2017 batch IAS officer Saumya Pandey’s journey as an achiever started young.
Less than a decade into her career she has scripted success stories across districts of Uttar Pradesh. From inspiring and helping women to come out of conservative homes to making a five-digit earning by joining SHGs, this officer has transformed cities of garbage into the ‘No. 2 cleanest one’, besides improving the education of a janpad by bringing in smart classes to humble government schools.
Ms. Pandey spoke exclusively to Indian Masterminds about her accomplishments.
SHAKTI OF PRERNA
Currently posted as the CDO of Kanpur Dehat, Ms. Pandey is working towards women empowerment in the district.
Under the aegis of the Uttar Pradesh Government’s Mission Shakti for empowering women economically, she established Prerna canteens run by Self-Help Groups of women that caters to all government offices, blocks, tehsils, thanas, RTO offices, and hospitals.
The women under the Prerna ‘janpad’ scheme, run solar lighting, canteens, and also tailor school uniforms making a lump-sum amount that gives them the opportunity to be decision makers.
“Women who were forced to stay at home now earn Rs. 70,000-80,000 per month. We trained them using CSR funds for the solar lamps,” shared the officer.
All the file covers and stationery used in government offices in the tehsil are made by the SHG women who are trained in marketing strategies as well. Their products are also available on Amazon and Flipkart, shared Ms. Pandey.
SWACHATA MISSION
Previously as SDM Ghaziabad, Ms. Pandey had completely transformed a city taking the district’s standing as the second best on the cleanliness scale.
The officer had initiated the Swacchata Survekshan project at the Nagar Palika-level to clean up Modi Nagar.
And all this was amid the Covid-19 pandaemic, when cleanliness was the need of the hour. Ms. Pandey organised door-to-door campaigns with social media feedback that immediately showed results.
“We campaigned at railway stations, enlisting NCC cadets, NSS Scouts and Guides and college students to raise awareness about the importance of Swacchata,” Ms. Pandey said.
The district had jumped from Rank 571 to Rank 2 in Swacchata Survekshan in UP.
YOUNG ACHIEVER
Previously during her stint as Siddharth Nagar Assistant Magistrate, Ms. Pandey got baptised by fire as she got to work in one of the most backward districts falling under Niti Aayog.
“My entire focus was on the education sector, where in every government school, I noticed that despite government initiative of smart classrooms and the DIKSHA learning app, students were not benefitting due to lack of infrastructure,” she said.
She got smart TVs installed in all the government schools with the help of social contributions and CSR.
Teachers were trained to utilise DIKSHA app to teach students in government primary schools in villages. She also ensured internet connectivity through Bharat Network project.
The administration discovered a considerable rise in learning outcomes in mathematics, science, and language courses after her efforts, for which she was felicitated.
BRILLIANT STUDENT
Ms Pandey, who had been a Class 10 and 12th topper and a gold medalist in Electrical Engineering (B.Tech) from Motilal Nehru National Institute Of Technology, Prayagraj, had also caught the eye of the Prime Minister with her project iDEX (Innovation in Defence Excellence).
In keeping with Vocal for Local efforts of GoI, iDEX fueled startup involvement in the defence sector reducing reliance on imports. IAS Saumya Pandey was awarded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for her idea.
