Smita Sabharwal: Telangana's IAS

_{Image Credit: Zee News}

Smita Sabharwal, a distinguished Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, has gained widespread acclaim as “The People’s Officer” for her proactive approach to citizen issues. She is the first female IAS Officer appointed to the Chief Minister’s Office and currently serves as the Secretary to the Chief Minister of Telangana, with additional responsibilities in the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department.

Born in 1977 in Darjeeling, West Bengal, Smita completed her schooling with academic excellence and pursued higher education in commerce. She cleared the highly competitive UPSC exam in 2000, securing an impressive fourth rank nationwide. Her administrative training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration prepared her for a stellar career.

Smita Sabharwal has held key positions throughout her career, showcasing her efficiency and visionary leadership. She implemented the “Fund your City” scheme as the Municipal Commissioner of Warangal, promoting public-private partnerships to develop public amenities. As District Collector of Karimnagar, she spearheaded advancements in healthcare and education, notably the “Ammalalana” health initiative, which targeted high-risk pregnancies and infant mortality rates.

Under Smita’s leadership, Karimnagar experienced significant improvements in infrastructure, earning recognition as the best district in the Prime Minister’s 20 Point Programme. She also initiated the “Voter Panduga” program to increase voter turnout.

Re-reported from the story originally published in Zee News