Shri  P. Narahari IAS shares with Marie Banu his initiatives to benefit the elderly and girl children. 

Shri  P. Narahari IAS is an Indian Civil Servant and a writer. He is presently the  Secretary & Commissioner, Public Relations Department; and Commissioner-Cum-Secretary, Urban Administration Department at Government of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal.

Narahari studied mechanical engineering at Osmania University and was selected to work with Indian Engineering Services in 1999.

He joined the Indian Administrative Service in 2001. He made Gwalior District 95% barrier-free in two years to help persons with disabilities, senior citizens, women easily access public spaces. Thus making Gwalior an example for other cities in India as reported by Satyamev Jayate. In Indore, as District Collector, he focused on health, education and Smart Cities Mission. Indore also became the cleanest city in India under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan where Narahari played a key role.

Narahari has authored two books, Who Owns Mhow? and The Making of Ladli Laxmi Yojna.

In an exclusive interview with Marie Banu, Narahari IAS tells about his initiatives to benefit the elderly and girl children. 

What was your inspiration to join Indian administrative services?

Indian Administrative Services (IAS) is considered as top level services in our country. For me, joining the Indian administrative services was not about, ‘Just getting a job ‘. In fact, I had many other options of getting government jobs. I joined Indian Administrative Services with a vision and a specific goal of serving the nation.

I hail from a small town of Basantnagar, Karimnagar District which is now in Telangana. When I was growing up, I noticed a common man in our country struggling with various issues – be it access to services or benefits from government schemes. I realised that only administrative bodies can help such people to find a solution.

Development schemes and activities can be paced up for growth and progress of rural regions. Hence, I joined Indian administrative services so that I can help a common man by providing him access to government schemes, policies and programmes thereby leading to the betterment of  society. Nothing is more satisfactory than doing a job where you can contribute for our nations’ development and help its citizens.

What steps did you take to make Gwalior district to be 95% barrier free thereby benefiting the elderly and persons with disabilities?

It reminds me of good old times.  It is embedded in our culture to offer special care and facilities to our elderly and specially-abled people (Divyaang). It is our responsibility to provide them a better and safe environment.

As the Collector of Gwalior, this was an effort to provide a barrier free environment so that the local society need not have to struggle  in managing their day-to-day matters. The key focus were on ramps, railings, low-rise toilets, drinking water facilities that are low enough for wheelchair-bound persons to reach.

We have building codes that specify what kind of infrastructure needs to be created. We called the organisations, especially government agencies, and trained and educated them on the specifications needed. For example, the railway and bus stations frequented by the public for their day-to-day activities needed to be disable-friendly.

After the training, the individuals were divided into four to five groups and are then asked to visit various institutions to conduct an ‘audit act’ to determine if the institutions were accessible to the elderly and specially-abled. The findings were discussed with the institutions mentioning the areas where they lacked accessibility and were given time to carry out the recommendations. A lot of follow-up work is done to ensure that the work is being carried out. With good follow-up, a lot of positive things happen.

What we have found is that while people were aware of the building codes, it is actually the absence of training and information that led to poor infrastructure. We received support from almost everyone – government officials, social workers, and the common people – for this initiative which led to its success. I learned that positive thinking, honest efforts and willpower can bring about incredible change to our society.

I firmly believe that the very purpose of Administrative Bodies is to serve the people, and to provide them with the right solutions for their problems. We should  take note of the general problems and prepare a solution oriented programme ahead. The goal should be to find a solution before the problem gets bigger. We should not wait for people to come and ask for their right. Deliver it before they ask!

About “Laadli Lakshmi Yojna” that you initiated in Madhya Pradesh?

I was born in a small town and there was a time when people, especially the economically backward families, were worried when there was a girl child born in the family. The cost of her education and marriage was a matter of serious concern and they treated the girl child as a burden.

There were cases of female foeticide and female infanticide that I read about and this troubled me much. Both girl and boy children should be treated equal and I decided to do something to put a stop to the discrimination that was prevailing in our society.

When I was serving at “Mahila Evam Baal Vikaas” Department, I had the chance to do something for our daughters’.  I prepared the first draft of Laadli Lakshmi Yojna and everyone welcomed the scheme. In this, a girl child would receive each year 2000 rupees from the time of admission in the sixth standard, 4000 rupees on admission in the ninth standard and 7500 rupees when she gets admitted in the 11th standard. During her higher secondary education, she would get 200 rupees every month and on completion of 21 years she would receive the remaining amount, which would be more than one lakh rupees.

 Today, more than 10 states are executing this scheme, although with different names. The smiles I see on the face of the girl child’s parents and their family members are priceless.

Your thoughts on effective use of social media.

Social media is a very powerful and an effective medium of communication today. Now, people have more  options of communicating with each other. One  can connect to the masses easily through it. Social media is revolutionary as long as it is not misused for defaming someone. 

If a common man wants to convey something to me or he needs to ask me for help and due to some reasons cannot meet me directly –he can still convey his/her message to me directly through social media.

Your advice for IAS aspirants?

Well, I want to convey my young friends who are aspiring to be a part of Indian Administrative Services that they should focus on achieving their goal of serving our country. Their goal should be bigger than just passing the civil service examination.

One should develop a strong affinity towards social welfare and nation’s development.

To be an active part of this whole process he/she should help people in every possible manner. This thought should always be in your heart and mind.  You will be the game changers who can bring positive change in this country. Have courage to face the challenges. Wherever you go, create a positive environment and try to benefit more and more people.