From being a core member of the prestigious Ayushman Bharat Yojna to working closely with the farmers of Jharkhand’s Chatra region to encourage them to grow exotic but highly profitable crops like saffron and strawberries, IAS officer Divyanshu Jain has shared his expertise and contributed to nation building at varied levels.
After completing IAS training, when most young bureaucrats get busy discharging their duties as SDM or CEO of a district council, Mr. Jain was busy in the formulation of a health Insurance scheme, not only in the state but also at the Central level!
The officer, who has also served as MD, Jharkhand Silk Textile and Handicraft Development Corporation Ltd (JHARCRAFT), is now serving as the Under Secretary in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
In conversation with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Jain talked about his experiences in National Health Authority (the agency responsible for the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Yojna) and how he mobilised the farmers of Chatra to grow cash crops like saffron and strawberry.
KEY PLAYER
Soon after his first independent posting as SDM, Mr. Jha was called in the Secretariat, Jharkhand.
Before opting for civil services, he had completed his B.tech from IIT Kanpur and was selected for a MBA program in IIM, Ahemdabad, Gujarat. This would throw light on his vision and management skills. When he reached the secretariat, the Jharkhand Government was planning a ‘Chief Minister Suraksha Bima Yojna’, which would be beneficial for 57 lakh people living below poverty line. Mr. Jha was lucky enough to be involved in the initial research and formulation of this ambitious scheme. He was then the CEO of Jharkhand Aarogya Society was crucial for many interventions in the upcoming scheme.
IIT AND IIM BACKGROUND
Mr. Jha brings with him skills and expertise that he had gathered while studying for B.tech in IIT Kanpur and MBA in IIM, Ahemdabad. This explains his vision and management skills, which came to the notice of the Jharkhand government, too, and early on in his career, he was assigned big responsibilities like the ‘Chief Minister Suraksha Bima Yojna’.
“Whenever a scheme is planned, it comes with its own financial implications. Karnataka was pioneer in this segment, and we had a lot to learn from them, and modify it according to the requirements of our state. When the scheme was in its final shape and we were about to launch it in Jharkhand, the Central government was also trying to reformulate the existing National Security Scheme.”
CONTRIBUTED TO AYUSHMAN BHARAT YOJNA
This new scheme at the central level had much bigger target and sought to benefit 10 crore people with health cover of around Rs 5 lakh for each. Many state and central interactions took place on how to go ahead with the new policy.
Remembering one of the interactions in which he took part, Mr. Jain said, “In the meeting, I proposed few ideas which was supported by most of the officers present. On that basis, the central government deputed me to its core team for a certain time. The National Health Authority had just been formed and other than me, only four people were involved in giving shape to the scheme. This was a huge responsibility, and I was lucky to be part of the project.”
Mr Jha worked for about four months on the scheme, which was launched in September 2018 as Ayushman Bharat Yojna. Interestingly, Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi chose Jharkhand for its launch.
Apart from the formulation of Ayushman Bharat Yojna at the Central level, Mr Jha also played a key role in its implementation in Jharkhand.
“Healthcare,’’ he said, “has always been one of my favorite areas. Right now in Chatra, I am working for the betterment of district hospitals. It’s a long road but we have made some progress. A digital lab has been started and we have also upgraded three community medical centres”.
PROMOTING CASH CROPS
Referring to the drug trafficking scene in Chatra, Mr Jha said, “In the past few years, the district has become an opium cultivation zone. This is one the major issue which has to be addressed on the administrative level. We are trying to convince the farmers to turn to other crops which will help them make good money”.
Now this may surprise many people, but the farmers of Chatra have now started growing saffron- which till now was considered an impossible feat in Jharkhand. Saffron, as everyone knows, is cultivated only in Kashmir valley, and that too in its small patch. Besides, broccoli and strawberry crops are also being favoured by the farmers.
No doubt, it’s the encouragement and support of Mr Jha which are working wonders for the farmers of Chatra.
