Senior Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Manoj Ninama (IPS:2006:GJ) is currently in the news for taking voluntary retirement from the elite service just three months before his scheduled retirement. Ninama is said to have decided to leave the service to pursue a career in politics and participate in the local body elections. His resignation was approved by the state government. Ninama’s retirement was due on June 30.
Though he says he has not decided yet on contesting elections, he added that he would consider options if it goes well with his plans for community work.
Originally from a State Police Service, Ninama was promoted to the IPS and served as the IG in the traffic branch in Gandhinagar before opting for VRS.
The talk about his joining politics emanated as his decision comes weeks before polling for local bodies begins. There have been instances of former police officers joining politics, including P C Baranda from Aravalli, who later entered the state cabinet after electoral success in Gujarat.
He virtually belongs to a scheduled tribe and is looking for a platform to work on issues related to education, employment, and access to opportunities in tribal areas. He says if a suitable offer is made to him, he will consider it but not without taking feedback from different quarters before taking a call.
Ninama’s main concern now is to prepare youths in the tribal region for a better future. He even said that after holding discussions with other officers from tribal communities, he came to the conclusion that long years in service had limited impact on community advancement in terms of opportunities for youth. “Even after 30-35 years in service, the outcomes remain limited,” he said.
According to him, he aims to create a structured system that allows students from tribal areas to access guidance and resources in one place. To achieve this goal, Ninama has plans to set up training institutes at the taluka level to prepare candidates for competitive exams such as GPSC, UPSC, and police department recruitment.
He feels the need for focused institutions that can support students from these regions in preparing for govt services. Ninama is also inclined to join politics if a political outfit gives him a suitable offer, as he would then work for the community.
Join Us on WhatsApp