Datia Collector’s Video Goes Viral: “Take Me to the Officer” — “I Am the Officer”

Datia Collector’s Video Goes Viral: “Take Me to the Officer” — “I Am the Officer”

A heart-warming and humorous video of Datia Collector Swapnil Wankhede is going viral on social media. During a public grievance hearing, an elderly man repeatedly requested, “Take me to the officer, please.” Despite Collector Wankhede politely telling him several times, “I am the officer,” the elderly man simply refused to believe it.

Elderly Man Arrives at Public Hearing

In Madhya Pradesh, public hearings are held every Tuesday at district collector offices. Either the collector or other senior officials listen to citizens’ complaints and accept applications.

This Tuesday, an elderly man had come to Datia Collectorate to submit a complaint regarding his pension. Collector Swapnil Wankhede was personally present and listening to grievances seated among the people in the hall.

The elderly man approached him with his application and said, “Please take me to the officer.”

“I Am the Officer” — Collector’s Humble Reply

Hearing his request, Collector Wankhede smiled and responded, “I am the officer.”
But the elderly man repeated his request two–three times, still unable to believe it. Wankhede kept replying cheerfully, “I am the officer.”

Finally, the elderly man accepted it and handed over his application. The Collector assured him, “Your pension will be restarted.”

Why the Confusion? Simplicity of the Collector

People coming from rural backgrounds often imagine that a district collector sits in a large, inaccessible chamber. But in Datia, Collector Swapnil Wankhede prefers to sit among the people in a simple manner during hearings, which led to the misunderstanding.

Since taking charge, Wankhede has introduced several innovative initiatives in the district. In his free time, he even provides UPSC coaching to children.

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