Winner: Ms. N. Suki Premila,
the then Taluk Supply Officer of Vilavancode, Kanyakumari Dt
There was one attempt on her
life last year and at least half-a-dozen threats. But N. Suki Premila, the then
Taluk Supply Officer of Vilavancode in Kanyakumari district, stood her ground. The
38-year-old woman who embarked on a mission to prevent smuggling of ration rice
was chosen for the ‘Kalpana Chawla Award for Courage and Daring Enterprise’
this year.
During her stint in
Vilavancode, Ms. Premila intercepted a large number of vehicles heading to Kerala
and seized 110 tonnes of rice and 20,000 litres of kerosene meant for public
distribution system. Besides surprise checks, she organised raids based on
specific intelligence inputs. Threats did not deter her from intensifying
operations against rice smugglers. In 2012, an attempt was made to eliminate
the official.
She
said, once she was travelling in a jeep when a speeding lorry tried to collide
head-on. Her driver swerved and averted the collision…an ‘attempt to murder’
case was registered by the local police. On one occasion, she said a lorry sped
through barricades even after Revenue officials signalled the driver to stop. She
and her team chased the lorry for at least 40 kms and managed to intercept it
along the State borders. Our suspicion was that the lorry was smuggling
rice…but it had 1,500 kg of explosive substance.
Released on bail, the lorry
driver came to her office and warned of dire consequences if she pursued the
case. Ms. Premila is now the Tahsildar (Flying Squad) in Kanyakumari district.
She said, over a period of time, I got used to threats. She said she is happy
receiving the Kalpana Chawla award and hope this will motivate other women
officials to perform and excel amid constraints.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa
presented the award that carries a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh, a gold medal and a
citation to Ms. Premila as part of the Independence Day celebrations in Chennai.
