Suhail Rather
Bandipora, 28 March: Meet Mehraj Wani, who cracked Kashmir administrative Service exam at the age of 23 and became the Youngest KAS Officer of Kashmir.
Hailing from Shutloo Rafiabad area of Baramulla district, Mehraj Wani set an example in the entire erstwhile state and become role model for younger generation-influenced and inspire many to opt civil services.
Owing to his competence and hard work, today he has earned the title, “Crisis Manager” in power corridors-Give him any tough task, he will manage it with ease, cool and calm.
When Wani was transferred to Bandipora as project Manager Industries & Commerce in December 2019, COVID was making entry into the UT and since then he performed more ‘additional’ duties than his own. From “Project Manager Industries”, he became the “Crisis Manager” during Pandemic. During lockdown and subsequent fight against COVID, Wani has been on front performing every duty with dedication. From Distribution of Ration to arrangements at Quarantine Centres and from Testing to Covid Vaccination now, Wani has performed his duties religiously.
As the covid cases started surging in Bandipora district and became first red zone district of J&k, it was time when Mehraj Wani was given charge of District Nodal officer COVID. As In-charge COVID, he was dealing with Contact tracing, constitution of village wise surveillance committees, referral of symptomatic persons, Consolidation of home quarantine persons Information, managing 24*7 control room.
He also headed district-level Committee of NGO co-ordination cell for effectively coordinating the NGO’s interested in providing their support in campaign against spread of coronovirus. He started home delivery of Essential items and roped Kash- Tel wherein people could book online orders and items were delivered at their doorsteps.
Wani ensured non-local Labourers were provided free ration and medical facilities after every fort night. Under his guidance a website “www.covidbandipora.in” was designed for the people coming from other states, for self-report.
While fighting a war against pandemic, Mehraj never forgot his own assigned duties of Industries. As projects Manager in DIC, he achieved feat of taking more than 1400 Kanals of land for Industrial estate in Bandipora, it is pertinent to mention here Bandipora was only district without Industrial estate.
For his excellent work skills he was made Nodal officer skill development and first time skill development plan was formulated and courses have been started.
As nodal officer election, he was given important responsibility of man power management wherein he mobilized more than 4000 employees in all phases of election.
When Sehat Scheme was launched on 26 December 2020 he was given the task to enroll the citizens and in record time till date more than 2.4 lac beneficiaries have been registered in the district.
Besides this, he has also guided thousands of students for different competitive exams and is actively using social media to help the students.
Wani said it is a team effort and able guidance of district administration headed by District Development Commissioner Bandipora. “Great things are rarely achieved by just one person they are accomplished by a group of people. Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much,” he said.
He said, I believe in Brian Tracy quote, “leaders set high standards. Refuse to
Tolerate mediocrity or poor performance”.
