Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Divya Mittal has highlighted a concerning delay in a crucial rural development project. Mittal, who recently resigned from her post, disclosed that a school she approved three years ago in a village in Lahuriyadah, Uttar Pradesh, remains unbuilt, despite all necessary clearances.
Bureaucracy and Missing Intent
During her tenure, Mittal recounted an incident where a woman from Lahuriyadah approached her, pleading for a higher-grade school. The existing village school only offered education up to Class 5, forcing children to abandon their studies amidst the challenging terrain. Mittal confirmed she meticulously checked all regulations and approved the school's construction. However, three years later, the project has not moved forward.
“I checked the rules, approved the school, and even after three years, construction of the school has not started,” Mittal stated in a video message posted on X. She critically questioned the reasons for the stagnation, asserting, “Was there no money? Were there no rules? Was there no approval? Everything was there. What was missing was the intent.”
Mittal, who plans to enter politics as an independent voice from Uttar Pradesh, stressed the importance of genuine commitment. “If there had been intent, even the mountains would have made way. And when there is no intent, a single file becomes a mountain,” she remarked, demanding accountability for such neglected projects.
Beyond the School: A Broader Critique of Governance
The former officer extended her critique to other systemic issues, reflecting on her experiences as Special Secretary, Revenue. She recalled assisting a landless man who, despite being leased government land by an SDM, was repeatedly denied possession. Mittal's intervention exposed a false report, leading to its withdrawal and action against the responsible individual, but the man still struggled to gain possession.
“Justice is a right,” Mittal emphasized, questioning why citizens must persistently chase what is rightfully theirs. She highlighted other infrastructure deficiencies, such as the thousands of villages lacking proper roads and bridges, attributing these failures to a lack of genuine concern among officials.
Mittal also raised concerns about the future of India's youth, citing issues like paper leaks in examinations, prolonged court cases, and the uncertain impact of Artificial Intelligence on employment. As a mother, she called for more profound discussions on these critical societal challenges, lamenting that current politics often prioritizes power and rhetoric over substantive debate.
Declaring her political ambition is not merely to replace existing leaders but to instigate a shift towards “intent, justice, concern and thought,” Mittal affirmed her resolve to challenge the status quo. She vowed to remain fearless in asking difficult questions, aiming to empower every girl in the country to express her mind without intimidation.