Divya Mittal, a 2013-batch IAS officer, has voluntarily resigned from service, ending what she called an "unforgettable journey" of 13 years. Her resignation post, shared on social media, quickly drew attention and sparked reactions, including from the Congress party, which described it as "very serious" and called for greater respect for honest officers.

Key facts

  • Divya Mittal resigned from the IAS after 13 years of service
  • She is a graduate of IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore
  • She served as District Magistrate in Sant Kabir Nagar, Mirzapur, and Deoria
  • Her work brought piped water to the remote village of Lahuria Dah in August 2023

From modest beginnings to civil service

Mittal grew up in modest circumstances in New Delhi. After studying at IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore, she moved to London for a finance job. But something felt incomplete. "I felt uneasy about not being in my own country," she wrote. She returned to India, prepared for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, and succeeded in 2013.

Lessons from the field

Her first assignment in Uttar Pradesh came in December 2015 as Joint Magistrate in Meerut. She later served as Chief Development Officer in Gonda and as District Magistrate in Sant Kabir Nagar, Mirzapur, and Deoria. Each posting taught her something new. "Deoria taught me that standing up for what is right is not an option, but a duty," she reflected. "Mirzapur taught me that 'impossible' is not a fact, but simply an opinion."

A lasting impact

During her tenure in Mirzapur, Mittal worked to bring piped water to Lahuria Dah, a remote village of about 2,000 people. For generations, residents had depended on water tankers, a cracked well, and a distant reservoir. In August 2023, piped water finally reached 125 households. The image that stayed with her, she said, was that of an elderly woman touching her head in gratitude after seeing the water arrive.

"The true peace of this life was visible in the eyes of the family who got the right to land for the first time, the disabled person who got the opportunity to live with dignity, and the farmer whose fields got water."

Mittal's resignation marks the end of a chapter, but her words linger — a reminder that behind every government file is a person, and maintaining their dignity is justice.