Five IAS officers who made India better with their initiatives
The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is the most prestigious and sought-after Civil Service of the country. Joining the IAS is a dream for many but being an IAS officer is tough and needs great commitment. However, there are many dedicated IAS officers who have made the country proud with their brilliant initiatives. Here are 5 IAS officers who made India better with their initiatives.
Saurabh Kumar, a 2009-batch IAS officer of Chhattisgarh cadre, is the District Collector of Naxal-hotbed, Dantewada. He has been working on tackling unemployment and giving the local youth a new lease of life free from violence and extremism. He launched counseling sessions called "Lunch with the Collector" to interact with youth. In 2017, he also received Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration.
Armstrong Pame is the first IAS officer from the Naga people's Zeme Tribe. The 2009-batch officer, known for various initiatives, is called the "Miracle Man" for building the 100km "People's Road" connecting Manipur to Nagaland and Assam in 2012 through crowdfunding, without government help. He solved the issue of connectivity as the locals earlier had to walk long distances or swim across the river.
Mir Mohammed Ali, a 2011-batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre, helped the state's Kannur become the country's first plastic-free district in 2017 in only five months. He not only focused on phasing out plastic carry bags and other items but also promoted handloom bags as an eco-friendly alternative, thereby helping the weavers. Apart from this, he also launched an initiative to fight fake news.
Raj Yadav, a 2009-batch IAS officer, launched an innovative initiative to develop South Sikkim's remotest villages. Many villages in the region suffered from various problems, including irregular power supply, lack of government school teachers, lack of development, etc. However, in 2014, when he was appointed South Sikkim's District Magistrate, Yadav launched the District Administration's Adopted Village (DAAV) initiative for adopting and developing villages.
Prasanth Nair, a 2007-batch IAS officer, was the Collector of Kerala's Kozhikode who used social media to transform lives and for a citizen-friendly, transparent administration. Also known as "Collector Bro", Prasanth launched initiatives like Operation Sulaimani (to address hunger), Tere Mere Beach Mein (Kozhikode beach waste management), Yo Appooppa (for aged people). He is currently Managing Director of Kerala Shipping & Inland Navigation Corporation.
