Nidhi Kesarwani: Question of life and death

Serving in strife torn states is radically different from a posting in the Indian hinterland. There are many imponderables. Administering India’s North East is about executing government policies amidst serious internal law and order problems, maintaining a long and fairly porous international border with close connections to Indian foreign policy, ethnic fire-fights and above all – deadly insurgency.

In this dysfunctional scenario, there are young bureaucrats working with a passion and vehemence that belies expectations. Meet IAS officer Nidhi Kesarwani, a 32-year-old IIT graduate from Jabalpur.

This 2004 batch officer was awarded the Manipur cadre — a rank north Indian in a culturally different milieu.

But she did not let that come in the way. As deputy commissioner Senapati, Kesarwani won accolades and received an Excellence Award for implementing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2008-09.

Currently, joint secretary tribal development and director of vigilance, Manipur, Kesarwani believes if one is a civil servant then one has to be on ones toes.

Particularly if you are posted in North East India. “There are certain limitations placed. At times you feel a lot of restrictions and limitations because of the circumstances. Then over a period of time, you mature, you grow, you learn things, you learn both ways- how to get things done and how not to get them done,’’ she says.

Given Manipur’s special location, law and order is a particularly onerous constraint. Kesarwani explains, “It is very difficult to work in a disturbed state like Manipur. There are two things — one is the problem of insurgency; the other is the systemic problem or constraints of the system. Compared to other states, systems in Manipur are relatively less established.’’

In Manipur the constraints come from militants because working in insurgency-affected area is simply a question of life and death.

She explains how it works. “In Manipur, when you want to take action, there are constraints from underground groups. Ideally you should not bow to them but if you stand up against them, many things are at stake, most importantly your life.

“On many occasions, I have faced death threats and it is a very tough choice. Now if I get threats, I don’t pay much attention as I am here to do my job. No one can compel me to change my order except the government. At the same time, you have to ensure your family’s safety.” Can get fairer, can it?

The other limitation, according to Kesarvani is the lack of political will. “There should be political will to reform the system, to take drastic steps and not just populist measures because they may be, at times, short term advantages but in the longer run it may not be good for the state or the community.’’

Asked about MNREGA, Kesarwani offers, “I was particular that there are no pre-set rules about schemes to be implemented. They say ignorance is bliss. In implementing development schemes, we tried to follow the act in its spirit from day one.

“We undertook a lot of IEC (information, education and communication) activities in the area. We ensured that the implementation of the scheme is directly done by village authorities themselves.”

She feels it is time for changing old mind-set. “Bureaucracy needs structural adjustments. If we want to cope with the growing economy and the way the world is moving, it’s time Indian bureaucracy thought out of the colonial mind-set.

“If you see the rules and acts of the country, everything has been made during the British period and we are still continuing the legacy.”

She is bang on target regarding the issue. There are other officers like her who think similarly. Clearly things can only change for good when the government is ready to address them by creating a countrywide awareness campaign.