New Doon DM outlines governance priorities after taking charge

Dehradun: District magistrate Ashish Chauhan formally assumed charge on Monday and outlined his priorities, saying the district administration would focus on the transparent delivery of welfare schemes, smooth management of the Char Dham yatra, disaster mitigation measures and faster implementation of development projects.After taking charge, the 2012-batch IAS officer inspected the treasury office and reviewed arrangements related to record maintenance and pension verification. He stressed the need for secure and systematic upkeep of records along with digital verification of pensioners.Later in the day, Chauhan attended the ‘janata milan’ programme at the collectorate, where 115 complaints, mostly related to land disputes, were heard. Stressing that complainants should not be forced to make repeated visits to govt offices, he directed officials to develop an online grievance-tracking system for faster and more transparent redressal.During the hearing, the DM addressed a range of public issues, including flood protection demands, land disputes, financial distress cases and civic concerns.In a late-evening virtual meeting with district-level officers, Chauhan laid out a broader administrative roadmap and directed officials to ensure regular field monitoring and accountability in the implementation of govt schemes.The DM emphasised that welfare benefits must reach people at the grassroots level and warned that lapses in implementation would invite accountability. He also called for sustained action against cybercrime, drug abuse and crimes under the Pocso Act through awareness campaigns in schools and colleges.He further stressed stronger road safety measures, swift action against land fraud and illegal encroachments, improved infrastructure for women’s safety, stricter checks on food adulteration and intensified dengue control drives.The DM also directed departments to identify and develop at least five new public welfare projects and explore innovative governance practices adopted in other districts.Chauhan has previously served as district magistrate in Pithoragarh, Uttarkashi and Pauri, where he was associated with several technology-led governance initiatives, including the ‘Safe Safar App’ aimed at improving road safety and the ‘Kavya App’ for monitoring high-risk pregnancies in remote areas.He replaces IAS officer Savin Bansal, who has been transferred to the Uttarakhand Secretariat after a tenure marked by welfare-oriented initiatives and public outreach programmes.