For Ms. Nirupama Kotru, art and culture is what makes her feel alive and helps her reach excellence in her profession as well. She fears mediocrity in public administration and it is her passion for art
that always pushes her towards doing better. When not immersed in official work, she loves to write and indulge herself with poetry, theatre and films. Currently serving as the Joint Secretary and Financial Advisor in the Ministry of Coal, GOI,the 1992 -batch Indian Revenue Service officer has been promoted as Principle Commissioner of Income Tax in her parent cadre.
During a conversation with Indian Masterminds, Ms. Kotru spoke about her journey into IRS and about how the pursuit of art made a difference in her life.
THE PURSUIT OF ART
Ms. Kotru has her roots in Jammu and Kashmir and spent every summer during her impressionable years in Srinagar. She did her schooling from Delhi Public School,Mathura Road(she was Head Girl of Senior school in 1985-86)and completed her graduation from St. Stephen’s College. During her university days, she met with a career counsellor who asked her about her interest and inclination. Talking about it, Ms. Kotru, who has always been a movie buff and equally passionate towards poetry and literature, said, “Then he suggested that I should go for central services as it will help me in pursuing my passion. He also mentioned Padma Shri Shobhna Narayan who was an Indian Account & Audit Services officer and a well-recognized Kathak dancer. Her story inspired me and I decided to go for civil services.”
She didn’t want to join IAS or IPS as both are cadre-based job and one has to spend a lot of time in one state. Being in Revenue Services, she had more freedom of choosing assignments and going where the value addition by way of cultural pursuits is more;also she wanted to give her family priority.
TAKING UP CHALLENGES
As an IRS-IT officer, she was posted in various cities with exciting job profiles. While in Income Tax, she was a part of the team that established the International Tax Directorate started Delhi ain the year 2000. She also contributed ito expansion of the Directoratein Chennai.
However,she fears monotony and is always ready for any challenges. In 2009, when she realized that she had been a tax collector for more 15 years already and she neededsomething more challenging, she opted for going on deputation out of the department.
One of the first postings on deputation that she got ,was as Director, Corporate Affairs (E-governance) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. She considers this as her most challenging posting because she had to look after e-governance even though she had no technical or engineering background. “I worked so hard that at the end of the year, my boss gave me a 10 on 10 in the annual confidential report.It was a big ego boost for me and a validation of my choice of changing course mid-career,” she said
During that stint, she managed implementation of various e-governance initiatives of the Corporate Affairs Ministry, including MCA21 (electronic registry of all company data) by partnering with TCS under the PPP mode.
BUILDING FROM SCRATCH
Then, after a year and a half, she was given the additional responsibility of Director, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs . She was a part of the team that built the institute from scratch. They were only given the building but the soft part, which includes training programmes, hiring of faculty, etc., was done by the team led by her.
She also played a key role in framing and propagating the National Voluntary Guidelines For Business for Economic, Social and Environmental Responsibilities. “SEBI made it mandatory for the top 100 listed companies. The guideline took them beyond CSR and ensured their contribution towards sustainability”, she explained.
While in Income Tax, she was also a part of the International Tax Directorate started in Delhi around 2000. She also contributed in its expansion in Chennai.
Now as Joint Secretary&Financial Advisor ,Coal Ministry,with additional charge as JS&FA Ministries of Mines , Ms. Kotru’s agenda is focused on sustainability in the coal and mining industry while diversifying in clean energy which can reduce the carbon footprints. She also holds additional charge as JS&FA, Minority Affairs which aims to educate and skill minorities(among other such initiatives) for ensuring a better life for them.
However, besides a highly successful career, Ms. Kotru has also been equally successful on the art front. She has published more than 30 articles on topics varying from films to parenting. She is also an active participant in various literature and poetry festivals. Right now, she is working on an anthology on the cinemas of 1970s and is also preparing to publish her poems and short stories collection.
(To be continued…)
