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The pride of Pathardi
Within a few months of taking charge as chief officer of Pathardi town, Alice Pastakia has earned the confidence of the citizens
"Bai tumhi paach varshé rahaach (Madam, you must stay for five years)," was the title of an editorial written in the Marathi daily Pathardi Bhumika of February 24, 2003. The editorial was all praise for Alice Pastakia who as chief officer of the small town of Pathardi (60 km from Ahmednagar in Maharashtra) had won the confidence and respect of the populace within a few months.
"What a municipal commissioner is to a city, a chief officer is to a town," explains the 28-year-old who was assigned her first posting on December 2, 2002 after she passed the Maharashtra Administrative Service (MAS) examination. Reportedly the first and only Parsi to have joined the ranks of MAS officers, Alice takes her responsibilities very seriously irrespective of the fortnightly rumors floated "Baichi badli zaali (Madam has been transferred)" by those with vested interests who seek to oust her. There are 20 councillors including the president (equivalent to a mayor) who control the political reigns. "In May last, a couple of councillors tried to get me transferred," says the chief officer. Shortly thereafter "the rest of the councillors came to Mantralaya (the headquarters in Bombay) to get that order cancelled." Actually she is unfazed by all such developments realizing that a routine transfer is due every two years.
Pleased with the trust the majority has reposed in her Alice explains, "If you know what you are doing is right and convince the public, then they stand up for you. People realize that things are going wrong. But who's going to bell the cat? Till then you have to be there for them. You don't have to be a martyr for them." With a staff of 150 working for her, Alice's first priority was to win their trust. She would sit with them from morning to evening "to give them the confidence that I'm there for you. No one can throw you out (apparently a regular threat given to government employees)." With the necessary patience and tact she urged them: "Think for yourself if you are doing the right or wrong thing."
Within a fortnight of assuming office, Alice launched her anti-encroachment campaign. According to the law, "if any councillor is involved in illegal encroachment he/she is liable to lose the chair," she explains how she felt duty bound to report against the activities of two of them.
Recently an overbearing councillor barged into her office and tried to intimidate her but to her relief her staff physically dragged him out of the office confessing later that never in the past had they felt obliged to undertake such a step. Along with the discomforts come certain perks like a government vehicle at her disposal. Actually she is entitled to personal security too which she has declined because Alice prefers to keep the lines of communication open between herself and the nearly 24,000 residents of the town.
"What a municipal commissioner is to a city, a chief officer is to a town," explains the 28-year-old who was assigned her first posting on December 2, 2002 after she passed the Maharashtra Administrative Service (MAS) examination. Reportedly the first and only Parsi to have joined the ranks of MAS officers, Alice takes her responsibilities very seriously irrespective of the fortnightly rumors floated "Baichi badli zaali (Madam has been transferred)" by those with vested interests who seek to oust her. There are 20 councillors including the president (equivalent to a mayor) who control the political reigns. "In May last, a couple of councillors tried to get me transferred," says the chief officer. Shortly thereafter "the rest of the councillors came to Mantralaya (the headquarters in Bombay) to get that order cancelled." Actually she is unfazed by all such developments realizing that a routine transfer is due every two years.
Pleased with the trust the majority has reposed in her Alice explains, "If you know what you are doing is right and convince the public, then they stand up for you. People realize that things are going wrong. But who's going to bell the cat? Till then you have to be there for them. You don't have to be a martyr for them." With a staff of 150 working for her, Alice's first priority was to win their trust. She would sit with them from morning to evening "to give them the confidence that I'm there for you. No one can throw you out (apparently a regular threat given to government employees)." With the necessary patience and tact she urged them: "Think for yourself if you are doing the right or wrong thing."
Within a fortnight of assuming office, Alice launched her anti-encroachment campaign. According to the law, "if any councillor is involved in illegal encroachment he/she is liable to lose the chair," she explains how she felt duty bound to report against the activities of two of them.
Recently an overbearing councillor barged into her office and tried to intimidate her but to her relief her staff physically dragged him out of the office confessing later that never in the past had they felt obliged to undertake such a step. Along with the discomforts come certain perks like a government vehicle at her disposal. Actually she is entitled to personal security too which she has declined because Alice prefers to keep the lines of communication open between herself and the nearly 24,000 residents of the town.
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