IAS Tushar Sumera belongs to 2012 batch, Gujarat cadre and is currently posted as district collector of Bharuch. With a vision to uplift the lives of the elderly and widows in Bharuch. Sumera launched Utkarsh pahal, an initiative to provide financial assistance and other benefits to widows, destitute and elderly citizens. “The project was so successful that Bharuch became the first district in the country to fully cover widow benefits, financial support for widows, and assistance for the elderly,” he noted. “The initiative even received appreciation from the Honourable Prime Minister.”
 
Under his leadership the coverage was achieved in 545 gram panchayats across all 663 villages and in four municipalities, completing the work 100%.
 
Building on the success of Utkarsh Pahal, Sumera introduced other initiatives aimed at sustainable farming, empowering young adults and expanding healthcare access. “Krishi Utkarsh promoted organic farming,” he said, “and Kishori Utkarsh was another level altogether. This program focused on young adults, especially girls, and covered six essential modules, followed by assessments to track their progress.” For healthcare, he launched Arogya Utkarsh, where he explained, “We organized camps to maximize Arogya card distribution and ensure healthcare access for all.”
 
About his favourite project of them all he said “Roshni is my own favourite project,” he further shared “Sujani is a special, unique craft that had almost vanished; only one family in Bharuch was still practicing it. I started Project Roshnifor revival of Bharuch’s unique yet nearly extinct handicraft Sujani” Through Project Roshni, Sujani received a GI tag and was even included in the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme. Additionally a  training center has been set up, a cooperative is formed, and the artisans are being helped in marketing. “Now, Sujani is no longer just a single family’s craft; old artisans have returned and many are practicing it now,” he said.
 
Known for having big dreams, Sumera also has plans for urban development through the initiative My livable Bharuch “I interacted with people who are working on how cities should be,” he shared. Apart from this after so many years Bharuch has now begun implementing its own town planning schemes.