Paul Barua

Paul Barua (born 27 August 1964) is an Indian retired civil servant. He served as the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dima Hasao from 2020 to 2021 and as the DC of Charaideo from 2021 to 2023.

The son of Manipur Chief Secretary Dwijendra Nath Barua and younger brother of Assam Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua, Paul Barua earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in history. He joined the Assam Civil Service in 1992 and became a Circle Officer in the same year. Barua was appointed an election officer in 1995 and an Officer on Special Duty in Guwahati in 1996. He served as a Secretary at the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) from 1998 to 1999 and was a deputy Director of Panchayat and Rural Development from 2007 until 2011. He was appointed a Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) and was promoted to a Joint Secretary in 2016, going on to serve in various different departments.

In May 2020, Barua was appointed the DC of Dima Hasao. He took office during the COVID-19 pandemic and the district administration under him implemented a lockdown early into his tenure. He encouraged strong adherence to health guidelines and undertook various awareness programmes. Barua was also DC during the 2021 election, and suggested a repoll after irregularities were reported in the district. In November 2021, he was transferred as DC of Charaideo. During his tenure, he oversaw celebrations of the 400th birthday anniversary of Lachit Borphukan and undertook numerous education initiatives. In May 2023, Barua was appointed an Additional Secretary at the Department Of Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs. He was promoted to Secretary in January 2024 before retiring in August of the same year.

Early life and education

Paul Barua was born on 27 August 1964, the second son of Dwijendra Nath Barua and Prativa Barua. Dwijendra was a civil servant who served as the Chief Secretary of Manipur from 1981 to 1987 and as Chairman of the Assam Public Service Commission from 1989 to 1993. His elder brother, Jishnu Barua, served as the 49th Chief Secretary of Assam. His uncle, Bhupendra Nath Baruah, was also a civil servant who became the first director of Sports and Youth Welfare in Assam.

Barua earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in history.

Early career

Barua joined the Assam Civil Service on 25 May 1992, and on 3 July 1992 he became a Circle Officer at Katlicherra. In 1993, he became an extra assistant commissioner in Nalbari before he became an election officer on 30 June 1995 in the same district. He then returned to being a extra assistant commissioner, serving in Barpeta from 1995 to 1996.

Barua was appointed an Officer on Special Duty in Guwahati on 28 October 1996. He later served as a Secretary at Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) from 1998 to 1999, before returning to the position of circle officer briefly in Bhowraguri in 1999. He returned as a GMC Secretary in 1999 and worked there until 2003. Barua then was a manager of land and liaison from 2003 to 2007. He then was a deputy director of Panchayat and Rural Development from 2007 until 2011.

Later positions

Barua became a Sub Divisional Officer (Sadar) in Tezpur on 12 September 2011, before he was appointed a Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) in Gohpur on 28 March 2012. He moved to the Tourism Department as a Deputy Secretary in 2013, before being promoted to the position of Joint Secretary in the Tourism Department, additionally in the Transport Department, on 17 August 2016. He was moved to the Excise Department (with additional charge of the Welfare of Minorities and Development Department) in April 2017, and then the Urban Development department (with additional charge of the Housing and Urban Affairs Department) on 1 January 2019, serving in the latter until May 2020. Barua held the additional charge of managing director of Guwahati Drinking Water and Sewage board from July 2019 until 2020, along with two other additional charge positions.

Dima Hasao DC (2020–2021)

On 19 May 2020, Barua was appointed Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dima Hasao, succeeding Amitabh Rajkhowa.

Early measures

Barua became DC of Dima Hasao, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in his role he was additionally chairman of the District Diasaster Management Authority. On 15 June he met with members of the Haflong Municipal Board and instructed members of the market association to abide by the rules imposed by the government. Early into his tenure, he stressed the importance of adopting measures and stated that owners of shops should "mandatorily" draw lines as safe points "by maintaining at least one metre distance", and also noted the importance of hygiene through sanitation.

Following the detection of six cases of COVID-19, the district administration under Barua imposed a lockdown from 6 July to 19 July to deter further spread of the virus. Barua held a press meet on 5 July in which he stated that grocery shops would be allowed to operate at certain times on particular days, and also that roadside vending and weekly markets would not be allowed during the lockdown. He noted additionally that there would be exemptions including pharmacies and the movement of police and army vehicles among other exemptions. Barua said that the step was taken to "curb the community transmission". After the orders issued by Barua, as many as thirteen vehicles were seized by the police by 7 July.

Later events

On 25 July 2020, Barua stated that the situation in Dima Hasao was improving. In September, Barua advised that there should be a restriction on the number of puja pandals in keeping with the district guidelines. Later on that month, following instances where cremation or burials of people who died of COVID-9 were being prevented, Barua said that people "obstructing" burials or cremations were "denying a person dignity in death" due to "irrational fears". He also went on to suggest that the district "might use force" and tackle the matter "legally to curb those spreading misinformation and rumour".

In April 2021, Barua visited Haflong market as part of a sensitisation programme to increase COVID protocol adherence amidst the second wave of COVID-19. In May, Barua ordered Haflong market shops to display their price lists following complaints about price surges amidst the second wave. After instructions from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Barua visited Haflong covid hospital in what was reported as a "suprise" visit. In June, Barua took out various awareness programmes in the district along with police administration.

Electoral affairs

In March 2021, Barua announced that Dima Hasao would vote in the second phase on 1 April of the 2021 Assam Legislative Assembly election. While addressing the media, he called people to maintain peace during the election and request for political parties to not violate the model code of conduct set out by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Barua soon after met with representatives of Assam political parties at the DC's conference hall where they were requested to cooperate with election officials in keeping with the code of conduct. Later on the same month, he called for an urgent meeting with representatives of candidates ensure they complied with the guidelines of the ECI, stating that conducting the polls smoothly was "not the responsibility of the district administration alone, but of "all the people involved in the process of election".

In April, in the Haflong assembly constituency, it was reported that 171 votes were cast in Dima Hasao in a polling booth where only 90 voters were eligible. Following the incident, as District Election Officer, Barua on 2 April issued an order which suspended five polling officials at the booth. Barua subsequently proposed a repoll.

Security issues

In September 2021, Barua announced that had been distributed in the Hojai district to families of five victims who had been killed in a shooting on 26 August in Diyungbra in Dima Hasao. While addressing the media, Barua said that in order to ensure that there was no threat to law and order, community leaders should act as messengers of peace and also encouraged industrial development for the region. In November, he made rounds to a Dima Hasao bandh which was passed off peacefully.

In November 2021, 46 Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) rebels surrendered in Dima Hasao before Barua and other officials.

Other events

As DC, Barua inaugurated the Hills Got Talent programme, aimed at promoting and encouraging the talents of youths. He released a Dimasa music video during the ceremony.

Barua served as Dima Hasao DC until November 2021, when he was succeeded by Nazreen Ahmed.

Charaideo DC (2021–2023)

On 15 November 2021, Barua was moved to become DC of Charaideo, succeeding Binita Pegu.

Economy

In June 2022, Barua chaired a meeting after which it was unanimously decided that there would be a fixed minimum price support on green tea leaves, and he argued that the minimum price would give a boost to both buyers and sellers of the product.

In July 2022, Barua urged banks to open more branches in rural areas in the district, and asked for improved credit flow to farmers and appealed for bankers to take more corporate social responsibility initiatives.

On 30 March 2023, Barua issued an order which made it mandatory for all agents of the green leaf tea to obtain permission from the district administration to carry or supply the leaves from the financial year from 2023 to 2024.

Education initiatives

During Barua's tenure, he undertook various initiatives to improve education in the district. In April 2023, he made initiatives to promote and popularise Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the district, which resulted in retired general manager of Oil India, Ranjib Gogoi, donating five computers for ICT labs in schools in the district.

Further events and initiatives

Barua participated in a meeting with Ministers Jogen Mohan and Bimal Bora in October 2022 between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to discuss border disputes. Barua gave the welcome speech at the discussion, and the meeting left some issues unresolved such as over the providing of electricity and water.

In November 2022, Barua and his office organised a low-cost lunch in celebration of the 400th birth anniversary of Lachit Borphukan. The administration under Barua also held a cycle rally with over 200 participants to mark the occasion.

Barua served as the DC of Charaideo until May 2023, when he was succeeded by Nibedan Das Patwary.

Final year and retirement (2023–2024)

On 10 May 2023, Barua was appointed an Additional Secretary at the Department of Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs. He was promoted to Secretary on 1 January 2024.

On 31 August 2024, Barua retired from the Civil Service after a career spanning over 32 years.

Personal life

Barua is married to Vijaylakshmi Barua, who was promoted to an IAS officer in 2025, and they have two children. He is a cyclist, and as of September 2020 is part of Guwahati Cycling Together (GCT).

In September 2020, Barua tested positive for COVID-19, while the Dima Hasao DC, and was sent to Guwahati for treatment.

See also

• Indian Administrative Service
• Civil Services of India