Willingness to Work!
A senior officer pointed rightly in a conversation yester
evening that educating someone is like doing farming. He likened education to
farming because in both activities techniques/skills can improve the yield/end
result but processes are compulsory and cannot be done away totally or bypassed
completely. School education is important because it is undoubtedly a
determining factor in the success rate as reflected in many examinations and
general analysis of results. Good schooling has a major impact on the future of
young students. I also find it appropriate to recollect the words of a Professor[1]
who taught us a paper on Rural Development during my Masters Programme at DSE
that our country can claim to have succeeded in the field of Education only
when a Dalit girl or a Tribal girl or an underprivileged girl child receives
quality education at any school across the country during her childhood.
With this background, I feel that being posted in a
backward district is a blessing in disguise many times. There is immense
opportunity to deliver and needs of the people are genuine. And if officers
have zeal to perform and have willingness to work, every path leads to good
consequence and every day gives a new opening. It just happened that along with the charge as Assistant Commissioner and Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Basavakalyan, Bidar Dt. I had an
additional charge for the last ten months as Commissioner, Basavakalyan
Development Board and Providence Divine opened up a new task to take up and
deliver.
It began like this..
Last month, Deputy Commissioner, Bidar[2]
was contemplating on providing coaching for underprivileged/less privileged
students in the district as they are sort of disconnected with the mainstream
competitive world. Good initiative in a backward district, he started weekend
coaching programme for UPSC aspirants about two years ago. When I overheard
this, it immediately occurred to me that in Basavakalyan, a small city, far
away from the State Capital (900 kilometres away), BKDB has a good building
with 30 rooms and the building was more or less left vacant as there is no
occupation or utility. I proposed that we can plan and implement a full
residential coaching programme in that building.
In simple, this initiative is a unique foundation
programme to motivate the young minds to aspire high. Often called as the
Mother of all exams, preparing for Civil Services Examination prepares one to
face any exam for the process itself grooms an individual and cultivates the
attitude to achieve big results.
My proposal was welcomed; Okayed within no time and
schedule for a 48 days foundation course for UPSC aspirants was ready with us.
From that moment, all activities happened as if there was some divine
intervention (or a philosophical direction that made this city important since
the hundreds of years. The Bidar District Office headed by the Deputy
Commissioner and District Magistrate, Bidar and bolstered by his two young
colleagues – the Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Panchayat, Bidar[3]
and District Forest Officer, Bidar[4]
gave the initial momentum to the entire programme. As Commissioner, BKDB with
the utmost and round the clock cooperation of the Taluk level officers (who
have proved their merit a couple of months back during the General Elections –
2014), we geared up the city to conduct and run a residential foundation course
for 48 days starting from July 15, 2014 to August 31, 2014.
Meanwhile, notification for an examination was out,
question papers were set and a test was conducted on July 6, 2014. Close to 400
students appeared for the test and within 48 hours results were out and 50
candidates were shortlisted. This entire exercise of selecting the students was
coordinated by the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate, Bidar with
personal interest of the Deputy Commissioner and official support.
During the same time, this building (referred to as
Yathri Niwas - Tourist Residence) which was literally left unused for 3 long
years was improved and prepared on war-footing basis – a lecture hall was done and made
totally anew, patch work at innumerable places, flooring, plumbing, roof leaks
were attended, library space created,
dining halls and study halls furnished, CCTVs fixed, notice-boards
hanged, and so on. All small repair works were identified and attended round
the clock. The end result seemed good and suddenly on July 14, 2014 it seemed as if that
the building (which was actually built for tourist accommodation) was actually
designed to match the requirements of our programme. As daughter of a Civil Engineer and as someone
who watched my father at his work from a vantage point, I strongly feel that
the first/initial years after the completion of a structure/project are the
best years of the life span of the project. Also, without occupation/utility, no
project achieves the target. Though BKDB lost 3 good years, the purpose ahead
of us seems to realize the actual worth of the investment made and may be
explains the delay too, for it now began with a noble purpose.
The Inaugural Day..
Since, the task is noble, all of us were excited[5] to
give beyond our best and arranged it all. The response of the students
encouraged us further. They came packed, all set to start off and get something
out of the initiative. The programme was inaugurated by Regional Commissioner,
Gulbarga[6] –
with an impressive speech recollecting school days to tips as to how one should
prepare for exams. Highlighting the need to improve proficiency in English
language and advocating the relevance of newspaper reading (especially The
Hindu), the speech opened up an entire world on ESSAY WRITING to the aspirants.
Let me admit, I was bowled out when I came across a Senior Officer who was
speaking his mind coupled with Conviction and Experience. Analysis and
presentation seemed flawless. Words flowed effortlessly and it seemed as if the
clock' hands stopped to move that hour. There was a gradual shift in the tone
from a regular inaugural speech to philosophical and intellectual realms of
life. Quoting Thomas Campbell, exemplifying reality, he explained with
illustrations the Essay topic # 1 of CSE-2010 – Geography may remain the same,
history need not. Anecdotes adorned it all. There was poetry in the air as
words of Thomas Campbell were recited with ease. I did strongly feel that ‘Well
begun is half done’ and the path ahead has direction and purpose defined more
precisely with the Inaugural Address.
Ahead
of us..
The focus of the programme is to impart self skills
to students and create an attitude to face the competitive exams more
confidently. The students begin their day with essay writing (evaluation and
feedback is done immediately), followed by classes on different subjects and
compulsory study hours before dinner. By the end of the course, I hope they
have the basic knowledge to built upon and face the competitive exams. Many
times students who go to Delhi and attend classes in reputed (advertised well)
institutions are lost as there is a clear disconnect between what the students
know and what they are taught at coaching centres. It is to bridge this
disconnect that we are attempting to go this extra mile.
For the benefit of students, we have a library
within the campus itself. Faculty includes professional people from Delhi,
Hyderabad and Bangalore. Seniors, Colleagues, Juniors and good friends have
promised to extend support by visiting the campus to give motivational lectures
and engage the students in some serious sessions too. Looking forward to host
them all and may our attempt to give real benefit to the students and train
them as they aspire high be successful. I sincerely pray and wish to see the
students succeed in their endeavours and become useful citizens of this
country.
Sincerely acknowledge..
Thanking Mr.Praveen Kumar IPS who gave the Ten
Commandments for students in residential schools (and motivated Ms.Poorna, a 13
year old girl from a residential hostel to achieve the rare feat of becoming
the youngest girl ever to conquer the Mt.Everest) and setting high standards
for work and service in real terms to all of us who believe are here to render
our services to the nation; and to my ever inspiring role-model, my father for
cultivating this willingness to work beyond the call of normal duty and my good
friend Saumya Pandey di for having faith in me and sending these words of Leo
Tolstoy very recently –
Just as one candle lights another
and can light thousands of other candles,
and can light thousands of other candles,
so one heart illuminates another
and can illuminates thousands of other hearts.
and can illuminates thousands of other hearts.
