Mr. Prabhakar Deshmukh, 1995 batch IAS officer, has the distinction of being felicitated by the Prime Minister for excellence in public administration during his tenure as the CEO of the Zila Parishad of Kolhapur. Thereafter he had been an agriculture commissioner and implemented Crop & Pest Surveillance and Advisory project, which also received the Prime Minister’s award. (Cropsap) on major crops in Maharashtra. An M.Sc is agriculture, he has introduced several innovative concepts in his department like making it mandatory for his staff to attend the Gram Sabhas and brief the farmers about various schemes of the government. His personal initiative to promote organic farming led to his department receiving a global award during his tenure. He is now encouraging group farming. Hailing from a small village, Lodwade in Man taluka – a drought prone area, his efforts in watershed development have now made the village self-sufficient in water.
In an exclusive interview with India Unbound, Mr. Deshmukh shared his experience in various postings, honors he got for his services, the projects he has initiated in Konkan region like renovation of Raigad fort. At the end he suggests citizen to get involve in work and Government and do advice for the betterment.
You were felicitated by Prime Minister for excellence in administration when you were CEO of the Zilla Parishad of Kolhapur, how was the experience?
As a CEO of ZP Kolhapur, I implemented a project called Rajarshi Shahu Sarvangin Shikshan Karyakram for the holistic development of student from ZP schools. It was implemented in 1728 ZP schools which covers the 2 lac and 71 thousand students, including more than 8500 teachers. The program contains the Intellectual development, Emotional development, physical development along with creating social awareness for students. Also it contains the development of teachers, which includes making them capable for improving quality of education. This program was implemented with the people’s contribution.
Then entire program was put before the Gram Sabha and they approved it. Then onwards for every year people from various villages contributed more Rs. 2 crore for the infrastructure development of schools. So the result was very good as quality of students in education and other curricular activities improved a lot.
There was Scholarship exams for 7th Standard and out of 120 students who came in merit list in entire Maharashtra state, 72 students were from ZP, Kolhapur. We put the project before people’s representative and it was inaugurated by Shri. Anna Hazare, Professor P B Patil who was the chairman of Panchayat Raj Committee, and Nagnath Anna Naikwadi, who was the great Freedom Fighter. Entire program was evaluated by Indian Institute of Education, Pune. In 2008, Government of India selected this project in improving quality of education. I feel fortunate to get award from the hands of then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
How such types of thoughts come in your mind?
I did my schooling in ZP school of my village, Lodwade in Man Taluka, Satara district. My village and taluka are one of the most drought affected areas where the rainfall is less than 400 mm. I have implemented many programs in my village and now my village is self-sufficient in water. Many people say that education in ZP school is not good so I accepted it and tried my way to change scenario and fortunately it succeeded. It was most challenging and satisfying experience.
Brief us about your journey from M.Sc. in Agriculture, to IAS.
In 1980, I was topper of Agronomy and silver medalist from Mahatma Phule Agriculture University. Then I appeared for MPSC and selected as Deputy Collector thereafter I got promoted to IAS in 1995. When I was commissioner of Agriculture for Maharashtra my qualification helped me a lot. There we implemented a project called Crop Surveillance (Crop Sap), for which we got the Prime Minister’s Award in 2015 from the hands of Hon Narendra Modiji. In 2008 there was outbreak of army worm pest so more than 14 Lac hector area of the soybean was totally destroyed and loss was more than Rs. 1450 Crore. In that situation Government put one committee and I was the chairman of committee. There were expert from National Institute for Integrated Pest Management, Soybean research Institute, Indore and other experts from Agriculture institute. After surveillance of pest, National Institute for Integrated Pest Management, Delhi processed the data and prepared advisory.
This pest has to be kept below the ETL (Economically Threshold Level) and with the advice from Agriculture University Scientist we provided advice to farmers. In one year we have provided more than 3 crore SMS about the advisory of the pest. There is no outbreak of pest since then. This project is being replicated in other states also some of the countries have also made MOU with Government of India for implementation of this project. It also got the Gold Medal for e-Governance in 2010.
Please tell us about your family background?
As we are from agriculture background, my parents were farmers. We are three brothers. My elder brother is retired and young brother works in farms and doing his business.
Brief us about your postings throughout your career.
I Joined as Deputy Collector in 1982. Then I worked as Sub-Divisional Magistrate at Kurduwadi and Pandharpur; District-Solapur. After that, I worked as Sub-Divisional Magistrate at Baramati, District Pune and then Private Secretary to Hon Chief Minister, Maharashtra State, Shri Sharad Pawar. Next I worked as Additional Collector and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, MIDC, Mumbai for 4 years. Then I was posted as Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Parisha, Kolhapur. After that I was Collector and District Magistrate, Pune Then I worked as Commissioner, Agriculture, Maharashtra State, Pune. My next posting was Divisional Commissioner, Pune Division, there I implemented Jalyukta Gaon Abhiyan. Then I take over as Secretary, Water Conservation and E.G.S. and now I am working as Divisional Commissioner Konkan Range.
Please tell us about the Crop Sap project, for which you were awarded with Gold Medal?
Crop Sap project is basically surveillance of crops pest and its control. The whole project is now implemented by agriculture department for Soybean, Tur, Gram and many other crops. So the pest of these crops is scientifically identified and the advisory is given on Real Time Basis to the farmers.
Brief us about your achievements throughout various postings in your career?
Initially when I was SDM at Kurduwadi, which was most drought affected area. It was most challenging post of 2 years. At my posting as SDM, Pandharpur I was also executive officer for Vitthal-Rukmini temple committee. We carried out lot of improvements in this pilgrimage place of Maharashtra. When I was posted as Additional Collector and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of MIDC, I was responsible for implementation of Five Star MIDC area. We acquired more than 17,000 hectors of the land with negotiation with farmers. These areas are now most developed industrial areas like Chakan and Talegaon in Pune, Shendra at Aurangabad, Nagpur.
How M.Sc in Agriculture is helpful in your career?
As I am from agriculture family background, I understand the situation in which our farmers are. I quickly get connected to them. I tried to implement my knowledge for betterment of farming and provide advice to farmers. I have done many activities for rural development and I am satisfied with it.
Please brief us about Konkan Division and your role as Divisional commissioner?
Konkan division covers the seven districts that are Mumbai city, Mumbai Suburban, Thane Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg. Konkan has a natural benefit as there is lot of horticulture development. We have taken the program for plantation of horticulture trees under the NREGA scheme (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) for the area of 20,000 hectors. Next program we have is ‘Ek Divas Shalecha’ (One day for School) where all officers from Collector to Extension Officer overall 3500 officers working under this department will go to school once in a month, where they will interact with students, teachers and parents about the improvement of school and quality of education. There are more than 10,000 ZP schools in this division which we are covering in 3 months. So we will visit each school for 3-4 times in year.
As a Divisional Commissioner Konkan, what challenges do you face?
We are planning to develop Konkan as tourism place. We are going to select about 50-100 villages from each district based on their specialty and will develop them as tourism place. So people can also get direct or indirect employment. And the most important project we have taken is Conservation, Reservation and Development of Raigad fort, which was capital of Swarajya at the time of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. We have prepared a plan of Rs. 500 crores. Hon. CM Devendra Fadanvisji took it as priority and he sanctioned this project. Tourism department, Archeology department and other departments are helping us in this project. These are the challenges in front of us now.
Tell us about Jalyukt Shivar Yojana?
As secretary of Water Conservation I have implemented, Jalyukt Shivar yojana which is one of the Flagship project of Government of Maharashtra. Here we have selected 5000 drought affected villages. Hon. CM is taking personal interest in this project. I am also thankful to Mrs. Pankaja Mundhe and State Minister Mr. Vijay Shivtare for their valuable inputs in project. In coming year these 5000 villages will be self-sufficient in water.
You were among few selected for National training Program for mid- career how does it feel?
It is very good initiative taken by Government of India where officers from different regions could meet and share their experience in field, learn new activities and project which they could implement in their project later. I feel this is more required program for senior IAS officer.
What are your expectation from CM, Devendra Fadanvis and PM Narendra Modi?
I am thankful to Hon. CM that he is taking initiative in Jalyukt Shivar program. He has visited all drought affected districts to observe how the project is shaping up. Hon. PM also appreciated this program by stating this as a solution for drought condition.
Who is your role model?
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj and Mahatma Phule are my role models for the tremendous and inspiring work they have done.
How do you spend your leisure time?
I enjoy my job. I always think about new ideas and an activity to be applicable for region and discuss it with collogues. And once I see the smile on face of common man due to my work that gives me unimaginable satisfaction.
What message you would like to give to students who aspire to become an IAS or IPS officer?
Working in government is most challenging job but the kind of satisfaction you get here is out of the world. It is the paid social work. So I appeal to new generation to accept this challenge and make changes in the lives of people.
What message you would like to spread through India Unbound for society and your department?
For department I want to tell that, we have to take initiative and go to people, understand their problems, and take them along with us while implementation of projects, so it would be more effective and efficient. I request all the readers to get involve in implementations by government, and give your suggestions to see they are being implemented. There is no substitute for hard work, so do hard work and with your commitments you are definitely going to succeed.