# Nandurbar Collector Mittali Sethi Chooses Government Anganwadi Over Costly Play Schools for Her Twin Sons

> Breaking common elitist stereotypes, Nandurbar District Collector Mittali Sethi enrolled her three-year-old twin sons in a local government Anganwadi center instead of an expensive private pre-school. The dentist-turned-IAS officer made the decision after being moved by the dedication of a grassroots worker.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Success Stories · **Published:** 2026-10-04 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/success-stories/nandurbar-ki-kalektara-mittali-sethi-ne-mahnge-ple-skula-chhora-sarakari-anganavari-men-karaya-juravan-beton-ka-dakhila-42682 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Mittali Sethi, IAS Officer, Nandurbar, Anganwadi, Government School, UPSC, Maharashtra

High-ranking civil servants are frequently perceived by the public as keeping their families insulated within privileged spaces, typically opting for international preschools, elite convent setups, or costly boarding institutions for their children. Nandurbar District Collector Mittali Sethi, however, has set an inspiring counter-example against this prevailing notion. Instead of seeking admission to an elite private facility, she chose to enroll her twin boys in a local government-run Anganwadi center.

## Choosing Grassroots Public Care Over Commercial Play Schools
Nandurbar is a predominantly tribal district in Maharashtra where Mittali Sethi currently leads the administration. When her twin sons turned 3 years old, the question of their early education and social foundation arose. While conventional expectations pushed toward premium private preschools, she deliberately placed her trust in the public Anganwadi network. The decision initially prompted confusion and hesitation among close relatives and family members, yet she remained firm in her stance.

## A Thoughtful Weight-Scale Cloth Sling That Made an Impression
The reasoning behind this step was not driven by publicity or symbolism, but by a personal, firsthand observation that left a deep impression. Prior to enrolling the children, Mittali Sethi conducted an inspection of the Anganwadi facility. During her visit, she noticed the cloth sling traditionally used to weigh infants, a contraption that frequently frightened the young children and caused them to cry.

Noticing their distress, a resourceful Anganwadi worker took the initiative to design a customized, comfortable sling with the help of a local tailor, ensuring that children could sit comfortably without tears. The worker remarked that there was no need for formal bureaucratic procedures or government tenders to fix such a problem, explaining that she took the initiative out of sheer goodwill and dedication. That genuine display of empathy and commitment deeply moved the collector.

## Prioritizing Human Compassion Over Rote Memorization
Witnessing such selfless care convinced Mittali Sethi that genuine warmth, emotional security, and human connection are far more valuable for toddlers than slick marketing campaigns or rigid rote-learning curriculums. Despite early skepticism from relatives, she stood by her choice. Her sons are now 4 years old and continue attending the Anganwadi with pride and joy. She firmly believes that in early childhood, learning to interact with everyday society and understanding human values matter far more than bookish academics.

## The Journey from Dental Practice to 56th Rank in UPSC
The professional trajectory of IAS officer Mittali Sethi is equally remarkable. Born into a respectable family in Jalandhar, Punjab, she excelled academically from an early age. She completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree in Amritsar before earning a Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) in Orthodontics from a reputed institution in Chennai, establishing herself as a qualified dentist. During those years, immersed in clinical dental practice, she was barely acquainted with the functioning of the civil services.

A growing desire to serve society on a wider canvas eventually motivated her to step away from dentistry and take up civil services preparation. She faced disappointment in her first 2 attempts, but persevered through the setbacks. In the 2017 UPSC examination, she secured an impressive All India Rank of 56. Today, she serves as a dynamic and empathetic officer within the Maharashtra cadre. Her husband is also an administrative officer, and the couple remains widely recognized for their modest lifestyle and grounded choices.

## What this means for you
This decision reinforces public trust in grassroots government childcare centers and sets a rare standard for administrative leadership.

- **Across India:** Seeing high-ranking officials utilize public infrastructure validates the work of frontline community centers. It encourages everyday citizens to reconsider government early childcare rather than viewing costly private nurseries as the only option.
- **In Maharashtra:** It provides a major morale boost to grassroots Anganwadi workers operating in tribal districts like Nandurbar. This recognition highlights the essential care they deliver despite resource constraints.
- **For Parents:** The move emphasizes that emotional safety and community immersion are far more beneficial for toddlers than commercial pre-school prestige. Parents can focus on nurturing environments rather than expensive commercial preschool branding.
- **On Public Administration:** When senior civil servants actively depend on government-run setups, accountability naturally improves. It helps catalyze genuine attention toward upgrading nutritional support and foundational early childhood facilities.

## Why this happened
Collector Mittali Sethi opted for an Anganwadi after experiencing firsthand the genuine empathy, dedication, and affection demonstrated by frontline workers.

- **Grassroots Empathy:** An Anganwadi worker independently arranged a comfortable cloth sling from a tailor to keep toddlers from crying during routine weight checks. This self-driven commitment proved to the officer that the center offered genuine care without bureaucratic pretense.
- **Focus on Emotional Development:** She believed early childhood should center around social awareness, human empathy, and community bonding rather than expensive branding and rote learning. Her priority was to provide a warm and grounded social foundation for her sons.
- **A Grounded Mindset:** Despite an elite professional background in dentistry and public administration, she chose to live by simple and practical values. She stayed committed to her perspective even when relatives initially doubted the decision.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Who is Mittali Sethi and what is her current designation?
Mittali Sethi is an IAS officer from the 2017 batch who is currently serving as the District Collector of Nandurbar in Maharashtra.

### 2. Where did she enroll her twin sons?
She enrolled her three-year-old twin sons in a local government Anganwadi center instead of an expensive private preschool.

### 3. What specific incident at the Anganwadi center convinced her?
She was deeply moved when an Anganwadi worker independently arranged a tailored cloth sling so children wouldn't cry while being weighed.

### 4. What was Mittali Sethi's profession before entering the civil services?
She was a qualified dentist who completed her BDS in Amritsar and MDS in Orthodontics from a premier institute in Chennai.

### 5. Which rank did she secure in the UPSC examination?
After facing setbacks in her initial two attempts, she secured All India Rank 56 in the 2017 UPSC examination.

### 6. How old are her children now and do they still attend the Anganwadi?
Her twin sons are now 4 years old and continue to attend the Anganwadi center happily.

## Inspiration & Lessons
The journey and decisions of IAS officer Mittali Sethi offer meaningful lessons on resilience, genuine humility, and value-based parenting.

- **Leading by Grounded Example:** True leadership lies in embracing everyday public institutions rather than relying on privileged isolation or status symbols.
- **Perseverance Through Setbacks:** Bouncing back from two failed civil services attempts to secure All India Rank 56 illustrates the power of continuous effort.
- **Courage to Break Conventions:** Standing by a principled choice despite family hesitation demonstrates conviction in doing what is genuinely best for one's children.
- **Respecting Grassroots Dignity:** Recognizing the dedication of a frontline Anganwadi worker highlights that meaningful impact and human care transcend formal rank and titles.

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