Questions Raised Over IAS Tina Dabi’s Presidential Award Amid Alleged Data Discrepancies

Barmer: Barmer Collector IAS Tina Dabi, recently honored with the Presidential Award by President Draupadi Murmu for her work in Jal Shakti Abhiyan and water conservation community participation programs, is now facing serious allegations over the authenticity of the data presented for the award.

Parliamentary Concerns

Umedram Beniwal, MP from Barmer-Jaisalmer, raised concerns in the Lok Sabha during discussions on the Developed India Guarantee Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) Bill, 2025. He alleged that Tina Dabi submitted misleading figures to secure the award, presenting compiled data from the past four to five years as achievements of a single year. According to Beniwal, this was a deliberate attempt to gain recognition and acclaim.

Controversy in ‘DISHA’ Meeting

The matter first surfaced on November 25, 2025, during a District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting in Barmer. During the session, MP Beniwal requested detailed information on the data linked to the Presidential Award. While the figures presented by the Collector and the District Council CEO appeared formally accurate, Tina Dabi herself reportedly admitted that data from four to five years of work was aggregated and presented as one year’s achievements to secure the award.

Local Legislators Question Credibility

Independent MLA Ravindra Singh Bhati from Barmer’s Shiv Assembly constituency also questioned the integrity of the presented data. He stated that the ground-level status of development work did not match the figures submitted for the award. Bhati alleged that older development projects were presented as recent achievements, casting doubt on the credibility of the award data.

The controversy has sparked debate over transparency and accountability in reporting achievements for national honors, highlighting concerns about the verification process for such prestigious awards.