Repalle Shiva Praveen Kumar (born 23 November 1967)[1] is a former officer of Indian Police Service who served as the secretary of Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society[6][7] and Telangana Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society.[8]
R. S. Praveen Kumar | |
|---|---|
| Born | Repalle Shiva Praveen Kumar 23 November 1967 |
| Education | |
| Alma mater | |
| Political party | Bharat Rashtra Samithi (2024 March 18 - present) |
| Other political affiliations | Bahujan Samaj Party (2021 August 8 - 2024 March 16) |
| Police career | |
| Country | India |
| Department | Telangana Police |
| Service years | Indian Police Service, 1995-2021[1] |
| Status | Retired voluntarily |
| Rank |  Additional Director General of Police |
| Badge no. | Regular Recruit of 48th batch[2] |
| Awards |
|
| Other work | Secretary, Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (2013[4]-2021)[5] |
After resigning from his government job, he joined Bahujan Samaj Party, with a calling that it was time "Dalits and Bahujans strive to achieve political power" in the state.[9] He lost from Sirpur constituency in the 2023 Telangana Legislative Assembly election and later he resigned from BSP on 16 March 2024 accusing the BJP of attempting to disrupt the BRS and BSP's alliance for upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls, including resorting to arresting BRS MLC K Kavitha was unacceptable.[10]
RS Praveen Kumar joined Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) on 18 March 2024 in the presence of BRS president K. Chandrashekar Rao.[11]
Early life
editPraveen pursued studies in veterinary science from Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, his faculty included Professor T. D. J. Nagabhushanam, among others. He belongs to the Indian Police Service batch of 1995. He holds a master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University's Kennedy School under a Edward S Mason fellowship.[12]
Career
editDuring Praveen Kumar's tenure as the secretary of TSWREIS and TTWREIS, these residential schools being run for students belonging to marginalised sections has scripted many success stories and concentrated on wholesome personality development of the students.[13][14][15] He held the role for about 10 years.[9]
On 19 July 2021, he announced voluntary retirement and resigned from his post as secretary of TSWREIS and TTWREIS.[16]
Transformation of Social Welfare Residential Schools
editPraveen Kumar introduced P5 Model into Social Welfare Residential Schools. In this model, he added several innovative and path breaking programmes like E-Plus Clubs, Voice for Girls, Horse riding, film making, music, dance, water sports, mountaineering, Ignitor, W Plus Clubs, Impact, etc., for holistic development of the children.[17] During his tenure TSWREI students had successfully launched two payloads Swaero Sat 1 and Swaero Sat 2. The SWAEROSAT-1 was designed to study cosmic radiation and ozone layer concentration at various altitudes. Swaero Sat 2 is an experimental payload built to study atmospheric pollutants like methane gas and carbon monoxide, and also radiation and temperature levels.[18][19][20]
SWAEROES
editPraveen Kumar is the founder and the guiding force to launch a payback movement called SWAEROES.[21] Where SWAEROES stands for Social Welfare Aeroes (Greek for sky), it means that sky is the limit and there is no reverse gear or no looking back or no slowing down. Swaeroes student not only focused in academics and focusing success in arts, cultural programs, sports and games.[22][23][24] Springer Publications has published the work of Praveen Kumar in its series Empowering Teachers to Build a Better World. His work is selected as one among the six nations shortlisted across the world.[25][verification needed]
Criticism by right-wing groups
editIn March 2021, a video went viral during an oath ceremony of a Swaero movement held at Dhulikatta Buddhist Shrine in Peddapalli district. In the video Praveen Kumar was seen repeating "Budha Vandanam", vows taken by B. R. Ambedkar when he converted to Buddhism, which include denouncing faith in certain Hindu gods. The video was circulated and he was criticised by right-wing groups. Telangana BJP politicians and Vishva Hindu Parishad members accused him of spreading sentiments against Hinduism among students using the Swaero movement. Praveen Kumar defended against the accusations and issued a statement saying Swaeroism is an inclusive ideology and they don't teach any prejudice against any religion. The statement also stated that they work for just and equal society in the country only through education, health awareness, scientific thinking and economic empowerment, not through hatred.[26][27]
Politics
editWith a calling that it was time "to be the uncompromising voice for the suppressed" in the state, on 8 August 2021, leaving six and a half years of service, Kumar joined Bahujan Samaj Party,.[9] He lost from Sirpur constituency in the 2023 legislative assembly elections.[28] on 16 March 2024 he has resigned from the party amidst reported pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to Bahujan Samaj Party to severe ties with the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) .[29][30] R S Praveen Kumar has filed his nomination contesting for the upcoming MP elections as BRS candidate from Nagar Kurnool.
Awards and honours
editKumar has been awarded the President's Police Medal for meritorious and also awarded the Telangana Excellence Award by the government of Telangana on the eve of the 71st India's Independence Day.[31]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Pandey, Ashish (14 October 2020). "This IPS officer from Telangala is changing the fate of many underprivileged Tribal students". India Today. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- ^ Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Alumni gallery.[1] Archived 11 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Telangana IPS officer RS Praveen Kumar takes VRS, triggers buzz over joining politics, Indian Express, August 10, 2021.[2] Archived 10 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ A homecoming of high-flyers, The Hindu, October 25, 2013.[3] Archived 5 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Hyderabad: Swaeroes hero RS Praveen Kumar resigns IPS job, Telangana Today, 19 July 2021.[4] Archived 19 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "TSWREIS". tswreis.in. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ Empowering Teachers to Build a Better World. Springer. 23 March 2020. p. 89. ISBN 9811521379.
- ^ "TTWREIS". tgtwgurukulam.telangana.gov.in. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ a b c K. V., Kurmanath (8 August 2021). "Ex-IPS officer Praveen Kumar joins BSP". The Hindu Business Line. Archived from the original on 8 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- ^ Bureau, The Hindu (16 March 2024). "Praveen Kumar quits BSP after 'pressure' to end poll tie-up with BRS". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Telangana Today (18 March 2024). "RS Praveen Kumar joins BRS". Archived from the original on 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ "AP: Top cop selected for Harvard programme". The New Indian Express. 16 April 2011. Archived from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- ^ Pandey, Ashish. "This IPS officer from Telangala is changing the fate of many underprivileged Tribal students". India Today. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
- ^ V, Geethanath (25 February 2017). "R.S. Praveen Kumar is the wind beneath the wings of students at Telangana's social welfare hostels". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
- ^ Aravind, Indulekha. "How an IPS officer is changing the fortunes of students from marginalised communities in Telangana". The Economic times. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
- ^ "Praveen Kumar quits IPS, triggers speculations". Deccan Chronicle. 20 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- ^ "Teaching Dalits to ride for social horsepower". Civil Society. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Social Welfare students launch SWAEROSAT-1". Hans India. 19 July 2019. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Social welfare students launch second payload". The Hindu. 2 August 2019. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "From Everest To Outer Space: These Dalit Students Want To Annihilate Caste Through Science". huffpost. 19 August 2019. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ Boarding Schools for India's Outcasts Are Tearing Down Class Barriers, archived from the original on 25 March 2021, retrieved 6 April 2021
- ^ "Youngest girl ever to climb Everest". BBC News. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ Felsenthal, Julia (29 September 2015). "Having a Soda With the 14-Year-Old Indian Girl Who Conquered Everest". Vogue. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ Pandey, Ashish (14 October 2020). "This IPS officer from Telangala is changing the fate of many underprivileged Tribal students". India Today. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ Reimers, Fernando (23 March 2020). Empowering teachers to build a better world. Springer. pp. 87–103. ISBN 978-9811521362.
- ^ "After video triggers row in Telangana, IPS officer Praveen Kumar issues clarification". The News Minute. 16 March 2021. Archived from the original on 8 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Gali, Nagaraja (25 March 2021). "Telangana: Renowned IPS Officer Praveen Kumar Targeted by Hindutva Groups". The Wire. Archived from the original on 8 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ "BSP Telangana Chief RS Praveen Kumar loses, party secures 1.37% of votes and later he joins in Bharat Rashtra Samithi on 16/03/2024". The New Indian Express. 4 December 2023.
- ^ Today, Telangana (16 March 2024). "RS Praveen Kumar quits BSP, likely to join BRS". Telangana Today. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
- ^ "Telangana BSP president Praveen Kumar quits party". The Times of India. 16 March 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
- ^ "Four Telangana AIS officers to be honoured on Independence Day". Telangana Today. Archived from the original on 6 December 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2021.