How IPS Saumya Mishra Used Policing to Tackle Drug Abuse and Empower Women in Ferozepur (Punjab)

IPS Saumya Mishra, a 2014 batch officer of the Punjab cadre has recently been posted as AIG Personnel-II, Punjab, Chandigarh.Prior to this,She served as the Senior Superintendent of Police in Ferozepur, a border district,where she spearheaded numerous innovative social initiatives focusing on women’s empowerment, youth rehabilitation, and anti-drug efforts.

One of her key contributions was under Yuva Saanjh Programme, a state-led initiative aimed to empower and rehabilitate Punjab’s misguided youth.  "We focused on three categories—first, those with disoriented ideologies,second, individuals struggling with drug addiction and peddling and third, young people with violent tendencies," she explained.Further, the initiative provided counselling sessions to rehabilitate and reintegrate troubled youth into society"Our district has one of the highest success rate in Yuva Saanjh," she shared

Under Mishra leadership, 32 individuals were counselled through various Saanjh Kendras and the District Police Headquarters in Ferozepur.Additionally some individual’s struggling with drug addiction voluntarily joined  the initiative.Through the Skill Development Programme,these individuals are also being equipped with with valuable skills, fostering their self-reliance, and empowering them to lead productive lives.

While youth intervention remained a priority,Mishra revolutionised women’s participation in policing and defence “In most Village Defense Committees (VDCs), women were missing entirely.” she explained.This realisation led to 'Navekli Pehal',based on the idea Women for Women.Under this initiative the women police officers directly engaged with women across villages,mohallas and police stations. "We didn’t just talk to them; we went to the fields where they worked, met women sarpanches, and even organized competitions for their children," she recalled.

This initiative also served as a unique intelligence-gathering mechanism while interacting with women, the police gathered insights about drug abuse and local issues. “Through these interactions, we gathered intelligence that helped us improve enforcement.” She said

With her Proactive and community driven approach in policing she has not only brought positive change but also strengthened the bond between police and citizens.