Officers who made a difference in 2017

NK SINGH

Starting 2018 on a positive note, let us try to identify public servants who made a difference to the quality of governance in MP last year.  The list is by no means exhaustive. More suggestions are welcome.  

GAURAV TIWARI

Officer with a backbone

In March 2016, three BPL card holders of Katni received income tax notices for payment of tax on nearly Rs 25 crore deposited in their bank accounts. Police sat on their complaint. In July Gaurav Tiwari (IPS 2010 batch) took over as SP of Katni. A week later he registered a FIR into what turned out to be a Rs 500 crore hawala racket. Political circles were agog with rumours about involvement of a politician in the scam. On January 7 last year Katni police intercepted and seized a vehicle full of documents packed in 27 gunny bags. Noose was tightening. Two days later Tiwari was transferred, his second in six month. It led to a mass outpouring of support for him, with protest rallies, strikes and dharna. “It was something that I can wear forever as a badge of honour,” said the 35-year-old IITian. DGP Rishi Kumar Shukla described him as the “pride of MP”. 

CHHAVI BHARDWAJ

Corruption buster

A month after her first posting as Collector of Dindori in 2013, Chhavi Bhardwaj (IAS 2008 batch) hit headlines when she filed an FIR against her CMO who tried to bribe her. That was nothing compared to what Bhardwaj, 32, confronted when she was posted as Commissioner of Bhopal Municipal Corporation, a cesspool of corruption. A large part of its Rs 1,750 crore budget is siphoned off by unholy trinity of corrupt officers, unscrupulous contractors and self-seeking politicians. Hundreds of employees, who are supposed to work for the city, work at residences of officers and politicians. Bhardwaj stirred hornets’ nest by initiating a probe into a Rs 200 crore transport racket that flourished because of well-oiled ‘cut’ system. The inquiry threatened to reach some powerful people. “She is gutsy,” said former chief secretary Avni Vais. She was transferred. And BMC returned to its old ways.  

MANISH SINGH

Tact and toughness combined

Indore Municipal Commissioner Manish Singh (IAS 2017 batch) made MP proud when Government of India declared his city as cleanest in country last year. “It was no mean achievement,” says former chief secretary R Parsuram. This was made possible by perfect teamwork between a gritty commissioner, a gutsy mayor and conscious citizens who love their city as much as they do their poha, jalebee and namkeen. 50-year old Singh is considered a tough administrator. Indore, most people agree, has changed for better over last two years during his tenure.

HARIRANJAN RAO

A low profile, efficient troubleshooter

Burning midnight oil, government has succeeded in disposing of a record 2 million revenue cases in just six months, deciding, on an average, 7 cases every minute! It was part of special drive to clear pending revenue cases that commenced last July after chief minister threatened to “hang upside down” collectors. Chief Secretary BP Singh roped in ace trouble shooter Hariranjan Rao (IAS 1994 batch). “The credit for executing such mammoth task goes to Rao along with M Selvendran,” says Parsuram. Officials say they have cleared, on an average, 12,000 cases every day over past six month! “We turned that disaster into an opportunity,” says Rao, 48, who is a Principal Secretary in CM secretariat. “He is honest, self-effacing, works quietly yet studiously”, says former chief secretary Anthoy de Sa.  

SANJAY DUBE 

Going beyond call of duty

Sanjay Dube (IAS 1993 batch) is credited with making Indore a role model in organ donation. As Commissioner of Indore, he created 30 green corridors for speedy transportation of organs over past 26 month, providing new life to hundred of needy patients in different parts of country. It was a case of going beyond call of duty. Dubey, 49,  is known for successful execution of near-impossible tasks. As Collector of Jabalpur during 2005-8, he had demolished 411 temples, mosques and churches that encroached upon public lands. This was done following a high court order on a PIL. No force was used. Former boss de Sa says: “He does not believe in blowing his own trumpet.”

RASHMI PANDEY

Fearless catalyst of change

Till January 28 last year no one had heard of Rashmi Pandey, a mining inspector working for MP government. Late that evening she became famous when, in a daring action, the young officer seized four overloaded dumpers ferrying sand that were owned by a nephew of the chief minister. Ignoring usual name dropping and veiled threats, Pandey filed a case against the influential owner of dumpers. “Seizing trucks owned by a relative of the chief minister needed guts,” agrees former chief secretary Nirmala Buch. The junior officer proved a catalyst. Ensuing media publicity galvanised government eventually leading to radical policy changes. Chouhan also admired her sense of duty: “I must appreciate that mining officers acted promptly and seized overloaded sand trucks in their area without succumbing to any influence.” 

Powers That Be, my column in DB Post of 2 Jan 2018

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