Solution-seeking Mindset & Determination Are Vital In Creating Social Impact: Dr Kiran Bedi

Creating a lasting social impact is a challenging task, it requires a resilient spirit and a proactive attitude to understand the issue at hand and deal with it effectively with limited resources. Dr Kiran Bedi was the first woman in India to join the officer ranks of the Indian Police Service and her journey is nothing short of inspirational. Speaking at the second edition of the BW Social Impact Summit & Awards, she gave an insight into how communities can be empowered for social good.

While sharing her experience of one of her initial postings in West Delhi in 1980, when crime rates against women were high, Dr Bedi said, “What did I do? Do I preside over these kinds of crimes? Or do I find a solution? The solution was obviously, more manpower. We had no technology, we had no cameras.” She emphasised the importance of community patrolling in her efforts to curb those crimes in the area. She added, “I expanded my area of influence and was determined to find solutions to the problems. I had to unite people and they eventually developed faith in my capabilities and my intentions of working selflessly for them and they eventually saw the results of my efforts.”

Her second anecdote at the event talks about her experiences as a traffic police officer in Delhi. She said, “My job as a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) was to reduce traffic congestion on roads for the smooth travel of the citizens. Being new to the job it was challenging for me initially and so I used to go on patrols daily. I used to lose my way. I did not know. But I learnt traffic by being on the road myself every morning at eight o'clock – to know my roads, and problems, and to lead my team so that they did not just underestimate me as a young woman with no leadership quality.” She also highlighted her unflinching attitude towards the job through which she brought private cranes onto the roads to solve the menace of traffic and to issue the vehicles parked in the wrong areas a challan.

Towards the end of her speech, she shared her duties at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1983 in Goa and shared, “Social impact can be done through money, but also through determination. You need to have a solution-oriented mindset.”