The year 2023 has come to an end. It was filled with various achievements in every field like sports, science and economy. While we emerged as a warrior in handling the natural calamities, at the same time we were successful in making a mark at international platforms. In all these rejoicing moments, the backbone of our country, ‘bureaucrats’ played an important role.
Be it the Biparjoy cyclone or the massive floods in Himachal Pradesh, IAS & IPS officers emerged as saviours to salvage the situation, saved hundreds of lives and provided succour to lakhs of people. With a vision for a bright & sustainable future, the officers moved to the scientific method and found solutions to fight malnutrition. They fought various crime syndicates and set an example for all. On a personal level, many officers took on expeditions to the highest road and Antarctica. Many inspired us by coming out as a fighter and defeating ‘Cancer’. In UPSC CSE three women became the toppers creating a record and paving the way to women empowerment.
Let’s took a look at some of those stories of the ‘Indian Masterminds’ :
With Stage 4 Cancer, NITI Aayog Director Urvashi Prasad Balances Work and Dance Flawlessly
Ms. Urvashi Prasad was still grieving her father’s death when the news hit her that cancer had made itself a home in her body. Doctors told her she had Stage 4 ALK-positive cancer. Stage 4 meant that the cancer had already spread to other organs from the primary organ. And, from there, started her biggest battle in life – not just with cancer, but also with her body, mind, and emotions – to keep all fields of her life running smoothly. As Director, NITI Aayog, Ms. Prasad has a lot on her hands but she didn’t give up.
One Officer’s Dream Is Transforming Lives of Bedia Community
For those who have travelled on highways from Jaipur to Madhya Pradesh and the surrounding, there is no way one would miss teenage girls of Banchhada community inviting travellers for pleasure. There is another community like them, in Madhya Pradesh and Central India that has survived on prostitution for generations named Bedia. But all that is slowly changing thanks to the hard work of one police officer ‘Dr. Veerendra Mishra, and his NGO ‘Samvedna’.
Bridging the Tech Deficit Gap with ‘Coding Pathshala’ for Girls
AS officer Dr. Sarveshwar Bhure has embarked on a path to empower the underprivileged girls in Raipur district through economic empowerment. With this aim, he recently unveiled ‘Coding Pathshala,’ a transformative coding and artificial intelligence (AI) training programme, in the district. Inspired by the remarkable work of Navgurukul, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing advanced programming and AI training in underserved communities, Dr. Bhure wants to break the chains of poverty, empower the girls, and also fuel software startups in the region.
Breaking the Chain: Women Unite Against Illegal Weapons in Punjab
The quiet town of Khanna in Punjab was grappling with a dark reality – a surge in illegal weapons entering its streets. In just eight months in of this year, the police had seized a staggering 98 pistols, a number equal to the total recoveries made in the past four years combined. The situation was dire, but amidst the challenges, a pair of resilient women emerged as a beacon of hope, determined to put an end to the menace.The women in question are SSP Amneet Kondal and SP Pragya Jain, who are smashing stereotypes with this endeavour.
How A Young IPS Officer Busted An Organized Real Estate Crime Syndicate
Two army brothers from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, took a loan of Rs. 25 lakhs each from a bank and bought land in a posh colony of the city for investment purposes. But, after some time, they came to know that the land they had purchased did not even exist. When they complained to the police, they came to know that, like them, many others had unknowingly become victims of such fraudulent land deals. This was the work of a high profile organized criminal gang, which had been operating for more than a decade.But, 2020 batch IPS officer Anukriti Sharma busted the whole syndicate.
Varanasi’s Remarkable Turnaround in Malnutrition with Its 10 Point-Kashi Strategy
To eradicate malnutrition in the cultural city of Varanasi, the district administration has implemented a comprehensive ‘10 Point-Kashi Strategy’. The strategy, spearheaded by IAS officer Himanshu Nagpal, Chief Development Officer of Varanasi, has not only addressed the city’s cultural and infrastructural aspects but has also fervently tackled the critical issue of malnutrition, particularly Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) among children.
Biparjoy Came and Went, But Not Before Jalore Set A Benchmark
As cyclone Biparjoy lashed Rajasthan badly, there came news from Bhagli Purohitan village of Ahor Tehsil in Jalore district that someone was stranded in the midst of a flooded road, on a small stretch of highland, trying to keep himself from drowning in the waters which were flowing on a dangerous level. The stretch where he had taken shelter looked like a little island in the midst of a swirling sea. It was late evening when the district administration got information about it, and without wasting any time, they set about on a rescue operation in the darkness of the approaching night. Deputy SP and a SDRF team reached the spot and the person was successfully rescued with the help of a boat, just after sunrise. This was but one rescue mission carried out by the Jalore District Administration under the leadership of District Collector Nishant Jain, IAS.
This IPS Officer Consoled, Motivated & Helped Rescue 300 Tourists Stuck in Chandrataal
Situated above 14,100 in the Himalayas, Chandrataal is a lake in the Lahual and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. It’s a major attraction for tourist all over the year. In the past week around 300 tourists came to see and witness its scenic beauty. However, all their plans got wasted as they were stuck in the region due to heavy rainfalls followed by snowfall for three continuous days. In such hard times, there was one officer whose presence gave them hope, and he became their consoler and protector. This person is an IPS officer, SP, Lahaul & Spiti, Mr. Mayank Chaudhary. He faced all the challenges head on with the tourists and left only after every single person was safely rescued.
Young IAS Officer’s Healing Touch Helping Manipur’s Displaced Children Cope With Trauma in Mizoram
Children are the biggest losers in any kind of conflict, be it conflict between their parents or conflicts between communities in the area they live in. Both leave deep scars on their tender minds. And some scars like having to flee their home and their neighbourhood, which they consider the safest places in their world, could leave unhealed scars which they will carry all their lives. We can only imagine it, but children from Manipur have actually been through such horrors and are now living in relief camps in Mizoram after crossing over in the hope of safe shelter. In such a heart-rending situation, a young IAS officer Mr. Siva Gopal Reddy Cheemala, who is posted in a Mizoram district that has the highest number of displaced people from Manipur in relief camps, has started taking small initiatives to take care of these children so that some semblance of normalcy returns to to their lives.
This Philanthropist IFS Officer Donates Millions For Tribal Girls Education
Money doesn’t grow on trees but can certainly sprout and nurture many ventures launched for the welfare of the society. Kerala cadre IFS officer Prakriti Srivastava is one person who has been consistently contributing for the education of tribal girls. It all started in 2015 when Ms Srivastava received ‘RBS Green Warrior’ Award carrying a cash prize of Rs 1.5 lakh for her work towards environment conservation. She decided to utilize this amount for welfare of next generation of tribals. She donated the entire amount towards starting a scholarship called ‘Srishti’ for tribal girls. She also donated Rs 65000 from her own savings to this corpus.
Left for Dead, A River in UP Starts Flowing Again
Unplanned development has impacted our ecosystem much more frighteningly than we can think of. Water, the source of life, has been one of the worst affected. Groundwater is depleting while rivers are drying up, not just in metros, but in small cities and rural areas too. However, some people are doing their best to stop our water resources from depleting further, going to the extent of rejuvenating dying rivers. 2014 batch IAS officer and District Magistrate of Sambhal district in UP, Mr. Manish Bansal, is one such green warrior whose efforts not only rejuvenated a dead river but also generated employment for hundreds of people living in nearby villages.
Experiencing the Last Wilderness: IRS Officer’s Insightful Antarctica Expedition
n the annals of wildlife photography, IRS officer Ankur Rapria stands as a passionate explorer whose journey from the tiger capital of India, Nagpur, to the icy expanse of Antarctica showcases an unwavering commitment to his craft. Guided by the mentorship of Mr. Shaurya Shaswat Shukla, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Mr. Rapria’s odyssey began with a camera gifted by his father at the tender age of 13. Little did he know that this cherished possession would set the stage for a remarkable adventure.
