New Burhanpur Collector Gives Personal Number to Man With Disability

“कलेक्टर हो तो ऐसा!” Burhanpur Collector IAS Vivek Kumar became the subject of discussion after showing sensitivity during his very first public hearing in Madhya Pradesh. He gave his personal mobile number to a young man with a disability to help address his problem and respectfully seated an elderly woman before listening to her complaint.

The Collector’s simple and sensitive conduct presented a human side of the administration. His actions also drew attention to the importance of treating people with respect while hearing their problems.

Sitting in an administrative chair and issuing orders is one thing. Treating the difficulties of ordinary people as one’s own and working towards their solution is another. During his first public hearing in Burhanpur, newly appointed Collector IAS Vivek Kumar displayed this approach through his interaction with the complainants who came to him.

One of the incidents involved a young man with a disability who had reached the public hearing with his problem. The Collector took the matter seriously and gave the young man his personal mobile number for its resolution.

This initiative gave the young man hope that he would receive help. It also gave him confidence that his problem would be heard. The act of sharing a personal contact number became one of the notable moments of the Collector’s first public hearing.

An elderly woman also arrived at the public hearing with her complaint. Collector Vivek Kumar asked her to sit respectfully and then listened patiently to her problem.

His conduct showed that administrative responsibility is not limited to files and orders. It also includes human sensitivity and respect for ordinary citizens. The way he interacted with the elderly woman reflected this approach during the hearing.

People usually reach public hearings with their problems and appear before officials. At times, long procedures and formalities mean that people have to wait for a solution. In Burhanpur, however, the newly appointed Collector’s way of dealing with complainants appeared different.

Along with hearing their complaints, Vivek Kumar showed respect and sensitivity towards the people who had come before him. The two incidents from his first public hearing presented a positive picture of the relationship between the administration and the public.

Giving the young man with a disability the assurance of personal contact and listening to the elderly woman’s problem with respect sent a message about the role of an officer. An officer’s identity is shaped not only by the position he holds, but also by the way he behaves with ordinary citizens.

The initiative by Collector Vivek Kumar is being discussed in Burhanpur because access to the administration and the ability to have one’s concerns heard are extremely important for the common person.

People now hope that the sensitivity displayed during the public hearing will also be reflected in the timely and effective resolution of problems. His first public hearing has therefore drawn attention to both the process of hearing complaints and the manner in which citizens are treated during that process.