Tell us about your journey in bureaucracy.

It all started because my mother was a superintendent in Ludhiana Jail, Punjab. My mom took me to prison. Ludhiana Jail is the biggest women's jail. I always saw how meticulously my mom handled women related issues in jail. She was the one who inspired me to join bureaucracy. I would like to share an interesting story as well, which still I cherish and is so close to the question which you have asked. A new teacher came to my school and asked me what I will become once I grow up. I said I will become an IAS officer. She was taken aback.  She asked me, “Do you even know what the Indian Administrative Service is?” I said ‘yes’ and she smiled. Two days later an insect entered our classroom. I shouted and sat on the desk. My teacher said: “You want to become an IAS officer and you are scared of cockroaches.” To which I responded: “When I will become an IAS officer, the administration will make sure there aren’t any rodents in the whole district ” .I was always confident that I will join Indian bureaucracy. When I cleared the Civil Services, my school opened a library where they invited me as the chief guest. It was like life coming to a full circle.

It must have been quite a day for you when you heard that you have cracked the UPSC examinations.

Yes, I was in Chandigarh pursuing my Post-Graduation. It was my childhood dream. My father called me up and told me that I have cracked the UPSC. I was in relationship with my husband back then and my father had told me that he will allow me to get married only after I clear the UPSC. So the day the result was announced, it brought two pieces of good news for me: My childhood dream was fulfilled and I also was free to marry my childhood love.

Did you want to go to IIT after 12th?

I had opted for Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in Class XI. I had decided to become an engineer before joining the Civil Services. Like any other parents my parents also wanted me to go to an IIT. The year I appeared in Class XII my mother passed away due to cancer. I couldn’t focus much on my studies. I couldn’t get into the IIT.

I was offered a job in my mom’s organisation on the compassionate ground after graduation. So, I started pursuing Bachelor of Arts (humanities). After BA when I decided to take up that job, my father advised me against doing this. He said: “You don’t need this job on compassionate grounds. Someone who actually needs this job should get this job. Finally, I decided not to take that job.

Recently many news regarding students who fail to get into an IIT or medical college committing suicide, going into depression are making headlines. My life is my message to them. Once while crossing IIT-Madras I stopped the car to tell my seven year old daughter that I couldn’t get into this institute. I wanted her to know that getting into IIT is not the end of this world. To which she replied maybe this is the reason that you are an officer. Sometimes kids give you important life lessons.

Tell us about your training as an IRS officer?

Once I was allotted the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), I and others were sent to Nagpur. It is one of the best academies of the world. In 16 months, we get training on revenue and policy. We have foreign attachments as well. I went to the USA to study tax laws of America. We get training in tax law in India as well as the tax laws of other countries. We are trained on how we can boost the economy. We get on-job training for one and a half months where we learn how the tax system works in India. After which we get our first posting. I was first posted in Delhi as an assistant commissioner Income Tax.

For long, you have been working for menstrual hygiene. Tell us about that.

My friend Priyal Bhardwaj once called me up and asked me if I would like to come with her and join the distribution of sanitary napkins. It was an area of UP where brick kiln workers lived. When Priyal asked them how many of them use sanitary napkins, 70 per cent of them said that they don’t.  I was shocked. When I interacted with them personally and asked the reasons, the answer was their inability to afford these pads. It was an eye opener for me as well as a reality check. Being poor, their first priority was to buy rations. I asked them if they will use sanitary napkins if provided, they said – Yes. We realized that there were two things. They didn’t want to use pads because their family members will scold them as due to meagre income they couldn’t afford this item of luxury as per them and secondly, they couldn’t afford it.

How has your journey been as the pad woman of India?

It was May 28, Menstrual Day. I sent a text in my batch WhatsApp group and asked them to support the initiative. My entire batch supported me either by a message of support or by sending pads or providing monetary support or by organizing a camp in their own native place or place of posting. That boosted my morale. With the help of bureaucrats from across the country, we were able to reach even the remotest areas. We targeted all the containment zones, slum areas. The initiative started through Sangini Saheli reached the grassroots and Many other NGOs came forward who were already working in the field of menstrual health. We also helped the people with ration as they had been hit hard by the coronavirus. Even during the Amphan cyclone in West Bengal, we helped the affected women. They weren’t even able to use clothes because all their clothes were wet and their belongings were washed off in cyclone. They had never expected to get pads as a relief material.

Has there been resistance to your initiative?

We faced most resistance from women themselves. They were not ready to use pads, fearing getting scolded from family members. Some of them said that the use of pads will affect their health. We realised that they were ill informed about the use of pads. We started conversation with the families of these women. We involved doctors in this campaign to educate people about menstrual health. My second mother is an Ayurvedic doctor. She also joined the mission. She taught women the importance of pads. My husband Dikshit Passy also talk to men while joining me in almost all my camps.

Any memory which might have disappointed you?

 In Rajasthan people threw away the rations because we kept pads along with the ration packets . However, the attitude of the people has changed now. Many people are now approaching us for pads. This is just a beginning. We have to continue distributing sanitary napkins till each and every woman has access to these pads. My immediate boss, F.R.Meena comes from a tribal community of Rajasthan. He called me up and asked me what I was doing. He told me that 90 per cent of women in his village use clothes rather than sanitary napkin and asked me to organize a camp. Within three days we organized a camp in his village and the entire thing was sponsored by him .

Don’t you think that when it comes to social reforms people have to become a stakeholder, and not just a silent spectator?

 The government makes policies. It is the responsibility of the concerned people in various organisations to educate people about government schemes and policies so that they are benefitted from them. Every educated person can come forward to spread awareness among the people about government schemes and policies meant for them.

Some tips for IAS aspirants.

Believe in yourself. Only person who can help you is you. Spend less time on social media and more with books. Subscribe to a few websites which will inspire you. Have faith in yourself. Only hard work, determination and dedication will help you clear the UPSC exam. Keep your mental health stable!