The Deputy Commissioner of Wokha district, Dr. Manazir Jeelani Samoon will be among the awardees, who will receive the Election Commission of India’s National Awards 2018 for outstanding election-related activities during the elections held in 2018.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio congratulated Samoon for the achievement. “Congratulations Dr. Manazir Jeelani Samoon, IAS @DcWokha #Nagaland who will be conferred with National Awards 2018 for smooth conduct of elections, by the #ElectionCommissionOfIndia, on National Voters’ Day, at Delhi, by the Honourable President of India…” tweeted Rio on his Twitter handle.
An IAS officer of the Nagaland cadre, Samoon will receive his award in the ‘general category’ on the occasion of National Voters’ Day on January 25. The President of India will confer the awards at a ceremony to be hosted at the Manekshaw Centre, Delhi.
source: http://www.morungexpress.com / The Morung Express / Home / by Morung Express News, Dimapur / January 24th, 2019
Under Ansariya’s leadership, Prakasam has become the first district in Andhra Pradesh to establish a vigilance committee on bonded labour.
District Collector A Thameem Ansariya IAS
Nellore :
In the dusty villages and industrial pockets of Prakasam, a quiet revolution is underway. District Collector A Thameem Ansariya has made it her mission to eradicate bonded labour, rescuing the exploited and restoring their dignity. With a rare blend of authority and compassion, she is enforcing the law and transforming lives, proving that governance driven by justice can be truly impactful.
Under Ansariya’s leadership, Prakasam has become the first district in Andhra Pradesh to establish a vigilance committee on bonded labour, setting a precedent in tackling the issue. More than a bureaucratic milestone, the initiative is a lifeline for the voiceless, ensuring legal action against violators and rehabilitation for victims.
Her approach is multifaceted—aggressive rescue operations, strict enforcement, and large-scale awareness campaigns. “Every government stakeholder must take responsibility of this issue. We will ensure strict action against violators to make Prakasam free from bonded labour,” Ansariya said.
Recently, officials rescued two minors trafficked from Madhya Pradesh to an aquaculture unit in Karavadi village near Ongole. Stripped of their wages and phones, they were trapped—until Ansariya intervened. She directed Ongole Revenue Divisional Officer Lakshmi Prasanna to lead the rescue, ensuring the children were issued release certificates and reunited with their families.
In another operation, eight workers were freed after being trapped for eight years in a timber unit, while two others were rescued from a shrimp farm after six months of forced labour. These are not isolated but part of a system Ansariya has built—one that combines surprise inspections, swift rescues, and rehabilitation to dismantle exploitation at its roots.
Ansariya believes that prevention is as crucial as rescue. Between February 10 and 16, her administration launched an awareness campaign that reached over 13,404 people. Posters, rallies, and mobile LED displays carried the message that exploitation has no place in Prakasam. Workshops brought workers, law enforcement, and industries together, fostering accountability and equipping vulnerable communities with the knowledge to resist bonded labour traps. “Awareness is our shield,” she said, underscoring her proactive approach.
The Vigilance Committee, chaired by Ansariya, spearheads inspections, legal proceedings, and rehabilitation efforts. Rescued workers receive financial aid and employment support, while offenders face prosecution.
Prakasam Collector Ansariya, a 2015-batch IAS officer, previously served as Srikakulam Municipal Commissioner and Annamayya Joint Collector. She has been married to Srikakulam Collector Manajir Jilani Samoon, she stands as an inspiration to young women aspiring to join civil service, proving that perseverance can shape meaningful leadership.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by D Surendra Kumar / March 09th, 2025
Sarah Rizvi has done her bit to issue a blow to the stereotype of the Muslim woman, moderately educated and socially subjugated, ensconced in hijab. She has cleared the IAS exam, ranking 86th among 734 successful candidates. More remarkably perhaps, she has achieved the feat with Urdu literature as one of her optional subjects.
“Urdu is my mothertongue. I learnt Urdu and Persian from my late grandfather, Khalid Hussain Khan, who was a lawyer in Uttar Pradesh. I have read Urdu poems and novels since childhood. My Urdu writing speed was bad but I wrote a page a day and that improved my pace of writing,’’ Sarah said. Mohammed Iqbal was, for her, the most difficult poet to understand. “But his shayeri is fabulous,’’ she said of the Kashmiri poet who wrote Sare Jahan se achchha, Hindustan hamara.
After finishing BCom from MMK College in 2003, Sarah attended a lecture on competitive exams by K M Arif, educationist and chairman of Alliance Foundation. That inspired her to go for the IAS. “I tried twice but could not clear even the preliminary stage. This was my third attempt and, masha Allah, I passed,’’ the 25-year-old said, adding that her success was the outcome of 10-12 hours of study a day.
While doing her BCom, Sarah also completed her foundation course in chartered accountancy. “I wanted to become a CA but Dr Arif suggested I study for the IAS exam instead. I was clueless about the exam procedure and the requisite study material but my family supported me,’’ she said. Sarah was also awarded a scholarship by MESCO, an NGO.
Sarah is now posted as section officer in the Haryana Accountant-General’s office.
Sarah’s father, Afzal Ahmed, a science graduate, and mother Nigar, an arts graduate from Aligarh Muslim University, run a small garments business.
Her elder brother, Wasif, a civil engineer, is working for a company in Dubai and Sarah’s twin sister, Sameera, a graduate in computer applications, from National College, is married and lives in Bahrain. “I feel more Mulims, especially women, should go for the competitive exams. Many women don’t even know what these exams are about but awareness is spreading,’’ Sarah said.
“This subject gives us an inside knowledge of government administration. And the topics are similar to the business administration course matter I read in college,” Sarah said, explaining why she chose public administration over accountancy as one of the optionals.
Sarah did her schooling from Canossa Convent School and St. Louis Convent High School in Andheri. She later joined CWC College for Commerce and Economics and eventually graduated from MMK College with 75.7 per cent marks.
(Courtesy Times of India)
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home / by Mateen Hafeez, TNN (headline edited)
