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Poor But Spirited in Karimnagar: Field Notes of a Civil Servant
After six decades of policy-making and planning that appear perfect on paper, vast pockets of poverty persist across the country, accompanied by low human development indices. In Poor but Spirited in Karimnagar, Sumita Dawra recounts her experiences as collector in the district of Karimnagar in Andhra Pradesh, and grapples with the question of why even with crores of rupees of government funding, well-meaning implementing agencies and constructive action, this wide gap between intention and results continues.
The stories cover diverse populations, from child labour to cotton farmers, from coal miners to malnourished power loom weavers. They traverse the thick Naxal-infested forests, course along the Godavari, and meander through the ‘multiple urban worlds’ of Ramagundem and the dry upland areas of Sircilla, examining the key issues that need to be addressed.
Each chapter, divided into three sections – identifying the problem, providing the context, and offering the solution, along with a useful statistical guide that provides a quick overview – looks at the key points of lacunae in service delivery in the concerned areas and provides a starting point for a more effective engagement in the tackling of the problems. Based on successful models of governance within the country and elsewhere, this book from a seasoned bureaucrat offers a fresh, contemporary perspective on administration and governance.
The stories cover diverse populations, from child labour to cotton farmers, from coal miners to malnourished power loom weavers. They traverse the thick Naxal-infested forests, course along the Godavari, and meander through the ‘multiple urban worlds’ of Ramagundem and the dry upland areas of Sircilla, examining the key issues that need to be addressed.
Each chapter, divided into three sections – identifying the problem, providing the context, and offering the solution, along with a useful statistical guide that provides a quick overview – looks at the key points of lacunae in service delivery in the concerned areas and provides a starting point for a more effective engagement in the tackling of the problems. Based on successful models of governance within the country and elsewhere, this book from a seasoned bureaucrat offers a fresh, contemporary perspective on administration and governance.
- GenresIndiaNonfiction
292 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
28 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 13, 2021
This is a recommended read for civil service aspirants for a reason: Very well structured book with succinct examples from field visits, immersive narration providing her experiences and thoughts through her stints to evolving sustainable solutions on a long run basis along with showcasing exemplary models of public administration from different parts of India and the world.
Recommended read for civil service aspirants on understanding nuances of work on field and the need to be receptive to change and challenges to ensure sustainable development to our citizens, society and our country. :)
Recommended read for civil service aspirants on understanding nuances of work on field and the need to be receptive to change and challenges to ensure sustainable development to our citizens, society and our country. :)
May 10, 2021
Book gives various developmental approaches. Moral of the story is that top-down approaches wont work and decentralized approaches with community participation work well
February 7, 2017
This book is more of a journal by the author where she describes her experiences on the field as a civil servant. She talks about the issues that plague a diverse country like India and gives examples and anecdotes from her work in Karimnagar, AP.
Apart from talking about her issues, the author puts forth her perspective in resolving those issues which in my opinion are sometimes more utopic than practical.
I really found the chapter on Water supply and Sanitation very interesting and knowledgeable. The chapter on farmer suicides also helped me in a way to understand the issue deeper than what is reported in commercial media.
Overall it is a really good book for aspiring civil servants as well as those who want to understand the perennial rather "wicked" issues that plague our country.
Apart from talking about her issues, the author puts forth her perspective in resolving those issues which in my opinion are sometimes more utopic than practical.
I really found the chapter on Water supply and Sanitation very interesting and knowledgeable. The chapter on farmer suicides also helped me in a way to understand the issue deeper than what is reported in commercial media.
Overall it is a really good book for aspiring civil servants as well as those who want to understand the perennial rather "wicked" issues that plague our country.
July 17, 2022
A – Urban
1. Urban bodies – The lack of autonomy and accountability in the ULBs doesn’t allow these bodies to provide effective results in the field. The examples of 3 different towns in Ramnagudem were provided, varying from organised and disciplined settlements to jumbled and chaos environment. The inside corruption and red tapism were explained and sundry solutions to address the issues have been well brought out.
B – Rural
1. Agriculture – The ground issues in agriculture was lucidly stated. Credit, cold chain and marketing issues are making the lives of small and marginal farmers miserable. It discussed about alternative solutions in countries such as Thailand. The loopholes and lacunae in the current policies and the need to redress and reform them to provide an effortless and dynamic environment for the farmers were discussed.
1. Urban bodies – The lack of autonomy and accountability in the ULBs doesn’t allow these bodies to provide effective results in the field. The examples of 3 different towns in Ramnagudem were provided, varying from organised and disciplined settlements to jumbled and chaos environment. The inside corruption and red tapism were explained and sundry solutions to address the issues have been well brought out.
B – Rural
1. Agriculture – The ground issues in agriculture was lucidly stated. Credit, cold chain and marketing issues are making the lives of small and marginal farmers miserable. It discussed about alternative solutions in countries such as Thailand. The loopholes and lacunae in the current policies and the need to redress and reform them to provide an effortless and dynamic environment for the farmers were discussed.
April 18, 2019
In this book, Sumita Dawra recounts her experiences as district collector in Karimnagar, Andhra Pradesh. This is a good but underwhelming read because of the theme it explores. The theme of governance has been seen an eye of administrator but ignores the other forces interrupting the service delivery. She has again proved the opinion that mostly good interventions are mostly person driven and loses the momentum with transfer of the person. The difficulty of finding solutions of wicked issues with examples of several good models makes the book one time read.
May 23, 2021
Written by a Beaurocrat herself, this book is all about her experience in the district Karimnagar where she was posted. This book tells us in detail about the working of our system and the factors which play important role in the implementation of policies.
If you are interested in reading about the above discussed topic then you can pick this book.
If you are interested in reading about the above discussed topic then you can pick this book.
January 9, 2025
A good book to know about the life of a Civil Service Officer in rural India, showcases the challanges and harships faced. Also, the beauty and charms of the job.
April 25, 2016
Awesome book
Hailing from an area near by Karimnagar, I could relate to the problems she faced, like those of mavoists and all.
For a person with a grassroot social work experience, each and every experience of her's is relatable, the community inclusiveness, achieving 100% literacy rate, tackling such problems in an area like karimnagar is not a piece of cake.
Must read for civils aspirants as well.
Hailing from an area near by Karimnagar, I could relate to the problems she faced, like those of mavoists and all.
For a person with a grassroot social work experience, each and every experience of her's is relatable, the community inclusiveness, achieving 100% literacy rate, tackling such problems in an area like karimnagar is not a piece of cake.
Must read for civils aspirants as well.
April 11, 2015
A vehement clamour for the community-oriented decentralisation of governance(joined-up governance) to achieve effective and efficient service delivery and for better outcomes of developmental interventions.
August 14, 2013
makes one think of possibilities. wicked issues can't be solved without collaboration amongst various stake holders.
April 25, 2016
Every aspiring bureaucrat/social worker should read it !
April 2, 2017
This book is awesome and it would be so great if all ias officers who serve as DM/collector keep journal like this. We are often told Indians have no sense of history and we vehemently oppose it but we prove it again and again by our behaviour
few points
1. as against some other books by IAS officers, there is no self pity, self fleggation in book
2. karimnagar is large district - even a hard working DC is not able to visit all areas
3. her solution to get a doctor at a rural centre was great
4. efforts to identify out of school kids and put them in school were commendable
5. Chandrababu Naidu ran some very good pro public initiatives
few points
1. as against some other books by IAS officers, there is no self pity, self fleggation in book
2. karimnagar is large district - even a hard working DC is not able to visit all areas
3. her solution to get a doctor at a rural centre was great
4. efforts to identify out of school kids and put them in school were commendable
5. Chandrababu Naidu ran some very good pro public initiatives
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews