Farmer's daughter Payal Dixit dreams of IAS in Class 6; gets a day as DM

A Class 6 student from a farmer's family in Uttar Pradesh got a glimpse of the job she hopes to do one day. Payal Dixit sat in the district magistrate's chair, heard public grievances and asked officials to act on complaints.Class 6 student Payal Dixit heard public grievances as Farrukhabad's symbolic district magistrate for a day. (Photo: ITG/AI-enhanced)New Delhi,Oct 16, 2026 12:08 ISTFor most students in Class 6, becoming an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer is a distant dream. For Payal Dixit, a student from Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh, that ambition got a real-life preview when she was given the symbolic role of district magistrate for a day.Payal, who studies at Upper Primary School in Pipargaon, took the district magistrate’s chair during a public grievance hearing on October 13. The initiative was organised under the Uttar Pradesh government’s Mission Shakti campaign during Navratri.Payal is the daughter of Rajesh Dixit, a farmer. Her day at the district magistrate’s office gave her an opportunity to understand how government departments work and how citizens approach officials to seek help.She has expressed a desire to become an IAS officer and serve the public. The experience was therefore more than a ceremonial role: it introduced her to the administrative responsibilities she hopes to take up in the future. SIX COMPLAINTS, ONE DAY IN THE DM'S CHAIRPayal did not just sit in the chair. She listened to six complainants who came to the district office with their problems and directed the officials concerned to take action.Five out of the six, complaints involving issues such as alleged land encroachment and construction were referred for investigation and resolution. Farrukhabad District Magistrate Ankur Lather introduced Payal to the functioning of the administration, explaining the responsibilities of officials and how public complaints are handled. The experience offered her a glimpse of the work involved in dealing with residents' concerns.WHAT IS MISSION SHAKTI?Mission Shakti is an Uttar Pradesh government campaign focused on women's safety, empowerment and building confidence among girls and women.As part of the initiative, students are given opportunities to understand public institutions and administrative responsibilities. Payal’s role was symbolic and did not make her the district’s regular administrative head. Instead, it allowed her to observe a public hearing and learn how complaints are referred to the relevant officials.For a Class 6 student who hopes to become an IAS officer, the day offered an early look at the work behind the title — listening to people, understanding their problems and seeking action through the administration.- Ends