From 8-km school commute to IAS: Officer returns to Naxal Belt on motorcycle

Dantewada, Chhattisgarh: The road is rough, winding through dense forest and carrying memories of years of conflict. In a video that has since gone viral, IAS officer Namrata Jain is seen riding a motorcycle into a Naxal-affected pocket of Chhattisgarh to inspect schools, Anganwadi centres, and public services.

For many online, it was a striking image — an officer choosing the difficult route to reach communities often left out of the spotlight. For Namrata, it was also a homecoming.

Namrata hails from Geedam, a small town in Dantewada district, a region long marked by conflict and isolation. Her own education began with an eight-kilometre daily commute to Nirmal Niketan School in Karli, as there were few options closer to home.

Moving away for higher studies wasn’t easy. Her parents were hesitant — it meant added expenses, uncertainty, and safety concerns. Namrata persisted, convincing her family to let her study in Durg. She later completed an engineering degree in Bhilai.

Her civil services journey didn’t stop at one milestone. She first cleared the UPSC exam and joined the Indian Police Service. But she had set her sights on the IAS. While training at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad, she kept studying. In 2018, on her third attempt, she secured All India Rank 12.

Since then, her work has focused on access. Under her watch, 24 schools have been set up in remote areas, cutting long commutes for children like the one she once made. She has also worked to strengthen healthcare outreach and improve delivery of essential public services.

“A school can change far more than literacy rates. An Anganwadi can improve nutrition outcomes. Reliable healthcare can mean the difference between vulnerability and security,” officials said.