Knowledge is power, and keeping this thought in mind, Sandip Patil, the newly-appointed Superintendent of Police (Pune rural), has made an off-beat request to his well-wishers.
Patil’s transfer from Satara to Pune is a reason for celebration, and naturally, many guests and well-wishers will soon visit him with gifts—traditionally flower bouquets. However, Patil wants to take this opportunity to spread the value of education to the Naxal district of Gadchiroli.
He has thus, requested his well-wishers to give him books instead of bouquets.
Speaking to Pune Mirror, the IPS officer said, “This is the second time in my career that I’ve made such an appeal to citizens and visitors. When I took over as the SP in Satara in 2016, I accepted books instead of flowers, and we then sent all the books to students and youths in Gadchiroli.
Pune has a robust reading culture, and thus, I have appealed that those who come to meet or visit me should bring books and not flowers.”
SP Patil has been instrumental in leading operations against Maoists in Gadchiroli. For example, he had promoted schemes like Agnipankh in the district, which sponsors the education of orphans. He had also opened libraries in police stations to encourage his colleagues to get into the habit of reading. This was also his way of creating a certain alliance between the locals and police officers.
The proactive IPS officer, who is regularly invited to give talks in schools, had a prominent role to play in bringing the number of police personnel who die due to Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) down to zero.
And he certainly does not plan to stop his efforts to make sure that every district that he works in is a better place to be.
In Pune, he plans to focus on improving the safety of women safety in various industries. “Ensuring the safety of women and the MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) businesses—these will be my principal areas of focus. We will improve law and order and take stern action against illegal activities and criminal elements under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA),” the officer said.
You may also like: Bouquets to Books: This IAS Officer’s Change in Tradition Is an Inspiration
Sandip Patil certainly promises to bring a positive change and utilise his post for the betterment of cities. Accepting only books as a welcome gift, and in turn, gifting those books to the children in Gadchiroli is just one way he is inspiring us.
(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)
Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
NEW: Click here to get positive news on WhatsApp!
If you found our stories insightful, informative, or even just enjoyable, we invite you to consider making a voluntary payment to support the work we do at The Better India. Your contribution helps us continue producing quality content that educates, inspires, and drives positive change.
Choose one of the payment options below for your contribution-
By paying for the stories you value, you directly contribute to sustaining our efforts focused on making a difference in the world. Together, let's ensure that impactful stories continue to be told and shared, enriching lives and communities alike.
Thank you for your support. Here are some frequently asked questions you might find helpful to know why you are contributing?