Jhabua Collector Neha Meena (IAS) has been honored with Prime Minister’s Award for Transformative Governance.
In a proud moment for Madhya Pradesh’s administrative cadre, 2014-batch IAS officer Neha Meena, currently serving as Jhabua District Collector, has been selected for the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration-2024. The prestigious honor will be conferred by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Civil Services Day celebrations on April 21 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, recognizing her outstanding contributions under the Aspirational Block Programme.
A Model of Innovation in Malnutrition Eradication
The selection followed rigorous evaluation, including:
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An on-ground assessment by a NITI Aayog team that praised her community-driven “Moti Ai” initiative, which dramatically reduced severe malnutrition cases
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Final scrutiny by an Expert Committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary on April 4
Standing Out Among India’s Best
Chosen from 1,500+ nominations across 710 districts, Ms. Meena secured her place among the top 16 honorees nationwide—and features in the elite top five—under the award’s three categories:
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Holistic District Development
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Aspirational Block Programme
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Innovation
A Trailblazer in Public Service
Ms. Meena’s tenure has catalyzed multi-sectoral progress in Jhabua, particularly in:
Health & Nutrition (Moti Ai model)
Education & Infrastructure
Socio-economic development of Aspirational Blocks
Her prior accolades include:
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Best Electoral Practices Award (2024) from President Murmu for voter awareness mascots Elector Kaka-Kaki
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Waste Management Award 2020 (Jal Shakti Ministry) for river conservation
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National Water Award for Choral River rejuvenation
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Land Records Modernization Award (2023) as Neemuch Additional Collector
This recognition underscores Ms. Meena’s consistent excellence in translating policy into grassroots impact—a testament to her visionary leadership in India’s development journey.
Civil Services Day will spotlight her work as a replicable model for districts nationwide.
