Smita Sabharwal

Smita Sabharwal (Das) (born 19 June 1977) is an Indian Administrative Service officer of 2001 batch belonging to Telangana cadre.^[1] She is popularly known as The People’s Officer for addressing citizen issues by involving people.^[2] She is the first lady IAS Officer to be appointed to the Chief Minister's Office.^[3][4][5][6] She is presently working as, Secretary to CM, Government of Telangana and holds additional charge as Secretary, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department (Mission Bhagiratha Department).

Smita Sabharwal
Incumbent
Assumed office 2014
Secretary of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department of Telangana (Mission Bhagiratha)
Incumbent
Assumed office 2014
Personal details
Born	Smita Das (1977-06-19) 19 June 1977 (age 46)
Nationality	Indian
Spouse(s)	Akun Sabharwal, IPS
Children	Nanak Sabharwal, Bhuvis Sabharwal
Parents	Colonel Pranab Das (father) Purabi Banerjee (mother)
Occupation	Bureaucrat

Early life and education

Sabharwal was born in a Bengali family in Darjeeling, West Bengal to an Army officer, Colonel Pranab Das, and Purabi Das.

Sabharwal did her schooling at St. Ann's High School, Secunderabad.^[7] She was the all India topper in ICSE exam. She graduated in commerce from St Francis College for Women, Hyderabad.^[8] She was 22, when she cleared the Union Public Service Commission exam in 2000, securing All India fourth rank.^[9][10][11]

Career

After completing the administrative training in Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie in 2001, Sabharwal was trained in Adilabad district during her probation.^[12]

Her first independent charge was as Sub Collector, Madanapally in Chittoor which let her gain hands-on experience in Land Revenue Management & District Administration. Thereafter she worked in Rural Development sector as Project Director, DRDA, Kadapa.

She worked as a municipal commissioner, Warangal, where she introduced "Fund your City" scheme where a large number of public utilities such as Traffic Junctions, Foot-overbridges, Bus-stops, Parks were created with Public-Private partnership (PPP). Later, she served as Deputy Commissioner, Commercial Taxes, Visakhapatnam.

As district collector

Smita Sabharwal worked as joint collector of Kurnool and joint collector of Hyderabad.

In April 2011, she took charge as district collector, Karimnagar district where she made significant contribution in the Health and Education sector. The health initiative to improve institutional deliveries in the public sector popularly known as Ammalalana, was started and successfully implemented in the district. It became a role model for many health initiatives of ‘high risk pregnancy management targeting, IMR and MMR’ in NRHM of Government of India.^[13][14] This initiative was also nominated as one of the best initiatives for Prime Minister's award for excellence in public administration.^[15]

With the help of public representatives, Karimnagar town underwent a facelift in the form of wider roads, scientifically planned traffic junctions, bus-stops, Toilets and other public utilities. Karimnagar district was awarded the best district in PM's 20 Point Programme for 2012–2013. She successfully started a programme, Voter Panduga to increase polling percentage.^[16]

She also served as District Collector of Medak during the General Elections 2014 and successfully conducted free and fair polls registering a high polling turn out.^{[17][18][19][20][21]}

Sabharwal is known popularly as people's officer^[22] and is known to use latest developments in technology to her advantage, especially in implementing Government Programmes on field. Monitoring of Government doctors through skype has completely changed the scenario in the public health sector. Performance monitoring of Government schools through specially designed software has made Karimnagar & Medak Districts stand top in the state during her tenure.^{[23][24][25][26]}

Awards

• Indian Express Devi Award - 2015, for Innovation and Dynamism^[27]
• e-India (e-Health Category) Government Digital Initiative – 2013^[28][29]
• Chief Minister's Award for best district in 21 Point Flagship Programme in 2011–12.^[30]
• Chief Minister's Award for best district in 20 Point Flagship Programme in 2012–13 ^{[citation needed]}
• Recipient of "Platinum Award" worth ₹10.00 Lacs under District Category sponsored by Information Technology & Communication Department for the best e-Governance initiatives taken up at the district for the year 2012–13^{[citation needed]}
• Nominated for Prime Minister's award under individual category for excellence in public administration in best district initiative "Ammalalana" programme in erstwhile united Government of Andhra Pradesh^{[citation needed]}

References

1. "Civil Servants list". Civil List. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
2. "News reports about Smita". Deccan Chronicles. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
3. "Telangana news". The News minute. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
4. "Smita Joins CMO". Sakshi post. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
5. "Special coverage for lady IAS". Tupaki. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
6. "Recognition for lady IAS". Way2SMS. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
7. "Meet IAS Smita Sabharwal, 'People's Officer' Of Telangana Who Got AIR 4 In UPSC". News18. 24 July 2023.
8. "About Smita". SFC. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
9. "On Smita Sabharwal". Brain tree India. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
10. . New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
11. "News reports about Smita". PIB. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
12. "The people's officer". Deccanchronicle.com. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
13. "Ammalalana programme". The Hindu. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
14. "Notable works of Smita". Times of India. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
15. "e-initiatives". Governance. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
16. "Smitha Sabarwal IAS Biodata". 19 June 2016.
17. "Medak Collector". The Hans India. 7 June 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
18. "YouTube video". YouTube. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
19. "Polling record". The Hindu. April 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
20. "Smita reveals Singapore secrets". Tupaki. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
21. "Reports about Smita". The times of India. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
22. "Contributions of Smita Sabharwal". The Deccan Chronicles. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
23. "Use of skype for better education". The Hindu. 21 July 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
24. "Skype facilities for governance". The Hindu. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
25. "Bureacrat Smita Sabharwal". Indian Democrat. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
26. "Inspiring source". IAS Times. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
27. "Devi Awards 2015". Indian Express. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
28. "Contribution to family health welfare". elets online. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
29. "Contributions to Karimnagar". Governance. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
30. "e-governance award". The Hindu. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2015.