Team News Riveting
New Delhi, June 27
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today praised the efforts of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) official Guruprasad Mohapatra who relentlessly worked for COVID management after getting infected by the contagious virus.
The 1986-batch IAS official from Gujarat cadre succumbed to COVID-19 after battling in a hospital on June 19.
“Friends, you have probably heard the name of Guru Prasad Mohapatra ji, who was the Secretary to the Government of India. Today in “Mann Ki Baat”, I want to speak about him too. Guruprasad ji was diagnosed with Corona, he was admitted in the hospital and yet at the same time was performing his official duties too,” the Prime Minister said.
He toiled day and night to increase the Oxygen producing capacities of the country and to ensure that Oxygen reached far flung areas. On the one hand, the affairs of the court, the pressure of the media, he kept fighting on many fronts simultaneously and did not stop working during his illness, Modi said, adding that even after being told not to, he used to insist on joining the video conferences on oxygen.
“Such was his concern for his countrymen,” Modi said. He kept on making arrangements to deliver oxygen to the people of the country, regardless of himself being on the hospital bed. He added: It is sad for all of us that the country has also lost this KarmaYogi ; Corona has snatched him away from us. There are countless people who have never been discussed. Our tribute to every such person would be that we follow the covid protocol fully, get our vaccinations done.”
The Odisha-born IAS officer, Mohapatra was the youngest son of renowned Odisha litterateur Mohapatra Nilamani Sahoo.
On deputation with the Government of India, Mohapatra had served as Collector in Rajkot-Junagadh. His name had also figured top in the list of next Chief Secretary of Gujarat.
Before taking up the assignment as the DPIIT Secretary in 2019, Mohapatra had served as the Chairman of Airports Authority of India (AAI). During his tenure, he gave new direction to AAI and focussed in the sector of airport infrastructure development in metros as well as tier II and tier III cities that yielded the desired results.
As the Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Government of India, Mohapatra had worked for the promotion of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Public Procurement and Project Exports (Financing & Insurance).
The IAS officer also held the portfolio of Municipal Commissioner in Surat and was involved in the process of converting the textile city into one of the models of urban governance with its thrust on solid waste management, quality infrastructure and sound financial management.
As Municipal Commissioner of Ahmedabad, Mohapatra was instrumental in developing several urban projects like the Sabarmati riverfront, BRTS, Kankaria lakefront and heritage promotion. He also served as the Transport Commissioner and Commissioner, Commercial Taxes in Gujarat.
