With a smile on her face and excitement of new responsibility in her eyes, Vijayalakshmi Prasanna Bidari took charge as the new Divisional Commissioner of Nagpur on Saturday. Radhakrishnan B, Municipal Commissioner and officiating Divisional Commissioner, greeted Bidari with a bouquet. Prior to joining at Nagpur as Divisional Commissioner, Bidari was serving as Controller, U R Rao Satellite Centre, ISRO, under the Department of Space, at Bengaluru in Karnataka. She was on Central deputation there. Returning to Maharashtra after seven years, Vijayalakshmi Prasanna Bidari was all excited to bring in her knowledge of technology and rich administrative experience. Interacting with a group of mediapersons, Bidari spoke about her career so far. She is an Indian Administrative Service officer of 2001 batch.

 

She was Union Public Service Commission Civil Services examination topper. Her family has five civil servants including her husband Mallikarjuna Prasanna, who is an IPS officer in Mumbai; her father Shankar Mahadev Bidari was a decorated IPS officer and was Commander of a Special Task Force set up to nab the forest brigand Veerappan; her brother Vijayendra Bidari is an IPS officer and his wife Rohini P Bhajibhakare, too, is an IAS officer. Asked about her vision as Divisional Commissioner of Nagpur Division, Bidari replied that she would try to make the best use of technology to serve the people better and resolve their issues. Interestingly, Bidari was Director of Information Technology Department of Maharashtra when ‘Aadhaar’ pilot project was launched in the State. She is proficient in seven languages. R Vimala, District Collector; Asha Pathan and Manjusha Thavkar, Deputy Commissioners; Harish Bhamre, Assistant Commissioner, also were present when Bidari took charge of the office on Saturday. Since the transfer of Prajakta Lavangare-Verma on Central deputation, Dr Madhavi Khode-Chaware held additional charge as Divisional Commissioner, Nagpur. After Dr Madhavi Khode-Chaware went for higher administrative training, Radhakrishnan B, Municipal Commissioner, was given additional charge as Divisional Commissioner.