Himachal: Mandi topper Alisha becomes Deputy Commissioner for a day

Alisha Thakur, a Class X student from Kotli who secured the first position in Mandi district with an outstanding 99.57 per cent in the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education examinations, was given the opportunity to serve as a Deputy Commissioner (DC) for a day.

The initiative was launched by Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan to encourage and inspire talented students by providing them with firsthand exposure to the functioning of the administration.

As the “Deputy Commissioner for a Day”, Alisha actively participated in several administrative activities throughout the day. She attended public grievance sessions at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, observed the functioning of government departments and gained valuable insights into administrative procedures and governance. She also took part in the oath-taking ceremony of panchayat representatives.

In addition, Alisha participated in the statewide mega mock drill, where she reviewed disaster management and relief preparedness measures. The exercise allowed her to understand the roles and responsibilities of different departments and emergency response agencies during crisis situations.

Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh and Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan honoured her with a traditional Himachali cap and shawl.

The Deputy Commissioner said the programme aimed to familiarise young students with the functioning of governance and administration. He noted that a similar opportunity was extended to the district’s board topper last year as well. He sad students in Himachal Pradesh, particularly in Mandi district, were exceptionally talented and only need proper exposure and guidance to achieve greater success.

Expressing her happiness, Alisha described the experience as a dream come true. She said the opportunity had motivated her to work harder toward achieving her goal of becoming an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.

A student of Oxford School, Kotli, she stated that observing administrative work closely would greatly benefit her future aspirations.

Alisha also encouraged fellow students to assess their strengths and weaknesses honestly and remain dedicated to continuous hard work. Her mother and teacher, who accompanied her during the event, said the honour would inspire many other students to strive for excellence.