Superintendent of Police Dr Pritpal Kaur, IPS, who was posted in Noklak District on 6 August 2020 is now set for the next venture. As per the order received, she will be transferring to Dimapur.

In an exclusive interview with Nagaland Tribune, Dr Pritpal Kaur shared about her experiences in Noklak.

When she was first posted in the newly created district, one located further from urban centres, everyone told her that it would be challenging. True to what was said, there were no SP Office or residence, infrastructure or manpower. The knowledge of proper law and order systems was also a rarity. She, however, added: “When they realised and understood the system, they helped in many things”.

Though initially anxious at the thought of how people would be, she soon found them to be hospitable, caring and talented.  The people were skilled in many areas and in return, Kaur wanted to show them love.

Recollecting encounters she’s had with residents of the district, Kaur said she was deeply moved when people asked her questions like if she could take them to Haryana and Punjab for training and if they could get the same opportunities as others. She also recounted someone saying, “We are from Noklak and we are always invisible. Is it possible for you to make us visible?”

Besides the normal duties of a police officer, Kaur has gone the extra mile to support the society in Noklak including exam aspirants whom she fondly addresses as “my people”.

Dr Pritpal Kaur inaugurating the Computer Lab at GHSS Noklak.

Kaur’s two years of service has ushered in tremendous changes and growth in various aspects for the district.

Of the many contributions, seen and unseen, it was education that she focused on particularly by giving free UPSC and NPSC coaching classes to youths preparing for the exams. This paid off as a few students managed to clear the exams.

Kaur giving coaching classes to aspirants.

According to Kaur, there is no such thing as backwardness and no one is backward, it is in the mind. She said she is glad that the people could change their mindset.

The SP collaborated with the farmers in Noklak to form Taste of Noklak Society (TONS). The society focuses on empowering the farmers in food processing unit and also on encouraging school dropouts and drug users to take up and sustain their lives in positive ways. The motive of TONS is to train and empower one group so that they can train the next group, thereby creating a chain of livelihood.

Interestingly, the anthem for Taste of Noklak was composed by Kaur.

With the Taste of Noklak Society.

Kaur further assisted in acquiring machines such as cooking cum drying machine, oil extracting machine and other low-cost machines for farmers of the district.

Many drug users were also assisted in controlling their intake of the substance by being provided Opioid Substitution Therapy. Many former users have come out of addiction and are now engaged in livelihood activities like carpentry, mechanical works and farming.

“We cannot discipline a person using force. Time has changed and it is love and care that is infectious,” Kaur said.

Healthcare was another aspect that the SP focused on. The making of sanitary napkins involving local women for spreading awareness on menstrual hygiene was a breakthrough.

“People here are skilled in so many things. If guns can be made, why not the legal things,” she said. Most recently, with her assistance and support, two Noklak youths designed an electric bicycle (Wheels of Nagas).

Kaur’s assistance helped Tumong (seen here) and Khumong to design an electric bicycle.

Though the zeal and thirst for knowledge are present in residents of Noklak, Kaur shared that infrastructure and logistic problems were the greatest challenges.

She said she learned a lot during the process of finding solutions to the challenges.

She also shared that with the cooperation of the public, big issues such as drug abuse, border issues, tribal clashes were handled.

During her stay in Noklak, the SP did not limit her social circle to people in the same line of work. She instead created countless bonds with many people outside of her work.

“If I am one of them, I’ll also work as one. People are genuine, they are progressive people,” she expressed.

SP Pritpal Kaur has carried out her service with full dedication, standing strongly as a cop and not seeing herself as being any lesser to a man.

Speaking on her next posting, she expressed that Dimapur is completely different from Noklak with different types of crimes and a different kind of policing; but she said with time she would catch up with the changes.

In her last message as SP Noklak, Kaur encouraged the people of Noklak to pursue education with values.

“Teach each other for the progress of society,” she concluded.

The work that Kaur has done in Noklak is commendable and a testament to her ethics. Making the district her home for the past two years, she has established herself not only as a figure of authority but one easily accessible to the people of the district. She is indeed the People’s SP.

Read more: Fighting drugs with livelihood: Chain of livelihood in Noklak

DC Noklak launches Taste of Noklak Society anthem composed by Dr Pritpal Kaur, SP Noklak