
He initiated the ‘Food for All’ program and connected all help providers through a common WhatsApp group.
On the second day of the first lockdown in 2020, Mr. Jain became a father. Even though his wife and newborn were in hospital, he didn’t take a day off and was continuously on duty. During the second wave, he came down with Covid but continued to work from home every day. Apart from providing food, medical consultation, escorting oxygen tankers, the officer also created green corridors for serious patients.
In Faridabad, he also launched the ‘Empathy for All’ initiative with an aim to provide a single platform to all NGOs working for various social causes including animal welfare. The officer believes that if all of them work together and help each other, there is no target so big that it can’t be achieved. He hopes to start a similar program in Sirsa, as well.
