One of the most formidable challenges that India has been facing since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in mid-March last year has been to convince semi-literate and insular people in smaller towns, especially in worst-hit states such as Maharashtra, to comply with precautionary norms, maintain social distancing, avoid unnecessary exposure, and stay bold in the face of unprecedented adversities.
Dr. Arti Singh, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer – and now the only woman police commissioner in India (out of a total of 60 across major cities) – has been battling the Covid-19 crisis with remarkable zeal and aplomb.
She is the police chief of Amravati, a bustling city in Maharashtra’s backward Vidarbha region, where the mercury frequently soars above 40 degrees Celsius during peak summer months and the dry heat leads to several deaths as well.
The contagion continues to rage across Amravati, and the district is one of the worst hit in the country.
Working nearly 12 hours daily since the onset of the viral outbreak, Singh is out on the streets risking her life and limb, urging the public to follow the strict norms, advising the hundreds who want to meet her and seek solace, and also motivating the personnel in her force.
Besides being a top-ranking police officer, Singh is also qualified as a medical doctor.