An IPS officer posted in Nagaland has found an innovative way to counter the drugs menace and insurgency. Posted in Noklak district as Superintendent of Police, Pritpal Kaur is using education as a tool to reverse the affects of drugs in society, especially among the young people. Knowing only too well that young impressionable minds might easily fall prey to the lure of drug sellers and insurgents, she is coming up with interesting means to lure the students towards educational pursuits instead.
Speaking with Indian Masterminds, IPS officer Pritpal Kaur, SP, Noklak, Nagaland, shared details about the educational initiatives launched by her in the district to keep the youth away from drugs and insurgency.
FIGHTING DRUGS WITH EDUCATION
This year, Noklak district didn’t perform well in the 10 boards, and the officer said that Covid could be one of the reasons. Fearing that the students who failed might be drawn towards the intake of drugs and other intoxicants, she decided to step in and check any such development. “The best weapon to fight drugs and insurgency with is education only, and this became my only motive and theme. Since I am Punjabi, I have learned this model from Punjab,” she said.
A government higher secondary school is the only school in the district that has classes 11 and 12. However, it only has arts stream for all the students. The school has around 565+ students studying in it.
“Students passing from class 10 are weak in science subjects. When we asked students about their biggest fear in classes, they said it’s science and mathematics. So, I realised that we have to give them a practical view, otherwise, they will not understand how to go about it,” Ms. Kaur said.
So, on World Science Day, the police administration conducted a competition among the schools, and asked students to make models of their choice and announced that the best model will be awarded. By looking at their models, the officer realized that their basics were not strong. So, she initiated the making of some tech-savy models and also set up a library for the students to get proper reading material of the subject from.
The science museum was built outside the school compound and houses different kinds of models of Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Mathematics and even Hindi and English alphabets.
“I have told them that these subjects are not to be feared, instead one should start friendship with them. In this way, the subjects will one day become their biggest strength.”
MAKING OF A SCIENCE MUSEUM
Ms. Kaur used to work on the science museum during her off days. She and her team started collecting empty water bottles and big rocks from a nearby river. Later on, with the help of YouTube, she filled up the museum with science and maths 3D models on plant cells, the solar system, volcano, evolution, and even Hindi and English alphabet letters. A model of the local Mithun animal is also placed in the museum.
“This is the first-of-its-kind museum in the whole of Nagaland and it took us around 3 months to put it in place. I didn’t want to do it all alone, so we also involved the teachers, the students, and the community to help us in making this science museum,” she said.
She has also provided the school a microscope and a telescope, so that the students can understand their usage.
“I just wanted to make subjects easier for them. It’s like a museum cum park where students can come, sit, play, and learn by seeing those models. We lay focus on ethical learning. We tell them that if they are learning science and technology, it should be used for good things and not for making weapons.”
COMPUTER LAB ADDED
She has also managed to get around 10 desktop computers for the school from a Karnataka-based foundation. The transportation and installation were done by the police department. For the first time in their lives, students of the school could lay their hands on a computer and now they are taking regular classes for basic computer operation and knowledge.
“Science and mathematics are their biggest fear and I will make it their biggest friend. There will be no drugs, intoxicants, insurgencies, weapons and war, only a progressive society moving ahead with science and technology,” Ms. Kaur said.
