[Stories and Poetry from the Room of IAS Officers]
“One of the best things I ever did was to involve myself in hobbies that sparked my interest like poetry, painting and listening to songs. This gave me a little time to myself and helped me energise before the next study session. - Priyanka Shukla
Priyanka Shukla is an IAS officer in the area of Chattisgarh and is quite effective on social media like Twitter. She has also been creating understanding among the people about the coronavirus pandemic. Currently she is the Joint Secretary cum Director Health & Family Welfare Cum Mission Director since 2018. Before Civil Services, She was an MBBS doctor. There was an incident that changed her life and her career as the whole. Obtained her MBBS degree from King George’s Medical University, Lucknow (KGMU) in Lucknow in 2006 and then joined as an IAS officer in 2009 Cadre. While her posting she had also served a slum area in Lucknow for a checkup and there she saw a woman and her children drinking unhygienic water and she approached them. The woman had asked her that if Priyanka was a collector or some sort of government official. This incident changed her career path and that’s when she decided to take up the examination and she succeeded in her second attempt. Priyanka was always driven to a social cause and that’s what kept motivated her in her entire journey.
There are two fascinating tales of Priyanka Shukla becoming IAS. The first occurrence is innocence. When Priyanka’s father was employed to do a government job in Uttarakhand. The family accordingly lived in Haridwar. During this time, when the father used to depart through the Haridwar Collector’s office and housing distressing daughter Priyanka, then he used to tell – “daughter, I also want to see your name on the nameplate hanging on the wall”. From that time on, Priyanka started envying becoming an IAS. The second occurrence is associated with Lucknow. When Priyanka Shukla received an MBBS degree from King George Medical College Lucknow in 2006. During this period, as a doctor she was doing training, she entered the messes in Lucknow for a checkup. During this period a woman was drinking dirty water and so were her children. Seeing this, Priyanka asked her why but, the woman replied asking her was she a collector or any other official. This occurrence penetrated Priyanka’s heart. It was felt that IAS is to be prepared now. After this, she commenced formulating for the assessment of the Union Public Service Commission. She eventually succeeded in the following attempt.
Know more about Priyanka Shukla who had two major situations that changed her life and she became the lady tiger of Uttar Pradesh. This article speaks all about her and her early life and the strategy that she used, one should always get inspired by stories like these...
Awards:
- 2009: First Prize in Homi J Bhabha Debate Competition organized by LBSNAA during 83rd Foundation Course
- 2011: Golden Jubilee Retreat Award for best Village & District Assignment during Phase II
- 2011: Award of Honour for Second Best Foreign Study Visit Paper in Phase II
- 2011: Subhash Dua Memorial Gold Medal for best performance in Professional Course Phase I, District Training & Professional Course Phase II in LBSNAA
- 2014: Special Award by Election Commission of India for innovative SVEEP Campaign in LWE affected district leading to record turnout in Assembly Elections
- 2014: President’s Silver Medal in recognition of the outstanding zeal & high quality of service rendered during Census of India 2011
- 2014: National Award for effective initiatives under MGNREGA during financial year 2012-13
- 2014: Rashtriya Saksharta Puraskar under Sakshar Bharat Program (Received in capacity of CEO ZP & Member Secretary Zila Lok Shiksha Samiti, Sakshar Bharat Program, District Rajnandgaon)
- 2014: Rajya Saksharta Samman
- 2015: Rashtriya Panchayat Sashaktikaran Samman for Best Zila Panchayat (Received in capacity of Chief Executive Officer, Zila Panchayat Rajnandgaon, CG)
- 2017: Rashtriya Saksharta Puraskar under Sakshar Bharat Program(Received in capacity of District Collector & Adhyaksha Karyakarini, Zila Lok Shiksha Samiti, Sakshar Bharat Program, District Jashpur)
- 2017: Mukhyamantri Akshar Samman (Received in capacity of District Collector & Adhyaksha Karyakarini, Zila Lok Shiksha Samiti, Sakshar Bharat Program, District Jashpur)
- 2018: National Award for effective implementation of MGNREGS for financial year 2016-17(Received in capacity of District Collector, Jashpur)
- 2018: Best District in implementing Social Welfare schemes in Chhattisgarh (Received in capacity of District Collector, Jashpur)
- 2019: Award for being ranked First in Overall Performance during Phase III Mid-Career Training Program for IAS officers 2019 at LBSNAA
- 2019: Award for Best Case-study Presentation during Phase III Mid-Career Training Program for IAS officers 2019
- 2019: Chhat