IAS Tanuja Salam: IAS officer Tanuja Salam has been appointed as the new District Collector of Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki in Chhattisgarh. The state government transferred her from her role as Director in the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare to this new position. Meanwhile, the incumbent officer, Tulika Prajapati (a 2016-batch IAS officer), has been entrusted with the charge of Kabirdham district. With Tanuja Salam assuming the role of Collector, discussions regarding her struggles, administrative journey, and notable anecdotes have resurfaced.
Childhood Spent in Naxal-Affected Bastar
In an interview, Tanuja Salam mentioned that she hails from Bastar. She was born in Kanker, and her maternal grandparents’ home is in Konta. Her parents were in government service; her father has retired, while her mother had quit her job to focus on her daughter’s education. Tanuja is the eldest of three sisters and one brother. Due to her father’s job, she spent her childhood in regions such as Bastar, Dantewada, Jagdalpur, and Kanker. After completing her early education in convent schools, she obtained her bachelor’s degree from Nagpur.
From Aspiring to be an Air Hostess to the State Administrative Service
After completing her graduation in 2000, Tanuja Salam initially aspired to become an air hostess. Around that time, Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh as a new state, opening up fresh recruitment opportunities through the State Public Service Commission. Acting on her family’s advice, she moved to Raipur and began preparing for the state service examination. Although she cleared the preliminary exam on her first attempt, she did not succeed in the main examination; however, she achieved success on her second attempt and became an officer in the State Administrative Service. Subsequently, she served in several key positions, such as Chief Executive Officer and Additional Collector. Later, she was promoted to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Had Police Personnel Undergo Alcohol and Blood Pressure Checks at the Station
A 2022 incident involving Tanuja Salam—born on May 1, 1980—garnered significant headlines during her tenure as Additional Collector in Durg district. During a night-time check, a team from the Amleshwar police station had stopped her brother and nephew. Upon learning of the incident, Tanuja Salam arrived at the scene and, adopting a stern administrative stance, ordered the police personnel conducting the check to undergo alcohol and blood pressure tests right there on the spot. This incident remained a topic of discussion in administrative and police circles for quite some time.
