https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

A Solution-Oriented Officer

Numerous initiatives by the 2015-batch, Odisha cadre IAS officer Mr. Amrit Ruturaj are helping in the development of several regions of Kendrapara and Rayagada district, making large number of people happy.
Indian Masterminds Stories

The recently posted Collector of Kendrapara, Odisha Mr. Amrit Ruturaj has his work cut out: upgrading rural workers and changing the faces of Anganwadis and schools in the district. And he is moving fast in this direction. His initiatives are taking the district on the path to development.

In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Ruturaj talks about his initiatives for the betterment of people in Kendrapara, as well as Rayagada, his former district.

GENERATING EMPLOYMENT

While he was posted as the Project Director at District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) in Rayagada, Mr. Ruturaj established mobilization camps at different Gram Panchayats to motivate the youth.

“We selected 10th and 12th pass students who had dropped out and trained them in different areas. Moreover, we motivated them by stating that after they complete their skill development course, they will be employed outside the district, and this convinced them of our offer,” Mr. Ruturaj told Indian Masterminds.

Skill up gradation program camps

He involved members from Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) and people from local levels who could convince them at their level. Because of strong mobilization at the community level, women and youth came forward to upgrade their skills and get trained, which further gained them employment through which they are earning now.

SOLAR-POWERED DRINKING WATER

Rayagada is a scheduled-tribal district and Mr. Ruturaj focused on providing the locals with a better life. He resolved to find a decent drinking water solution for them.

He convinced the Panchayati Raj Members to guide the expenditure funds in such a way that there was holistic development of the people.

Solar powered drinking water

“Instead of going for the conventional mode of drinking water, we provided solar-based drinking water supply to 600 villages. Some of them didn’t even have tube wells, so within three months we covered all the villages and gave them solar water connection,” he told Indian Masterminds.

RAINWATER HARVESTING MODULE

Integrated with the NREGA scheme and with the help of beneficiaries, Mr. Ruturaj got Rainwater Harvesting Systems installed in about 2000 households in Rayagada.

“It has 2000 litre storage and rainwater can get stored in it during monsoons,” he said.

Rainwater harvesting module

This is a two-way system. One has recharge pits, other has storage. The runner could go inside Earth to recharge the groundwater and the water collected in storage can be used for all kinds of non-drinking purposes. The intervention was quite beneficial to the public.

“Also, we had built more than 300 Rural Bathing Complexes in Villages of Rayagada with water connection and shower so that the culture and trend begin in the tribal belt. It was an important intervention for the women, especially,” he told Indian Masterminds.

Bathing complexes

ANGANWADI & SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION

Since Anganwadis and the schools of Kendrapara lacked proper infrastructure and the issue of the power cut was extreme, Mr. Ruturaj went for Renewable Energy Solution and made all the anganwadis, solar-powered. Additionally, he installed aqua-guard facilities to ensure fresh drinking water for the children.

“We also equipped the place with proper furniture, clean toilets, and smart televisions so that the children could receive e-knowledge and their mothers could be made aware about nutrition and care during their time of pregnancy. We have converted anganwadis into smart-anganwadis,” stated the officer.

Classrooms are equipped with Smart TVs

He did the same with 900 anganwadis and 600 schools in Rayagada, by providing them with proper drinking water, good furniture, and making their place solar-powered. He also replaced traditional `choolahs’ with electric stoves to reduce smoke.

“These interventions increased the attendance of children in schools and anganwadis,” he said.

The officer has changed the face of Anganwadis

DINING HALLS

Schools and anganwadis provided students with mid-day meals but had no proper seating arrangement where the kids could eat their food with peace and dignity.

“They would take their meals in the verandah, or under a tree and sit on the floor to eat it. I wanted to give them an environment where they could eat and enjoy their meal with dignity,” Mr. Ruturaj told Indian Masterminds.

Dining halls for students

With the help of NREGA funds, he set up dining halls with proper facilities, benches, and tables, where these kids could properly sit and eat their meals.

He pointed out, “150 schools got dining halls made in Rayagada and by next two months, 500 schools in Kendrapara will also get their dining halls. These will also act as learning centers where they could gather and discuss together.”

Dining halls enable the children to properly sit and eat their meal

Mr. Ruturaj’s initiatives are truly commendable and are paving way for his people’s betterment.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
MTNL
MTNL Defaults on Loans Worth Rs. 8,346 Crore; Total Debt Climbs to Rs. 33,568 Crore
Gujarat-government resized
4 IAS Officers Assigned Additional Charges in Gujarat, Ajay Prakash Given Additional Charge As MD, Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd
Punjab_govt_resized
3 IAS & 9 PCS Officers Transferred in Punjab, Sanyam Aggarwal Given Additional Charge As Special Secy, Health and Family Welfare
DGP OM Praksh with his wife1
Retired Karnataka DGP Om Prakash Murdered; Family Dispute or Mental Illness, What Prompted the Homicide?
LIC resized
Pradip Kusum Joseph Dungdung Takes Charge as LIC's Additional Executive Director (Engineering)
IRCTC
Rabindra Nath Mishra to Continue as Director (Finance), IRCTC - Know About Him
IAS Puja Khedkar
Supreme Court Grants Interim Protection to Former IAS Probationer Puja Khedkar, Directs Her to Appear Before Delhi Police
GAIL PSU
GAIL Blooms in Valuation After Tariff Hike
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Lokesh M IAS
E-Rickshaw Chaos, Waterlogging, Traffic Mess — Can Noida Fix Its Daily Chaos? | Exclusive with Dr Lokesh M, IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
This Collector Finds Happiness In Squeaks Of Children With Hearing Impairment Who Start Hearing After Surgery
UPSC Stories
images (14)
Utsav Anand, the UPSC Topper Who Chose Public Service Over a Plush Career
From IIT Bombay to the 2022 IAS batch (Haryana cadre), Utsav Anand’s journey is proof that sharp minds...
pushplata-yadav-ias
How IAS Pushp Lata’s Strategy and Spirit Took Her to AIR 80
From rural Haryana to IAS, Pushp Lata Yadav’s journey reflects focused planning, adaptation, and the...
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
IRS officer Padmapani Bora's 16-year career transcends typical bureaucracy. Discover his surprising journey...
Social Media
GozJlgrXYAAHoKv
Murals for Cleanliness: Thoothukudi District Launches Art-Inspired Sanitation Drive in Panchayats
Local artists add colour and messages to village walls, promoting hygiene and community pride
Himanshu Nagpal IAS
Varanasi's Beggar Rehabilitation Initiative Recognised by UIDAI, CDO Himanshu Nagpal Shares the News
Mr. Himanshu Nagpal is a 2019-batch IAS officer
IAS Vaishali Chopra
Young IAS Vaishali Chopra Takes a Stand Against Caste Bias During Field Training in Uttar Pradesh
While the issue itself may seem small, the post is resonating widely online for its honest reflection...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
MTNL
MTNL Defaults on Loans Worth Rs. 8,346 Crore; Total Debt Climbs to Rs. 33,568 Crore
Gujarat-government resized
4 IAS Officers Assigned Additional Charges in Gujarat, Ajay Prakash Given Additional Charge As MD, Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Lokesh M IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT