Safeguarding the Future: How IPS Sagarika Nath is Protecting Youth from Drugs Through Project Sampark in Khordha, Odisha

IPS Sagarika Nath is a 2016 Batch officer of Odisha cadre and is currently posted as Superintendent of Police in Khordha. Her Mission for the district is to protect the youth from drug abuse by spreading awareness, offering support and breaking the networks that feed addiction.

To achieve this, Project Sampark a youth-centered, compassionate, and community-driven initiative was launched. “Project Sampark is an inclusive approach towards fighting drug abuse. It takes on a two-pronged strategy—strengthening youth through awareness and mental resilience, while taking firm action against drug peddlers” Nath says.

On one front, it strikes hard against the drug network, wholesale dealers and small-time peddlers through a dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) guided by Additional SP-rank officer.

On the other front however, the project takes a more humane and inclusive approach toward drug users especially the ones in the early stages of their higher education. “End users are being treated with compassion, in coordination with Khordha’s de-addiction centre” Nath explains.

At its core, Project Sampark focuses on early intervention. “Recognizing that peer pressure and curiosity are often the entry points into drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, the police are actively engaging with college students, especially those in the initial years of higher education” she explained.

While awareness drives are focusing on the dangers of gateway substances, efforts are being taken to make schools and college areas tobacco-free zones.

Additionally to strengthen the support system, students are also being provided with contact numbers of local police stations ensuring they know whom to reach out to if they or their friends need help, counselling, or psychiatric support.

“The students are also encouraged to come and visit their local police station, through which they can be familiarised with the functioning of the police, and thus a more people-friendly police structure can be created” Nath exclaimed.

Apart from her anti-drug mission, Nath has also led several innovative projects in the area of road safety and traffic awareness. One of her most unique initiatives is the “Chota Cop” program, launched in schools across Balasore and Khordha districts. “Under this initiative, students from classes 5 to 8 were made ‘cops’ of their households and given a 10-point report card to monitor their parents’ traffic behaviour.”

Other key initiatives spearheaded by her includes

• Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS), Sundargarh: The first in Odisha to implement video analytics and facial recognition for traffic monitoring.

• Project Durga – Conceptualized as SP Sundargarh, this was a three-step program aimed at increasing the safety and security of adolescent girls. It included self-defense training, career counselling sessions, and the launch of a dedicated women's safety helpline. The program successfully reached over 2,500 adolescent girls.

With an ambitious vision and thoughtful policing, IPS Sagarika Nath is leading a wave of change in Odisha through her initiatives.