Bhubaneswar: They are fearless, dynamic and hardworking. Women of Odisha have created a mark for themselves and inspired younger generations with their passion and drive to work for the welfare of people. On International Women’s Day, here’s a list of the firsts among woman bureaucrats from Odisha:
Chandramani Narayan Swami
First woman collector of Odisha
This Odisha-cadre IAS office hailed from Kerala. She began her career in September 1964 as an Assistant Collector in Puri district. She served in several key posts during her tenure in the Odisha government. She was Additional District Magistrate in Ganjam and Kalahandi Collector. Swami served in the Central Vigilance Commission for six years on deputation.
A well-known litterateur too, she has penned several poems, short stories and novels and also translated several poems, short stories and novels into English.
Swami took voluntary retirement from service in 1994. A devotee of Lord Jagannath, Swami had made a will to donate her property to Lord Jagannath in Puri after her death. She passed away at the age of 81 in October 2020.
Soumya Mishra, First IPS Officer from Odisha
The 1994-batch IPS officer, Soumya is currently serving as Additional DG, Fire Services and Home Guards.
Born in Cuttack, Mishra has done her PhD in Sociology and Master’s in Police Management. Prior to her current assignment in Odisha, she was posted in the Crime Investigation Department of the Telangana Police in Hyderabad.
Roopa Mishra, First Odisha woman to top All India Civil Services Examination
Roopa Mishra, the name has brought pride for Odisha. Roopa not only cleared but topped the civil service exam in her maiden attempt in 2004. She has shouldered several important responsibilities in her career. She started as the sub-collector of Khurda district; deputy secretary, Home department and served as collector of Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Khurda districts. She was the founder managing director of Odisha State Medical Corporation; state mission director of National Health Mission; managing director of Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency and special secretary, panchayat raj department.
She is currently posted as Joint Secretary and Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission, Urban, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, New Delhi.
Amrita Dash, First Woman IPS Officer in Odisha Cadre
The 2006-batch IPS officer has had challenging postings in her career, including Naxal-hit district. She is presently posted as counsellor at High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur. In Odisha, she was SP Deogarh and Balasore, SP Vigilance and DCP headquarters at Bhubaneswar-Cuttack.
She was sent on Central deputation in 2016 where she worked as Assistant Director at National Police Academy, Hyderabad and Deputy Director, Intelligence Bureau.
