Gilan Bedi

Girambadi, the first highest ranking female police officer in India, has over 35 years of experience in security improvement and prison management. She is a leading social activist and the founder of two non-governmental organizations. She actively participates in the work of the United Nations and represents India in international forums to discuss crime prevention, drug abuse, and women's issues. She was voted as the most respected female figure in India by MSN in 2011, and was rated by the New India Times and Reader's Digest as the most trustworthy woman in India in 2012. Her efforts in preventing crime, prison reform, and curbing drug abuse have earned her the MacArthur Prize, known as the Nobel Prize in Asia. She has delivered extensive speeches to universities, businesses, and civil society organizations both domestically and internationally, including the Indian Metal Association, TED speeches, Global Impact Cooperation Conference, Nomura Securities Asia Investment Forum, World Justice Project, and Eximus. Her speech topics include non-governmental organization work, gender inequality in India, leadership, women's empowerment, and her own work experience at the Indian police station. In 2007, Bedi voluntarily resigned from the position of Director of the Indian Police Research and Development Bureau. During her brief tenure as the governor of Delhi Tiha Prison from 1993 to 1995, she proposed many prison management reforms and implemented measures such as drug rehabilitation programs, yoga, meditation, literary projects, and prisoner complaints. She also served as a security advisor to the Secretary General of the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations and was awarded the United Nations Medal for this. She joined the Indian Police Department in 1972 and undertook multiple difficult tasks, including the New Delhi Transport Commissioner, Deputy Police Director in the Mizoram Rebellion, Advisor to the Deputy Governor General of Chandigarh, and Director of the Drug Control Bureau. Gilan has had an impact on many important decisions made by the Indian police, especially in drug control, traffic management, and VIP security. In 1987, Bedi co founded the Navjyoti India Foundation, which was initially a drug rehabilitation initiative but gradually extended to social issues such as literacy and women's empowerment. In 1994, Bedi founded the India Vision Foundation, focusing on areas such as police and prison reform, women's empowerment, and rural and community development. Her efforts have received praise both domestically and internationally, and her two organizations have also been awarded the Serge Soitiroff Memorial Award by the United Nations for preventing drug abuse. Currently, these two non-governmental organizations operate four community universities and have been registered at Indira Gandhi National Open University in India to provide vocational and soft skills training for Indian youth. She proposed the Mission Safer India initiative, aimed at ensuring that the police can record and handle citizen complaints. She is also a leading figure in the Indian anti-corruption action IAC. After retirement, Betty continued to support social change and civic responsibility by publishing books and writing columns. From 2009 to 10, she served as the host of the Indian Star Plus reality show Aap Ki Kachehri Kiran Ke Saath. She has published multiple books