Part 3: The Conclusion
Prashasti Pareek (IAS)
The Collector
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"As she accepted the award from the Honorable President, her father’s words resonated deeply within her heart."
'Prashasti Pareek' was no longer just a name; she had become the very definition of a high-flying success. After overcoming numerous struggles, challenges, and difficulties, she cleared the prestigious IAS examination with an All India Rank (AIR) of 21. As the tide of time turned, the dream she had nurtured with intense perseverance in her heart finally came true. The dream was realized, but the path ahead was by no means smooth! A new trail, a new journey, and fresh challenges were awaiting Prashasti.
To gain admission for training at the prestigious 'Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration' (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie is the dream of every UPSC aspirant. Lakhs of students appear for the exam, yet only a handful of candidates pass this rigorous test to enter this institution. Prashasti was among the top ranks of these select few. Her training thus commenced at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration.
Nestled in the lap of nature amidst towering mountains, lush green trees, colorful flowers, overflowing rivers, lakes, and murmuring streams, this institution has become renowned not only in India but across the world. Here, the multifaceted personalities of brilliant talents from every corner of India—who have cleared the UPSC—are strongly forged. These are the individuals being trained whose single decisions will influence thousands of lives in the future. Therefore, the aptitude to make decisions with a calm mind without being wavered in the most critical situations is developed here.
Being a person of versatile talent, Prashasti’s personality shone even brighter through the influence of this institution. Since a civil servant can be posted in any corner of India, it is essential to understand the geography, history, and cultural heritage of the entire country. As part of the training, she traversed through fields, hills, rivers, forests, villages, and cities! By traveling across the nation, she observed the life of the Indian people from a very close perspective.
Training for all civil services, such as the IAS, IPS, IRS, and IFS, takes place at this very institution in Mussoorie. After their training, these talented individuals spread across every corner of the country and the world to serve the nation. During this period, such a strong web of relationships is woven that even if an officer is serving in a remote district, their batchmates are stationed across all states of India or in important countries worldwide. Batchmates are always eager to help one another. If an administrative need arises in the future, tasks in any corner of the country or the world can be accomplished in a split second with just a single phone call, bypassing all formalities.
Upon completing her training in Mussoorie, she was selected as an officer of the Gujarat cadre. There is a world of difference between receiving training at an academy and working on the actual ground. Therefore, her initial phase began with field training. She was posted in the city of Rajkot, Gujarat. Her first challenge was understanding and speaking the language—Gujarati—a language she had never heard consistently until that day! She accepted this challenge gracefully. With great patience, she learned Gujarati. Initially, she found it difficult to speak, but by staying among the people and engaging in constant dialogue, she gained a firm grip on the language.
She had the opportunity to work under the leadership of the then-Collector of Rajkot, Manisha Chandraji. She observed the highly efficient and vastly experienced Manisha Chandraji's work from close quarters. Her personality was like a university in itself. From her, Prashastiji learned not only administrative tasks but also important life lessons. Manisha Chandraji also took personal care of Prashastiji, and the bond between them remains just as warm today, years later.
The journey Prashastiji began as a promising and capable officer in Rajkot has since traversed through Viramgam, Lunawada, Dahod, Vadodara, Jamnagar, and Navsari, and is currently flourishing in the Aravalli district. Wherever she has served, her dedication and commitment to duty have left a distinct mark on the hearts of the people. Understanding public grievances and working tirelessly to resolve them is her passion. Rather than staying confined to her office, she prefers exploring remote, far-flung villages to understand and incessantly strive to solve their difficulties.
Whenever a local issue triggers public protest, Prashasti-ji never hesitates to visit the site in person. As a fearless officer, she is always ready to go among the people to find a resolution. It is her mission to work with deep empathy to ensure that the maximum benefits of central and state government welfare schemes reach the very last beneficiary.
Both the Central and State governments have periodically lauded Prashastiji's conscientious style of functioning. Beyond official schemes, she continuously introduces innovative experiments to make education, health, and public welfare services more effective. During her tenure as the District Development Officer (DDO) in Navsari during the COVID-19 period, her innovative approaches in education and health received immense praise. Recognizing her exceptional work, the State Government honored her as the state's Best District Development Officer.
Generally, an invisible wall often forms between the supreme head of a district administration and the general public. For an ordinary person, meeting the District Collector or making a proper representation often feels like a distant dream. However, Prashastiji has blazed a new trail. She has girded her loins to demolish this invisible barrier between the people and the authorities. Rising above the hassles of protocol, she initiated innovative experiments, the fruit of which is that even the most common person can now meet the Collector and voice their concerns.
Whether a resident of Aravalli is within the district or at any corner of the globe, Prashastiji leaves no stone unturned to rescue them when they are in distress. When tourists from Aravalli were stranded during their pilgrimage in Kedarnath and Kashmir, it was District Collector Prashastiji who called her batchmates to arrange everything for the travelers. For the pilgrims, this was nothing short of a miracle. More recently, during an ongoing conflict, a family from a village near Modasa was stranded in Bahrain, leaving their kin back home in a state of extreme anxiety. As soon as Prashastiji learned of this, she coordinated with an officer serving in the Foreign Service in Bahrain and relieved the family's worries. This is the true strength of the Civil Services.
India’s illustrious Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, called for a healthy nation through the 'Fit India' movement. Prashastiji brought the Prime Minister’s health mantra to life through the 'Sunday on Cycle' campaign. Generally, Sunday is a holiday—a day to wake up late—but early on Sunday mornings, the people of Aravalli set out on their cycles. This group includes industrialists, builders, shopkeepers, salaried employees, and even street vendors! Homemakers have also joined in spontaneously. And every Sunday, leading them all on a bicycle, is the District Collector of Aravalli, Prashasti Pareekji! 'Sunday on Cycle' has truly turned into a movement in the district.
Prashastiji is a strong advocate for quality education. To ensure that no girl is deprived of education and to encourage daughters living in villages, she initiated the 'Coffee with Collector' program. Under this initiative, young girls from the district are invited to the Collector's office for an open-hearted conversation over coffee. Prashastiji is constantly striving to give wings to these girls' dreams.
Coming from a simple middle-class family herself, she understands the struggles of the middle class perfectly. Caring for the families of even the lowest-ranking employees working in the District Seva Sadan, she finds great joy in the humanitarian work of providing postal insurance cover to all Class IV employees. By contributing the very first amount for the insurance premium from her own pocket, she revealed the deep sense of empathy beating within her heart!
Prashastiji's father had a deep-seated desire: his talented daughter had already been honored by the Prime Minister, the Governor, and the Chief Minister, but he longed for the day she would be felicitated by the Honorable President of India. Finally, that day arrived. Last year in Delhi, under the 'Bhoomi Samman' initiative, the Aravalli district was recognized for its outstanding performance under her leadership, and she was honored by the Honorable President, Smt. Droupadi Murmu.
As she accepted the honor from the President, her father’s words echoed in her ears: "Beta! One day, even the President of the country will honor you." It was a moment of immense pride. The daughter had once again fulfilled the heartfelt wish of her father. However, by a cruel twist of fate, her father was no longer alive to witness this incomparable sight. It was for this reason that the memory of her father, preserved intact within her heart, overflowed from her eyes as tears. Though her father could not witness this beautiful scene in person, he surely must have been showering his blessings upon his daughter from the heavens above.
Prashastiji remains detached from the limelight, giving all the credit for the honors she receives to her entire team. She lives by the principle of not letting her left hand know the good deeds done by her right. She finds unique joy in staying away from fame and remaining grounded to the earth. Her hometown, Jaipur, is her favorite city, and she loves spending her leisure time with family and in the lap of nature.
Through the work she has done with a deeply human approach as the Collector over the last three years, Prashastiji has earned a permanent place in the hearts of the people of the Aravalli district. Aravalli is truly fortunate to have been served by such a committed, empathetic, and promising Collector. Though her duties may eventually lead her to a new posting elsewhere, her place in the hearts of Aravalli's citizens will remain intact forever. (The End)
An aricle by : Ishwar Prajapati
Engalish version : Pallavi Gupta.
Mo. : 9825142620
