Class 6 student Payal Dixit, daughter of a farmer, takes Farrukhabad DM’s chair for a day

Payal Dixit, a Class 6 student of Upper Primary School, Pipargaon, was made the symbolic District Magistrate (DM) of Farrukhabad for a day on Tuesday, and presided over a public grievance hearing at the DM’s office.According to IANS, the appointment was made under the Mission Shakti campaign, on the direction of Farrukhabad DM Ankur Lather. Payal is the daughter of Rajesh Dixit, a farmer.What happened at the hearingPayal was welcomed with a bouquet of flowers at the DM’s office, which falls under the Fatehgarh police station in the Badhapur area of the Farrukhabad development block, media reports said.She then took her seat and heard complainants who had come for the public hearing. She listened to six complainants and directed the concerned officials to act on their complaints, according to IANS.Speaking on Tuesday, Payal said she felt very good about being made DM, according to media reports.Why the district did itMission Shakti is aimed at empowering girls and building self-confidence and leadership skills in them. Officials said the exercise also familiarises students with how the administrative system works.Media reports said the initiative gave the student a chance to understand the administrative process, the way public problems are resolved and the responsibilities of public service.Get the latest Education News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.