Raised in a modest household in rural Sirsa, Haryana, Hemant Pareek witnessed the relentless toil of his mother, Savitri, a daily wage labourer. Life was a constant struggle, where dignity was often harder to come by than the meagre wages she received.

“One time, my mother was supposed to receive Rs 200, but in reality, she only got Rs 70 or 80. I couldn’t understand why she was paid so little. This issue continues to occur in many areas and is quite common. Officers or others responsible do not verify these discrepancies,” Hemant tells The Better India.

He adds, “My father was involved in social service, so we relied solely on my mother’s income to manage the household. It was very challenging to make ends meet. That day, while narrating the incident about not being paid in full, my mother broke down, and I couldn’t bear to see her suffer like that anymore.”

One afternoon, Hemant went straight to the office of the local contractor and questioned the discrepancy in his mother’s wages. “Instead of responding to my query, he mocked me, saying, ‘Are you some kind of Collector?’,” recalls Hemant.

That sneering taunt hit him with unexpected clarity and purpose. “If being a collector meant fighting against such injustices, then that was exactly what I wanted to become,” he shares.

This moment became the catalyst for change.

From failing peon exam to clearing UPSC CSE in 1st attempt

At first glance, Hemant seemed an unlikely candidate for the civil services. He completed his early education in his village and later pursued a BSc in agriculture, driven by a childhood dream of contributing to........

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