All the successive governments in India, since Independence, have talked about community participation in governance, but the results have been disappointing. In this scenario, the 1985 batch Karnataka cadre IAS officer Bharat Lal Meena made it possible through his out of the box initiatives during his three-decade long Civil Service career. Right from his first posting as Assistant Commissioner in Lingasugur tehsil of Raichur District in Karnataka to his present posting as Additional Chief Secretary and In-charge of Higher Education, he has created a model of active community participation in governance with wonderful results. This book provides vivid description of some of his innovative steps that proved to be a precedent in governance and have been subsequently adopted by the States and Union Governments. Many of the present innovative schemes like Smart Cities, DBT, Soil Health Cards, Social Audit, biometric attendance, etc., were visualised and materialised by author decades back. Apart from providing information about these steps, the book also acquaints the readers with the ways he dealt with various challenges in administration and how he turned the ‘I’ feeling into the ‘we’ feeling. An essential read for the management professionals, serving bureaucrats and the youth preparing for civil services or other competitive examinations.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Contents

Foreword — 7

Preface — 13

Editor’s Note — 19

1. Acquainting with the Basics of Administration — 33

2. Learning the Art of Scaling High — 37

3. Fruits of Collective Efforts — 43

4. Acquiring Negotiation Skills — 47

5. A Voyage to Find Oneself — 50

6. Development through Community Participation — 57

7. Igniting Minds for Togetherness — 61

8. Turning the ‘I’ feeling’ into ‘We’ feeling — 65

9. How Transparency Becomes a Buzzword — 75

10. Amazing Results of Public-Private Partnership — 81

11. Mangalore: India’s Singapore in Waiting — 85

12. When Road Widening Became a Movement — 89

13. Dealing with Death in Police Custody — 93

14. Pilikula Nisargadham: A Unique Idea of — Eco-Tourism — 97

15. Branding the Unexplored — 105

16. Among the Sun and Sand — 109

17. Changing the Mindset — 113

18. Enjoying Student Life After 22 Years — 117

19. Difference in Learning in India and UK — 120

20. Social Transformation sans Money — 125

21. A Dive in the Ocean of Governance — 129

22. Quality Construction without Middlemen — 133

23. Affordable Housing Indeed — 137

24. The Trade Union Leader Who Changed My — Approach — 141

25. Loss-Making BESCOM Earns Huge Profit — 147

26. Grievance Redressal in BESCOM — 152

27. Promoting Judicious Irrigation — 156

28. Revolutionising the Power Supply — 160

29. Setting High Standards in Customer Care — 164

30. Dignified Life to Socially Disadvantaged — 169

31. Mesmerising Wall Art — 173

32. Model of Scientific Waste Management — 179

33. BBMP Welfare Schemes and Reforms — 184

34. Balancing Lakes and City Development — 189

35. Rejuvenating Lakes in the Lake City — 192

36. Creating Green Garland Around the Garden City — 197

37. Development with Human Touch — 201

38. Farming Becomes Profitable — 207

39. Ensuring Innovations from Lab to Land — 213

40. Unlocking the Potential of Growth — 218

41. Smart Initiatives for Smart Generations — 223

42. Affordable and Accessible Education to All — 230

43. Making Sure Fair Assessment — 233

44. Assembly for Innovation — 237

45. Bridging the Rural-Urban Divide — 241

46. Class Bunk – No More an Issue — 245

47. Skilling to Think Beyond the Box — 248

48. Believe in Yourself — 251

49. Self-Confidence is the Key — 255

50. Preparation Mantra for Civil Services — 259

51. Competitive Exams: How to Crack the Nut — 262

52. Role of Language in Administration — 266

53. I did what I Thought was Right — 270

54. Understanding the Rural Woes — 274

55. Balancing Personal and Official Duties — 277

56. Expedition in an Unknown Territory — 280

57. Imbibing Eternal Source of Energy — 285

58. Purifying the Soul through Karma Yoga — 290

The 1985 batch Karnataka cadre IAS officer Mr. Bharat Lal Meena is known for his visionary initiatives that he has taken during his three decades’ long journey in Civil Service. He is known as ‘the officer’ who keeps his doors always open to the public. Through his magnetic personality Mr Meena has turned thousands of individuals into selfless volunteers and engaged them in the service of the community and humanity. People in remote villages partake collectively in the decisions and resolutions of their problems without waiting for the government agencies to intervene, something preached by many 
but practised by none. Winner of many awards and founder of ‘Apnadesh’ voluntary organisation Mr. Meena is also credited with initially visualising and materialising many modern innovative schemes in the administration. Before joining the IAS in August 1985, he served as BDO in Rajasthan Administration Service (RAS), Probationary Officer in State Bank of Patiala and Clerk-cum-Coin Note Examiner in RBI. Born and bought up at Sundari village of Sawai Madhopur District in Rajasthan on February 5, 1957, he is Additional Chief Secretary in Government of Karnataka and Incharge of Higher Education.