SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, Oct 14: Ramesh Gholap’s journey from a small village in Maharashtra to becoming one of Jharkhand’s most respected bureaucrats is a story of grit, integrity, and empathy.
His early hardships shaped him into a people’s officer who listens, acts, and serves—especially in some of the state’s most backward and Naxal-affected districts like Garhwa, Koderma, Chatra, and Khunti.
Rising from Adversity
Born in Mahagaon village under Barshi block in Solapur district, Maharashtra, Ramesh grew up in poverty. When his father passed away while he was in Class 12, he didn’t even have Rs. 2 for bus fare to return to his village. His mother sold bangles to feed the family. For a year, she struggled—and even paid a bribe—to get her widow pension. That pain left a deep mark on young Ramesh.
He often says, “I have taken my struggle positively. It guides me every day on how to bring smiles to the faces of the underprivileged.”
Journey to Becoming an IAS Officer
Ramesh’s path to the civil services was anything but ordinary. Growing up, he only knew about the post of Tahsildar (circle officer). His father had studied till Class 4, his mother was a bangle seller, and he attended a Marathi-medium school. A graduate from an open university, he had no exposure to English-medium education or elite institutions.
In 2010, he encouraged his mother to contest the Mukhiya elections in his village while he himself appeared for the UPSC Preliminary Exam. Both failed. But that failure became a turning point. On October 23, 2010, he vowed not to return to his village until he cleared the UPSC.
He moved to Pune, stayed in a small room, and studied relentlessly. Eighteen months later, he returned home triumphantly—having cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination with music and celebrations in the streets. The same year, he also topped the Maharashtra State Civil Services Exam.
After his success, Ramesh travelled across Maharashtra, at some places on a bike, motivating students from poor backgrounds with a simple message: “If I can become an IAS officer, why can’t you?”
His story is also captured in his Marathi book “Ethe Thambane Nahi” (Yahan Rukna Nahi)—a testament to perseverance and hope.
A People’s Officer in Naxal-Hit Regions
As an IAS officer, Ramesh has served in some of Jharkhand’s most challenging districts—Garhwa, Koderma, Chatra, and Khunti—where poverty, isolation, and Naxal influence make governance difficult. Yet, he earned the reputation of being a people’s bureaucrat who chose to sit among the people, not above them.
He is currently posted as Special Secretary and Mission Director, Jal Jeevan Mission, in the drinking water and sanitation department.
Residents fondly recall how, during his five and a half years in various challenging districts, he would interact directly with villagers—listening to their grievances while sitting on the ground beside them. His humility and accessibility made him a beloved figure, earning him the title “Pension wale Saheb” for ensuring that old-age pensions were issued within hours under the Prashasan Aapke Dwar programme.
Cleaning Up Garhwa: Exposing a Healthcare Fraud
In Garhwa, Ramesh exposed a massive fraud involving various private hospitals run by fake doctors, which improved institutional deliveries in government hospitals. Determined to bring transparency, he overhauled the system and transformed Garhwa Sadar Hospital into one of Jharkhand’s model hospitals.
His reforms improved patient care, reduced corruption, and restored people’s trust in government healthcare. For many residents, it was the first time they felt that a government officer genuinely cared about their well-being.
Fighting for Child Rights in Koderma, Bermo
During his posting as DC in Koderma and as SDM in Bermo, Ramesh led a strong campaign to rescue children trapped in mica mines, hotels, dhabas, and garages. He reunited around 60 child labourers with their families and ensured they returned to school.
He even made the employers who had hired them bear the cost of their education, including uniforms and school supplies. “I can’t describe my joy,” he said, “when I saw them wearing school belts. In my childhood, I used to tie my pants with a thread. A belt was a luxury.”
His initiative caught national attention, and Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi personally applauded him for his remarkable work in reclaiming child labourers and giving them a new life.
Empowering the Marginalised in Chatra and Garhwa
In Chatra, Ramesh worked for the upliftment of Primitive Tribal Groups (PVTGs). He found that about 6,000 members lacked caste certificates, excluding them from vital government benefits like pensions, housing, and forest rights. During his tenure, over 4,000 people finally received their certificates and access to welfare schemes.
In Khunti, he worked to make government schemes more inclusive in remote areas and ensured direct engagement with villagers. His presence among them broke bureaucratic barriers and built lasting trust.
Inspiring Birhor Students: A Breakfast to Remember
Ramesh’s motivation in Chatra didn’t just change systems — it changed lives. His constant encouragement inspired five Birhor children, from one of Jharkhand’s most marginalised tribal communities, to excel in their secondary examinations.
To celebrate their success, Ramesh invited the children to his Deputy Commissioner’s residence, where he personally had breakfast with them. When he asked what gift they wanted, the children shyly said, “Ranger cycle.”
Without a moment’s delay, Ramesh asked his staff to buy the best-quality bicycles for them. He also gifted each child ₹5,000 from his own pocket, shared his personal mobile number, and told them, “Call me whenever you face any difficulty in your studies.”
For the children, it was more than a gift — it was validation that someone in power genuinely cared about their dreams.
Loved by the People
Whenever he was transferred from a district, thousands of people sent him farewell messages on social media. For him, their affection meant more than any official award.
He recalls Binku Topno, the Mukhiya of Budha Pahar—a village once under Maoist control—who travelled miles to thank him and say, “Ghar pahunchne se pehle hi samadhan ho jata tha.” (Problems were solved even before you reached home.)
Beyond the Office: A Man of Art and Faith
Apart from his administrative duties, Ramesh is also a sculptor. Every year, he sculpts Lord Ganesha idols with his own hands to celebrate Ganpati Mahotsav in Jharkhand. He also initiated the “Ek Gaon, Ek Ganpati” (One Village, One Ganpati) campaign in his hometown to promote unity and community spirit.
A Life Guided by Gratitude
Despite his achievements, Ramesh Gholap remains humble. His past continues to guide him as he serves the poor, the elderly, and the voiceless. His story is a reminder that true leadership is not about power—it’s about purpose.
From a boy who couldn’t afford a bus ticket to a man transforming backward districts, IAS officer Ramesh Gholap stands as a living example of how adversity can forge the most compassionate public servants.
