interview2019 
Source: Google
In an exclusive interview with the District Magistrate & Collector in Dhenkanal shares his thoughts and personal anecdotes on a wide range of issues from unemployment to the vision for Spawning Growth Opportunities raised by the(Group Editor) Dibyajit Sahu in his chamber at the early hour of his Office Dhenkanal.
Q. You hail from a typical Odia family but in becoming a District Magistrate and Collector of Denkhanal District, did your dream come true?
The post of Collector & District Magistrate is a prestigious post and the dream of every IAS & OAS officer. Being brought up in the village and being an OAS officer, by becoming collector & District Magistrate, Dhenkanal, my dream became true.
Q. Can you share your hard-earned journey from your childhood to a District Collector (the most prestigious job ever happened in India)?
I was born in the village of Pahanda Sasan of Udala Block in Mayurbhanj district. I was brought up in my native village up to the completion of High School.
I completed my I.A. from MPC College, Baripada in 1981, B.A.(Political Science Honours) from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack in 1983, M.A. (Political Science) from Utkal University, Vanivihar in 1985 and MPhil (Political Science) from Sambalpur University in 1987.
After the recruitment of Odisha Civil Service for the 1988 batch, I joined OAS as a probationer in Kalahandi district in January 1991.
After completion of probation, I have served 15 years from December 1992 to March 2008 in Kalahandi district in different posts like BDO, Tahasildar, Nizarat officer & Revenue officer in the Sub collector office.
Then, I have served more than nine years in Panchayati Raj Department, Secretariat, Odisha as Under Secretary, Deputy Secretary & Joint Secretary from April 2008 to May 2017 and was dealing with the Flagship scheme of MGNREGS.
Then I have served as Project Director, DRDA, Sundargarh for more than two years from 1.6.2017 to 1.7.2019. Then, I joined as Collector & District Magistrate, Dhenkanal on 3.7.2019.
Q. Has your lifestyle and thought process changed after being a top administrator?
My lifestyle and thought process has not changed.
Q. What have been your top priorities in shaping the Dhenkanal district more vibrant and developed?
My top priorities in the Dhenkanal district are to promote health, education drinking water, developmental activities, employment spawning growth opportunities to youths & development of tourist places.
Q. Do you have a special drive to create more employment and to push various big companies in the district to be very amiable to have employment opportunities at regular intervals?
I have a special drive to create more employment spawning growth opportunities for rural youths in various companies operating in the Dhenkanal district. As Collector, I will provide all sorts of cooperation and support to open more no of companies in the district to provide better employment spawning growth opportunities.
Q. What is your vision to spend funds accumulating to DMF?
Dhenkanal district is a DMF district. But the annual receipt under DMF is about Rs 60 to 70 lakh only. But this limited fund under DMF will be utilized to promote the health, education, nutrition & drinking water sector in the district.
Q. Everything falls in place when political willingness and local administration go hand in hand. How do you ensure this?
For greater interest in the district and its development, I will work with good relations with the political people.
Q. What is your strength in administration and your weaknesses?
My strength in administration is sincerity, dedication, teamwork, timely disposal, redressal of grievances of people, goodwill with the public and political people. My weakness is my simplicity and believing in reality.
Q. Whom do you idolize as your role model?
What I am today is my father who has inspired me from my childhood to become a good administrator to work for the rural poor.
Q. How do you relax after being engaged over time in a tough job?
After being engaged over time in a tough job like Collector, I get relaxed by managing my time properly and enjoying in every engagement.
