IAS Shirsat Kapil raises hopes of Champaran denizens’

Gandhi’s land Champaran are under the complete grip of squatters, Motijheel needs to be beautified – as it has been citizens‘ long cherished dreams 

SAGAR SURAJ| BNM

District Magistrate of East Champaran Shirsat Kapil Ashok joined in Motihari on Friday raising aspirations of over 60 lakhs souls of this bordering district located adjacent to Indo-Nepal border. Shirsat – a 2011 batch IAS has all the desirable qualities that are found rare in current times bureaucrats. Known to play an active role in identifying genuine development needs of the people in the district, he won all the trust over people and his seniors wherever he was posted.

Having literary background, Shirsat gave a wonderful lift to the art and culture in Madhubani district, from where he was shifted to Motihari. In college time, his couplets in Marathi language drew much appreciations among his colleagues and teachers.

A vivid sportsman, who dared to join marathon, a cricketer and football player, he hails Koregaon village under Satara district in Maharastra. perfecting his 10+2 from a college in Satara, he completed his B.Tech in agriculture from Rahuri based MPKV university in Maharashtra. He also completed his master degree from Indian agriculture research institute, Delhi.

While discharging his duty as field officer in an agriculture bank, he opted for civil services examination to fulfill his childhood dreams. Out of his total span of his service, he spend most of his stint in north India and in the state of melancholy, he hark back to the philosophies of father of nation Mahatma Gandhi- his ideal since his child hood.

A soft spoken and peace loving Shirsat has drawn media attentions on many occasions when he was spotted taking meals with common farmers and people having impoverished background in Madhubani district.

Mr Ashok is elated as he was posted at the soil of Gandhi. Champaran is considered as “Karambhumi” of Mahatma Gandhi, who launched the first disobedience movement from this very soil against then British rulers. The movement later on enveloped the whole nation.

On Friday-the day he joined the office in Motihari paid tribute to Baba Bhim Rao Ambedkar and garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi near Gandhi Maidan. Then he had brief interactions with top officials and media persons.

Talking with media person, he said he is for the people of this district. People welfare schemes and other chore issues of this district have to be addressed in priorities basis. Responding a question on Motijheel encroachment, he said he has yet to get all feed backs from our officials. Tough challenges before him however are handling with stubborn encroachers on Motijheel- the life line of the city and shrieking roads causing day to day traffic snarl up.

For last 25 years, almost all district Magistrates assured locals to remove squatters from Motijheel and main thoroughfares to streamline the traffic but problems remained royal challenge for all.