I silenced critics with diligent work: Karnataka Additional Chief Secretary

Additional Chief Secretary (Commerce and Industries) K. Ratnaprabha recently led her team in successfully hosting Invest Karnataka-2016, a mega event to tap investment for the state.

A senior IAS officer, Ms Ratnaprabha has left her mark wherever she has worked, so much so that people who met her decades ago still recall her work.

To her colleagues, she is an inspiring and real leader and to others , a workaholic government official. Deccan Chronicle caught up with the dedicated officer on the eve of International Women’s Day to find out what drives her:

What makes you a successful IAS officer?

I have always been very enthusiastic and passionate about whatever I do. I try hard to handle situations differently be it with people , subordinates, colleagues or superiors and politicians. Because of this people still remember me and most of them try to keep in touch with me.

Traditionally, the industries department is considered to be a male bastion. How did you succeed here?

(Smiling) Yes, that was the perception till I took charge of this department on March 18, 2014 . It was the first time ever a woman officer was considered to head this department.

I thank Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for reposing his faith in me as there were murmurs when I took charge that I may not succeed. But eventually and gradually, I am happy, I silenced my critics through my diligent work.

My biggest achievement so far is the exclusive Women’s Industrial park at Harohalli. Already over 50 women entrepreneurs have shown interest in setting up shop here. It is just the beginning.

My experience as Development Commissioner of an export processing zone in 1996-97, which was my first ever encounter with entrepreneurs, helped me pick up the qualities this post requires.

What are your major achievements in this department?

Like I said, setting up the women’s industrial park in Harohalli, Also , framing of the industrial policy and successfully hosting Invest Karnataka. Our industrial policy aims at moving away from Bengaluru.

The Hyderabad-Karnataka area gets the most incentives, followed by Bombay-Karnataka and the Mysuru and Mangaluru areas. Around Bengaluru, we are developing industries such as aerospace, IT and electronics.

In our industrial policy we have said five per cent of the plots in the industrial parks will be reserved for women. There was no such focus on women earlier.

Tell us a little about your personal journey.

My father was also in the civil service and my mother was a doctor. My elder brother is a plastic surgeon and my other brother is a civil servant too. From our childhood we have seen our parents being committed to their work.

Now I have nothing except work on my mind. Even when I am sitting in the car and travelling, I think about work. My parents have had a profound influence on me as they were always helping people. My passion and pleasure is to help people.

Tell us about your first assignment as a civil servant

Wherever I have worked, people remember me. My first posting was in Bidar, where I was an Assistant Commissioner. That was about 32 years ago , but people still remember me. I owe my successful stint in Karnakata to the people of Bidar..

What challenges have you faced in your career?

When I started about 35 years ago, people had never seen a woman officer. It was certainly a challenge for my subordinates and superiors, as until then it was the era of “Yes Sir” and it took some time for most of them to say “Yes Madam”.

How did the transition take place from Yes Sir to Yes Madam?

Women officers must know that there are four types of people they will encounter on a day to day basis. First are their subordinates,then their superiors, followed by politicians and the public.

A woman officer has to earn the respect of the first three groups by working hard . Excuses like I have a son or a daughter to look after would certainly ruin a woman officer’s reputation.