Happy Women’s Day!!

Happy Women’s Day!!

I generally avoid writing on any oneofficer and his or her achievements in the field they work. It looks very ‘paid’. But the occasion of 8th March i.e. International Women’s Day couldn’t be missed. I thought it wouldn’t be fair on my part if I did not highlight some of outstanding work of this lady officer on this day. We have some great minds in bureaucracy in the likes Medha Gadgil, Malini Shankar, Manisha Mhaiskar, Ashwini Joshi, Ashwini Bhide, Mokshada Patil, Nidhi Choudhari etc…working for our state day in & day out; but now this league is joined by another firebrand lady officer. Currently she is handling the most prestigious Shirdi Sansthan and doing a brilliant job too. IAS Rubal Agarwal  is currently is working as the CEO of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust. In the month of November last year had visited Shirdi and met the affable Rubal ji, as she is popularly known in her circles, but chose the date of writing on her nearly after 4 months as thought it would be the perfect occasion to describe her achievements and celebrate Women’s Day perfectly. Coincidentally, Rubal Agarwal tomorrow i.e.  on the 9th of March complete’s exactly a year at her current post. Now on too some of her achievements….

When Rubal Agarwal resumed her job on the 9th March, not many know this, but she is the first ever WOMEN CEO to be appointed at the Shirdi Sanasthan.  Immediately within the month of her joining, a High Power Committee (HPC) led by CM Devendra Fadnavis sanctioned Rs. 3023 crores for the Cenetary Year Celebrations. For devotees, there are new arrangements made such as New Darshan queue under A/C plus all facilities under one roof. This proposal was finally approved by the Law & Judiciary department on the 16th February 2018. Then Rs. 112 crore project DPR is ready and tender process for the same has been initiated. On the 7th February 2018 the same L&J department approved the New Water Supply scheme from the Nilwande Dam for Sansthan worth Rs. 260 crore. For the same tender process has been initiated too…

If world is moving towards the digital age, how could our Shirdi Sansthan be left behind? The CEO took drastic & quick steps towards revamping of the old website and introducing devotee oriented mobile App launching for all types of bookings and information. 

One of the giant steps Agarwal initiated was the Paduka Yatra all across India. The devotees from Goa, Pondicherry, Delhi Surat Ahmedabad & all Vidharbha districts were able to experience this. A record number of 2 crore devotees visited Shirdi in 2017 and it being a Cenetary Year Shirdi Sansthan is equipped to welcome more than 3.5 crore devotees. Blood donation camps, Free Jaipur Foot camp, Free Medical camps are part of the Sanasthan every now & then.  Being the fire brand lady and lot of monies to be exchanged via tendering process, Rubal has kept an eye of a vigilante too…The entire focus on procedures of procurement, requirement and work culture of Sansthan remains her top most agenda. 

It was an event in the history of Sansthan when on 1st October 2017 Hon’ble President of India innnaugrated the Cenetary Year and hosted the Cenetary Flag in Lendi baugh. Hon’ble Vice President of India inaugurated the second International Sai Submit in 23rd December 2017. In middle of all the works happening, just imagine the pressure these people along with the police department to host so many VVIP’s.

I have personally seen the construction of Tensile Fabric Sheet big mandap for Cultural & Social Programmes & Bhajan Sandhya. This has a capacity of occupying more than 1500 people at one time. Being the cenetary year, every corner of the Mandir is clean, neat & renovated. For devotee’s there is free prasad, free medical facility, free tea-coffee for senior citizens and arrangement for special & free darshan for the physically challenged. Also those intending to flex some muscle, there is a free gym in the gardens. Then there are 3D diaries, & New year Calendars with Sai Charitra avaibale in more than 20 languages. 

It is not only the Mandir or Sastha that has caught the eye of Agarwal. She has extended support to the Nagar Panchyatas too wherein the Amrut Water Supply Scheme will distribute Rs. 6.58 crore for cleaning of Shirdi Nagar Panchayat area. The proposal for the same has been sent to give Rs. 35 lakhs per month and BVG group has been given the responsibility for Shirdi Cleanliness Project. 

Rs. 55 crore Medicine Tender is finalised for people living below poverty line and needy patients. Medical facility is free of cost at the Sainath Hospital. There is focus on new machinery instalment. The same has been put under tender have been invited for installations of 220 machines of Saibaba & Sainath Hospital worth Rs. 30 crore. The Sansthan released fund for Shirdi Airport and help in inauguration of the same on the 1st October. Then there is Smart Shirdi Project. They are working very closely with the IT department for installation of CCTV’s for security & surveillance. Sai Shrusti Project which is very prestigious will be done on the (Built Operate Transfer) BOT basis. Also on the same basis there is SAi Virtual Reality Show is ready and ready to be implemented. Immersity Infotect Pvt Ltd. from Mumbai will be the agency incharge.

A project has been initiated for renovation of the 500 room Bhaktniwas for Rs. 18 crore. New Laddu & Bundi Processing unit of Rs. 15 crore and renovation of Sai Prasadalaya are on the way. Then there is New education Complex proposed for Rs. 120 crore and latest a New Senior College of Arts, Science & Commerce has been given the nod by the Government. For the New Education Complex 28 Hectare Land has been identified and Zone has been changed. 

The above achievements, or whatever Rubal Agarwal could do in one year, speaks for itself; and yes it wasn’t a cake walk. But today we are celebrating Women’s Day; the opposition from the Trust & their foul play some other time in my own style. But for now, Hats Off to Rubal Agarwal, her husband Prakher, in particular, who is working at Pune and does not get to see his family for weeks together if time and distance does not permit. This is the only negative thing I could sense whilst talking to Rubal ji. After all, after the hard day’s work if you don’t have your family to get back to, it alls seems to be a bit futile… May our state get more of such able officers!!

Wishing one & all A very Happy Women’s Day!!

Vikrant Joshi 

PS: The  picture of Mine with Rubal ji is 4 months ago, hence please do not talk about weight gain when any of you meet me, I know I’m young & need to do something but friends, chill!!..Have a good one!!