Unwanted girl child to IAS: Maharashtra officer recalls journey of fighting against all odds

From being an unwanted girl child to becoming an IAS officer, Sanjita Mohapatra’s story has been about overcoming obstacles with sheer grit and determination.

Mohapatra is the chief executive officer of Amravati Zilla Parishad in Maharashtra, who has focused on improving education and health facilities in the district.

During a press conference a few days ago, Mohapatra said she was born into a poor family in Rourkela, Odisha, and her birth had disappointed her mother, who yearned for a male child after her elder sister.

The 34-year-old officer said her family had nearly abandoned her, but it was on the insistence of her elder sister that her parents kept her.

Mohapatra’s childhood was fraught with obstacles due to her family’s poor financial condition.

She had to rely on social organisations, teachers and scholarships to complete her education.

After earning a degree in mechanical engineering, she was appointed as an assistant manager with the Steel Authority of India, and during this period, she helped her parents build a house in their village.

She said her parents were now proud of her achievements.

Mohapatra aspired to become an IAS officer right from her childhood, and with the motivation and support of her husband, she cleared the UPSC examination on her fifth attempt in 2019.

As the CEO of Amravati Zilla Parishad, Mohapatra said she wishes to empower women in self-help groups and improve the quality of education in Zilla Parishad schools.

She has focussed on creating a niche market for products from SHGs, right from their branding and packaging to their launch.