Sakshi Sawhney: Amritsar's First Female DC Leads On-Ground Flood Relief

Punjab is battling its worst floods in decades. In Amritsar alone, more than 35,000 people have been affected as the Ravi River overflowed, submerging villages and farmland. Relief camps have been set up, but the challenges remain enormous.  Amid this crisis, one figure has drawn attention: IAS Sakshi Sawhney, the first woman Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar. A 2014 batch officer who secured 6th rank in the UPSC exam, she has become the face of relief efforts in the district.

Sakshi Sawhney has not stayed behind office walls. She has gone into the villages, inspected relief camps, and spoken directly to those affected. Women have hugged her in gratitude, and elders have blessed her. These gestures show how much it matters when a leader is not only seen but also felt among the people.

Her leadership style is different from the distant authority often associated with bureaucracy. She leads by being present, by listening, and by ensuring that help reaches those who need it most.

A First for Amritsar

Amritsar has never had a woman Deputy Commissioner before. For a city with deep history and tradition, Sawhney’s role is symbolic. It shows how women in power can bring new forms of leadership.

Leadership is usually described in terms of control and command. But Sawhney demonstrates that empathy and care are not soft qualities; they are essential in moments of crisis. This is what feminist leadership looks like: strong, compassionate, and inclusive

Floods may hit everyone, but their impact is not the same for all. Women often carry heavier burdens, looking after children, the elderly, and daily survival, often without privacy or security in relief camps.

Having a woman administrator at the helm makes these struggles more visible. Sawhney’s presence is not just about breaking a glass ceiling; it is about shaping responses that reflect women’s realities on the ground.

Alongside the administration, communities in Punjab have shown remarkable solidarity. Gurdwaras have provided free meals, volunteers have distributed clothes and medicines, and people across faiths have come together to help. This collective spirit mirrors Sawhney’s approach to governance, rooted in care and responsibility.

Hats off to hard work of Deputy commissioner of Amritsar Sakshi Sawhney ji @dc_amritsar 🫡#PunjabFloods || #Punjabpic.twitter.com/BKNKHg6HNI

— Gurpreet Singh Maan (@iamgurpreetmaan) September 1, 2025

While relief efforts continue, the bigger challenge is long-term. Punjab needs stronger systems to face climate-driven disasters. But equally important is building leadership that is human and inclusive.

Sakshi Sawhney’s story is not only about a flood, but about what leadership can look like when women are at the center of it. She represents change not by words, but by action.

A Different Image of Power

The image of Sakshi Sawhney walking through flood-hit villages is powerful. It reminds us that governance is not only about files and orders; it is about being present when people need it most.

For young women watching, her story is an example: leadership does not have to imitate old models of authority. It can be empathetic, visible, and deeply connected to people’s lives.

In Amritsar, resilience has found a face in its first woman DC. Sakshi Sawhney shows that when women lead, leadership itself is redefined.

Views expressed by the author are their own.