The anchor asked a question on Kannada language Udaya TV.... Which country in the world was the first to give women the right to vote? New Zealand, Without any hesitation the answer came confidently from an agile nine-year-old boy studying in class five who is watching TV. His father, who works as an assistant manager in Karnataka Grameena Bank, approached and praised the boy.
The boy was surprised about his father, who had scolded him for being naughty a few minutes earlier, suddenly admiring. The boy firmly instilled in his mind that 'if I study well, no one will say anything' and everyone will look at me with love.
The boy thought that he could be great if he read academic books besides general knowledge books, and he would persistently ask everyone with those thoughts, no matter whom he met or talked to. "Which exam has more GK in the country?" "I will write that exam". Everyone would say IAS. In addition to this, a young man named Jagadish from his hometown secured 58th rank in IAS in 2005. This incident also deeply impressed him.
No matter how difficult it was, he started reading books with the aim of becoming an IAS. Taking notes and memorizing what he read became his daily routine.
He completed his education up to class 10 in the Government High School in Koratgiri village, Taluk Headquarters, Tammakuru district, Karnataka. He studied History, Economics, Political Science and Sociology in Intermediate at Siddha Arts College, Tamakuru district. He obtained his BBA and MBA degrees from RV College, Bangalore University, Bangalore.
He took coaching for IAS in Bangalore and studied planfully and systematically, and in his second attempt, he secured the All India 36th rank in the 2014 Civil Services Examination with Kannada Literature as a subject. Finally the young boy cracked his target and reached the destination.
Everyone dreams, but there are only a few who work hard to make that dream come true. That boy who was able to make his childhood dream come true is the current Krishna District Collector Dasalukunte Krishnaiah Setty Balaji(D K Balaji).
DK Balaji, a 2015-batch IAS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, worked as trainee collector in Krishna district. Balaji has held key positions including Joint Collector of Tirupati District, Commissioner of Kurnool Municipal Corporation, and Project Officer at the Integrated Tribal Development Agency in Visakhapatnam District. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Dr YSR Aarogyasri Healthcare Trust.
Notably, he has been instrumental in various initiatives such as assisting 25,000 families in obtaining land titles, improving the Swachh Survekshan ranking of Kurnool City, successfully managing the COVID-19 pandemic in Kurnool city, and contributing to the development of seven theme parks in the region.
His first posting as a District Collector was in Krishna district. DK says he is lucky to have come to Krishna district as the District Collector after his first IAS training. Balaji said that as long as he was the Krishna district collector, he was determined to develop Machilipatnam as well as all the areas in Krishna district.
Balaji, who had a good understanding of Machilipatnam city and Krishna district, was able to convince and impress Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu at a meeting of district collectors, sanctioning a grant of Rs 13 crore for the city drainage system, in addition to the establishment of a Pollution Control Board and the development of rural areas.
Even though his mother tongue is Kannada, his style is to convey what he wants to say clearly in Telugu in a video format that is understandable to the people of the district. His unique personality is that he works with the district administration and makes them work. He is implementing the programs set by the government with the help of ministers and members of the Legislative Assembly, officials and staff in a way that the people appreciate.
As Krishna District Collector in the year 2024, DK Balaji paid special attention to the Yanads who are unable to get government schemes due to lack of Aadhar cards in the Machilipatnam Yanadula Colony and efforts were made to ensure that the Yanads get Aadhar cards in coordination with the Tribal Welfare Department.
In his endeavours the district is working creatively for the betterment of students by introducing an innovative program called "Naku sadhyame" in schools. Balaji has the modesty to leave the Collector's building and celebrate his birthday among the students of the Social Welfare Hostel. He is organising the 3rd Friday of every month, Employee Grievance Day for government employees and efforts are being made to resolve their problems. Now he is implementing no pollution day on every saturday at krishna district collectorate and he, himself riding a cycle to collector office.
The State Election Commission has selected DK Balaji for the Best Electoral Practices Award for his outstanding performance in the conduct of the 2024 general elections as the Krishna District Collector and District Election Officer.
He is an author of a book - "A Practical Approach to Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude," which is popular among civil service aspirants and he is an inspiration to the students as a government school students who are studying in government schools to crack the goals.
Syam Kagita,
Machilipatnam
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