#CycloneGaja: This IAS officer is providing relief in devastated villages
Cyclone Gaja has left coastal Tamil Nadu devastated and the death toll is still rising. With dozens of houses damaged and livelihoods destroyed, Cyclone Gaja has left residents with a general sense of despair. Times like these require a real-life hero, and IAS officer Johny Tom Varghese has become a beacon of hope in villages that have been devastated by Cyclone Gaja. Here's more.
Varghese has been leading relief parties to inaccessible areas
Over the past week, Varghese has made several trips to devastated villages in coastal Tamil Nadu to provide relief to fishermen hamlets that have been left inaccessible in the wake of Cyclone Gaja. The additional director of the State Fisheries Department, Varghese himself volunteered to get involved in ground-level relief and rescue operations, and has led relief and rescue parties himself.
Why more officers like Varghese are needed
While security and disaster relief forces too have been engaged in helping Tamil Nadu cope with the devastation of Cyclone Gaja, the direct involvement of bureaucrats like Varghese who come down from their high horses often helps boost morale among those affected. Additionally, bureaucrats also play a critical role at the ground level owing to their quick decision-making abilities and their expertise.
Kerala too had seen many IAS officers come forward
During the Kerala floods too, several such IAS officers - namely TV Anupama, K Vasuki, Krishna Teja Mylavarapu, Kannan Gopinathan, Prashanth Nair and MG Rajamanikyam - had shown exemplary dedication to help those who had been left devastated by the floods. Desperate situations often need real-life heroes, and these officers going beyond the call of duty truly exemplify what it means to serve.
