How IPS Harssh A Poddar created 42,000 young leaders against crime and terror

Photo Courtesy: Twitter

Harssh A Poddar, a 2013 batch Maharashtra cadre Indian Police Service officer and current additional SP in Malegaon, has built something unique: he has created 42,000 young leaders against crime and terror in the last three years. But how? The project is named…

Maharashtra Police Youth Parliament Project which Poddar started three years ago when he was an IPS probationer.

“Maharashtra Police Youth Parliament-started by #IPS probationer @Harssh_IPS 3 yrs ago has created 42K young leaders against crime and terror and connected 9 lac students to @DGPMaharashtra. Thank you Sri @Dev_Fadnavis for support of this innovation. @PMOIndia #DeradicaliseYouth” — IPS Association tweeted on Tuesday. In fact, chief minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis and Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar were present during the grand finale on Monday.

The project had a humble beginning three years ago when students of two schools — Nath Valley School, Aurangabad, and Aurangabad Police Public School (APPS) -- were given topics ranging from sexual offences against women and economic offences to ones such as Naxalism and  terrorism. The speakers used to provide solutions as if they were the policy makers of the nation. As many of them discussed the topics with their parents and neighbours, the awareness about these topics grew among families and beyond.

A product of NUJS (West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences), Kolkata, Poddar then completed his masters in international and constitutional law from Balliol College of the University of Oxford. He first started working as a corporate lawyer with Clifford Chance, London, but then decided to return to India to pursue something dearer to his heart. In UPSC examination 2013, Poddar secured the rank of 361, and he opted for Indian Police Service.