Civil servants who have come up with bold ideas to face crucial challenges and delivered excellence in public service were felicitated for their work on Saturday.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis handed out the awards at the annual event organised by the Arun Bongirwar Foundation along with the Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA). The honourees included bureaucrats Abhijit S. Banger for innovation and impactful public service delivery, Ashwini K. Sonavane for quality education development for underprivileged children, Abhinav D. Deshmukh for innovative multi-stakeholder-network police and communities, Jitendra S. Ramgokar for community-driven ecotourism, and N. Vasudevan for ushering in a blue-green revolution.
Mr. Fadnavis termed the programme as being truly unique and special. “The people felicitated today reflected the work values of Arun Bongirwar. Bongirwar’s work pattern had two specialities, which included a direct connection with the general public and an optimistic outlook, ” he said. Arun Bongirwar served as the 25th Chief Secretary of the State and was known for his integrity, intellect, sharp memory and decisive leadership.
The Chief Minister said, “Most questions that come to bureaucrats can be solved by an optimistic approach. A lot of times, our approach is negative. The people who have received the awards today have gone beyond the call of their duty to give some exceptional results for the people of the State.”
The CM said the life of an artist and a bureaucrat is similar in a way that both can transform people’s life. “The true reward for a civil servant is when they see people’s life transforming because of them.”
Congratulating the winners, he said, “They are young officers and have a very strong will and desire to do something which would bring about a change in society,” he said.
The jury for the awards comprised Lokpal member Dinesh Kumar Jain, HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh, JSW Foundation chairperson Sangita Jindal, and Loksatta editor Girish V. Kuber.