For years, hundreds of children in Ratlam's government primary schools (in Madhya Pradesh) spent their mornings the same way: seated cross-legged on bare classroom floors because there were not enough desks to go around. 

In the district's secondary schools, smart boards had arrived, but the digital content that could make them useful had not. IAS officer Vaishali Jain, Chief Executive Officer of Ratlam Zila Panchayat and Additional Collector, saw these as connected problems rather than isolated gaps.

Since taking charge nine months ago, the 2021-batch Madhya Pradesh cadre officer has built a three-layered education model for the district, moving from classroom dignity to better learning to spaces where ambition can grow. 

Instead of scattered schemes, Ratlam now has one continuous education journey connecting infrastructure, technology and access.

From bare floors to proper benches

A district survey found that hundreds of primary schools lacked basic furniture. That finding became Gyanodaya – Shala Unnayan Abhiyan, a campaign to install over 21,000 bench-desks across 1,011 government primary schools, reaching more than 42,000 students. 

Rather than waiting only on government funds, the........

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