Facing challenges has always been his forte. He is proactive, analytical and creative in resolving problems of people with all dedication. For him discipline at work is top priority. Meet Sachin Kumawat, a Tahsildar who served Karanja Taluka for four years. He is dynamic and highly efficient. In his four-year tenure, he brought in vividly palpable changes in the functioning of governance. From digitalized records of revenue to resolving the longstanding issues of land disputes to mitigating the farmers’ woes are the achievements to his credit. Of late, he has been transferred to Ashti Shahid Taluka.
In a candid interview to Deepak Dharne, Assistant Professor, NKS Model College, Karanja Gh. Wardha, Kumawat talks on finer points of administration and winning the trust of common people.
Question: What challenges you encountered as you took the charge of Tahsildar of Karanja Taluka, and what sweeping changes in the existing functioning were brought about by you?
Sachin Kumawat : When I joined as a Tahsildar in 2017, I noticed there were many shortcomings in the way of functioning of the office. Grievances of people were pending. The entire office was cluttered with files and gathering dust waiting to be sorted out. I brought a disciplinarian approach taking into confidence all the employees and bringing to the fore the paramount importance of people’s causes. Cleanliness and tidiness were the cause of concern. Insalubrity hampered the efficiency of works; I set the precedent of maintaining cleanliness and tidiness in the office as a response to the clarion call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his quest for Swachh Bharat Mission. Due to the punctuality and transparency in the works, I brought about sea change in dispensing with office-related matters.
Initially, I came across the longstanding problems of land disputes, allocation of lands and maintenance of land records. We adopted digitized land records to streamline the works and create awareness among people that they too could on their own get their works done.
Question: Wardha District is known for its heritage as Mahatma Gandhi’s Ashram. Recognizing its importance, any Central Government-sponsored schemes first of all are implemented on the pilot project in the Wardha District in the country. What are your experiences in this regard?
Sachin Kumawat: Of course, I feel proud of being associated with the Wardha District. One such experience was the introduction of VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail), the first in the country, which allows feedback to be provided to the voters using a ballotless voting machine, to allow voters to check if voters’ vote has rightfully gone to the desired candidates. We ensured that the voters should get convinced themselves to witness the process of discharging his/her franchise to trust the transparency and credibility of the Election Commission of India.
Question: Wardha District has been infamously gained a name for committing suicide of farmers. In the face of the grim reality, what measures were taken by you to mitigate the severity of the baleful curse?
Sachin Kumawat: To some extent, Wardha is a drought-prone district. As measures, we took the initiatives to provide succour to distressed farmers by implementing in letter and spirit the schemes of MGNREGA, PM Kisan Scheme, timely distribution of financial aid from the state government for the damage to crops caused by untimely unseasonal heavy rain. These measures helped a lot to generate positivity and an optimistic view among beleaguered farmers. In collaboration with Pani Foundation and public partnership, we raised the level of water that had been depleted with meager rainfall. My team and I boosted the morale of farmers through various Central-State sponsored schemes meant for farmers.
Question: Karanja Taluka remained less affected in mortality rate in the second wave of Covid-19. How did you successfully manage to preclude the juggernaut of Covid-19?
Sachin Kumawat: We meticulously followed and implemented the guidelines of the State Government issued from time to time as per the need of the time by taking people into confidence, and making them understand the gravity of the situation. We brought coordination among people, Covid warriors, health workers, heads of villages, and local traders to vaccinate the people on the war footing.
Question: You are an engineering graduate and worked for three years in the private sector. What prompted you to join the public service?
Sachin Kumawat: I have always had an attraction to competitive civil examination as it is the gateway to serve society on a large scale and bring about a paradigm shift in their day to day lives. Government strives hard to uplift, better the standard of lives of people who have been languishing in poverty, illiteracy, superstitions practices, causing perpetual harm in rising above the situation. With dedication and patience, I firmly believe, aspirants with critical thinking can crack any competitive examinations.
Question: Recently, you have been transferred to Ashti (Shahid), Wardha district, and holding its historical freedom movement significance in sync with Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav 2022, how are you going to celebrate it?
Sachin Kumawat: Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav 2022 will be celebrated with zest and fervour reaching out to every village of Taluka to imbibe the sense of nationalism and patriotism in the minds of a new generation. With an opportunity, I will make all our efforts in collaboration with other stakeholders to find out every avenue by which we become successful in regaining the forgotten legacy of freedom fighters and their sacrifices.
-Deepak Dharne
Assistant Professor, NKS Model College, Karanja Gh. Wardha
