Mangalore, Jan 6: As Principal Secretary of Agriculture Department and District-In-Charge Secretary, Bharat Lal Meena reviewed the progress of developmental programmes with officials at the Zilla Panchayat auditorium.

The issue of the new service bus stand to be constructed at Pumpwell was raised during the meeting, where the superintendent engineer of Mangalore City Corporation said that the acquired land of 2 acres was not sufficient for a permanent service bus stand and requested the acquired land for 13 acres for the project.

Mr Meena directed the MCC engineers to prepare a plan for the construction of a permanent service bus stand according to the available 7 acres land, as acquisition of additional land would halt the project.

For the construction of a multi-storeyed building at the old bus stand in the city, he directed the concerned officials to start the construction without delay, making use of the land available.

As per a new survey, there were about 1500 persons affected by Endosulfan pesticide in the district, out of which 130 were bedridden, 326 suffered from 75 percent disability and 1,056 with 75 to 40 percent disabilities.

An official said that a 5 acre plot of land had been earmarked in Alankar for a permanent treatment centre for Endosulfan- affected persons. There were also day-care and physiotherapy centres and mobile health units supporting affected persons.

The concerned authorities were directed to strengthen healthcare support and rehabilitation facilities for Endosulfan-affected persons, including specialised palliative care.

Throughout his administrative career, Bharat Lal Meena worked across several important areas of public administration, including agriculture, urban development, social welfare, education, infrastructure and public utilities.

His approach placed emphasis on effective implementation, institutional improvement and participation of citizens in developmental programmes.

His career reflects a sustained commitment to improving public services and strengthening administration at the grassroots level.

This morning, we had our first interview with Bharat Lal Meena, currently the Principal Secretary for the State of Karnataka’s Department of Agriculture. In a nation where elections are often fought and won on agricultural policies, his leadership position carries weighty responsibilities that directly impact the lives of millions of farmers.

I first met Meena when he was the Commissioner for the Bangalore Development Authority, and what stood out then still stands out now: a rare drive to keep moving forward despite the bureaucracy, political pressure, and citizen demands. Unlike many who prefer the comfort of inaction, he chooses to act, and more importantly, to drive change in institutions that historically resist it.

Hailing from a disadvantaged background in Rajasthan, Meena’s childhood experiences shaped his resilience and his motivation to make the most of every opportunity. Though not a technical expert in urban development or agriculture, he leverages his political science background to understand power, build coalitions, and move people—whether that means working with politicians, industry, communities, or his own staff. His strength lies in incentivizing and aligning diverse interests toward action.

In India’s complex bureaucracy, success often means knowing when to press forward and when to hold back—balancing progress with survival in a politically entangled system. For Meena, leadership is not about maintaining the status quo but navigating this delicate balance to ensure that people ultimately benefit.