Civil Service Heroes

From reviving forgotten rivers to launching space science education in rural areas, rethinking waste management, and pioneering water conservation during severe droughts — meet five visionary civil servants transforming India with groundbreaking initiatives!

To address Harda district’s skewed sex ratio and promote gender equality, IAS officer Aditya Singh launched the Rewa Shakti Abhiyan. Through Kirti Cards, families with only girl children now receive benefits like priority access to government services, healthcare support, and discounts at local businesses — all aimed at shifting deep-rooted societal perceptions.

Led by IAS officer Manoj Satyawan Mahajan, the Aama Sundargarh Swachh Sundargarh initiative has transformed rural waste management in Odisha. Engaging over 470 women, it has processed 360 metric tonnes of plastic waste and generated Rs 17 lakhs in revenue, empowering rural women and promoting sustainability.

In Maharashtra’s parched landscapes, former IRS officer Ujjwal Kumar Chavan initiated a transformative water conservation project. Inspired to combat drought, he constructed reservoirs and check dams, increasing water storage across 204 villages. His efforts boosted farmers’ incomes, rejuvenated rivers, and fostered community resilience, demonstrating the power of collective action.

In Varanasi, the efforts of IAS officers S Rajalingam and Himanshu Nagpal to combat malnutrition have transformed thousands of lives — renovating Anganwadi centres, providing nutritional support, and setting up mini Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres, reducing severe acute malnutrition from 24,820 to just 316 in three years.

In Varanasi, IAS officer Akshat Verma turned discarded clothes from Ganga ghats into a sustainable solution. Teaming up with Hope Welfare Foundation, local women transformed these textiles into 1 lakh eco-friendly bags, tackling pollution, creating jobs, and promoting sustainability.

In Odisha’s Ganjam district, the Nirikhyana initiative, led by Dibyajyoti Parida IAS, provides free ultrasound scans to rural pregnant women, bridging healthcare gaps and reducing maternal and neonatal deaths. This has helped reduce neonatal deaths to half in just two years.

In Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district, a pioneering space lab is transforming education for rural students by introducing them to space science, robotics, and 3D printing. Led by Dr Nidhi Patel, this initiative, inspired by ISRO’s missions, aims to ignite curiosity, enhance STEM learning, and expand career possibilities for children in remote areas.

By facilitating the consumption of free IFA tablets, setting up kitchen gardens, making learning fun for dropout slum kids, setting up rural libraries, and financially empowering women SHGs, here's how IAS Jitendra Jorwal made significant strides in the Sangrur district.

IAS Sakshi Sawhney launched the Future Tycoons Challenge to promote entrepreneurship among marginalised communities in rural Punjab. The initiative mirrors the reality TV show Shark Tank where rural women, persons with disabilities, and students pitch stories and win cash prizes.