https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

37 Years in Govt Have Equipped Me Well For Chief Secy Post: Radha Raturi

Indian Masterminds Stories

When 1988 batch IAS officer Radha Raturi joined as the Chief Secretary of Uttarkhand, she created history. She became the first woman to sit in this topmost bureaucratic chair in the state. Before her elevation to this coveted post, she was serving as Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Secretariat Administration. 

Ms. Raturi comes with a treasure trove of experiences in the administrative field. She joined IAS in 1988 after cracking the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Exam. In fact, to her credit, she is among the few who could crack this highly tough exam in all their attempts. Before joining IAS, she had got selected for IPS and Indian Information Service. 

Ms. Raturi with husband Anil Raturi (retd. IPS)

She had joined as an IAS officer in Uttar Pradesh, and then came to Uttarakhand after the division. She has served in various crucial positions, including that of the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttarakhand for 10 years.

There are many other facets to this new Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand. She had dabbled in journalism in the past, and sings folk songs. But, most of all, she is known for her efficiency and honesty. In this exclusive interview to Indian Masterminds, Ms. Raturi shared her vision for taking the state ahead, and the challenges on the way that she is preparing for. 

Q. Uttarakhand got its first woman DGP in 2004 when Ms. Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya was appointed. It took 20 years for a woman Chief Secretary to be appointed. What are your thoughts on it?

A. It happens when it has to happen. I am grateful to almighty God, my parents, my husband and my children who have supported me on my journey of self-actualisation. My taking charge as Chief Secretary is part of my destiny, which has come in 2024.

Q. How does it feel to be the first among bureaucrats? Does it add extra responsibilities?

A. Chief Secretary is a post with a lot of responsibilities. I think I am well equipped for that owing to my long experience of 37 years in the government. My focus will be especially on women’s issues, starting with women’s health, education, skill development and their security at workplace, so that we can increase female work place participation, and try to create a better environment for girls and women to achieve their full potential.

Q. Uttarakhand is a peaceful state, so what challenges do you foresee?

A. Uttarakhand is a peaceful state with a lot of challenges due to its geographical adversities, natural calamities, and lack of livelihood opportunities in the remote hill villages. So, I just want to be better prepared for any challenge that is thrown my way. 

Q. With UCC on the anvil, do you anticipate some tensions in the state? What are your preparations for UCC? 

A. We are going through the legal processes to implement UCC in Uttarakhand. All are alert on the ground, and no trouble is anticipated.

Q. Uttarakhand has some unique agriculture products like rhododendron and a couple of millets and pulses. How do you plan to harness their potential?

A. Uttarakhand has a lot of potential for agri products, especially millets, pulses, fruits, and nuts. For their better marketing, we have launched an umbrella brand ‘House of Himalayas’, which was declared by the hon’ble Prime Minister in the global investors summit.

Q. Industry brings in jobs, but on the hills, is it easy to set up industries? How do you plan to go about it? Do you have any plan for boosting tourism?

A. Industry in any hill state has to balance ecology and economy. Our focus areas are tourism, hospitality, food processing, yoga, Ayurveda, film making, IT, startups, etc. Tourism is our main focus area. Important components are temple tourism, adventure tourism, sports tourism, homestays in the hills, creating new tourist destinations, forest safaris, etc. Tourism is also very beneficial for creating maximum employment, especially women’s employment.

Q. Your love for music is well known. Will you continue singing or it will be on hold till your tenure as CS gets over?

A. Music is an integral part of my life. So, I suppose it will always be there.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Tamilnadu-police-resized
PIL Filed in Madras High Court Seeking Timely Appointment of New Tamil Nadu DGP - Details Inside
IRS Officers ndian revenue Services
CBDT Announces Promotions of 5 Senior IRS Officers to Chief Commissioner Grade - Details Inside
CM mohan yadav
CM Dr. Mohan Yadav to Lay Foundation Stone for Four Industrial Units in Sehore on August 2
Reserve-Bank-of-India_RBI_resized
Two Years After Withdrawal, Rs2,000 Notes Worth Rs6,017 Cr Still with Public: RBI
Maritime India
Sonowal Says India’s Maritime Sector Charts Green Future Under Maritime India Vision 2030
IRCTC
IRCTC Appoints Manoj Kumar Sharma as Director (Catering Services) with Additional Charge- Know More About Him
Ministry of Commerce
Nearly 2 Lakh Startups Registered on BHASKAR Platform Across India, Asserts Commerce Ministry
Union Bank of India UBI
Union Bank of India Elevates Vipan Singh as Chief General Manager Following Superannuation of Chander Mohan Minocha
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
How IAS Karn Satyarthi Transformed Gumla Through Empathy and Innovation
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi’s Take on Corruption, Reform, and Duty
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
What Most Indians Don't Know About Jim Corbett
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
BPSC Bihar police
From Lantern Light to Police Uniform: How Praveen Kumar from a Small Bihar Village Cracked BPSC to Become SDPO
From a lantern-lit village in Bihar to becoming an SDPO, Praveen Kumar's journey is a testament to resilience,...
IAS Priyansha Garg
Why Mindset Matters: IAS Priyansha Garg’s Mental Health Mantra for UPSC
After two failed prelims, Priyansha Garg cracked UPSC with AIR 31 in her fourth attempt, proving how...
Ashish Akshat
From Setback to State Topper: How Ashish Akshat Topped JPSC While Working Full-Time
Ashish Akshat from Dhanbad topped JPSC 2023, proving that resilience, discipline, and family support...
Social Media
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: From India’s First Sanctuary to a Tiger Conservation Success Story | International Tiger Day Special
IAS Supriya Sahu Hails Mudumalai's Role in Tiger Conservation on Tiger Day. Declared in 1940, Now Among...
Mangroves
Mangroves: Nature’s Shield Against Disasters, Says Officer Parveen Kaswan on Mangroves Day - Watch His Post Here
Mangroves, with their dense, interlaced root systems, form a mesh-like structure that serves as a buffer...
Retired IPS Inderjit Singh Sidhu
Purpose Doesn’t Retire: How 88-Year-Old Retired DIG Becomes Chandigarh’s ‘Quiet Warrior’ of Cleanliness
Inderjit Singh Sidhu’s Dawn Patrol Earns Applause, Mahindra’s Praise for a Man Who Chose Action Over...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Tamilnadu-police-resized
PIL Filed in Madras High Court Seeking Timely Appointment of New Tamil Nadu DGP - Details Inside
IRS Officers ndian revenue Services
CBDT Announces Promotions of 5 Senior IRS Officers to Chief Commissioner Grade - Details Inside
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT