Just days after she she received her post posting as Bhilwara SDM, the 2016 UPSC Exams topper Tina Dabi Khan wasted no time in getting on with her business. With assembly elections around, the affable IAS officer has taken it upon herlsef to increase awareness among the district’s potential voters to increase their participation in the electoral exercise.
Rajasthan goes to polls on 7 December along with Telangana, while of counting of votes will take place on 11 December.
Photo: Instagrammed by Tina DabiTina had received the order informing her about her posting Bhilwara SDM on 26 October, when she was on deputation as an Assistant Secretary in the central government’s Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Far from being overwhelmed by her new role as the SDM, Tina on Saturday announced that she had swung into action in preparation for the upcoming polls. Taking to Instagram, the Rajasthan cadre IAS topper posted a couple of photos of her activities as part of the Systematic Voter’s Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme.
While posting the photos, Tina wrote, “Joined as SDM Bhilwara and Returning Officer for Bhilwara Assembly Constituency last Monday. Here’s a click of SVEEP activities being held to spread voters’ awareness for the incoming Rajasthan Assembly Elections.”
In the photos, Tina is joined by another woman while lighting diyas or lamps around some flower patterns on the floor. It’s not clear whether this was also to mark the festival of lights, Diwali.
However, her photos once again evoked overwhelming reactions from her fans as they commented in hordes. While some wished her on the occasion of Diwali, others continued to welcome her in Bhilwara. One fan wrote, “Welcome..May your stay in Bhilwara be a memorable and pleasant one.” Another fan, seemingly smitten by her beauty, wrote, “Most prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.” “Congratulations ma’am, Ajmer misses you very much, you’re our bundle of joy,” commented another fan.
SVEEP, which started from Bihar, is a landmark programme of the Election Commission of India. The programme seeks to inform, educate, motivate and facilitate voters and in turn make Indian democracy more participative. Since being introduced, this has reportedly contributed to active voter participation in elections.
In September, while speaking at a TEDx event at Delhi’s Hnasraj College, Tina Dabi Khan had bared her soul explaining the pain and disgust she went through in the immediate aftermath of securing the number one rank in the prestigious UPSC exams in 2016. Tina had revealed the emotional turmoil she was subjected to by online trolls for her Dalit background.