The government of Chhattisgarh has lately conducted a significant administrative shake-up, affecting the portfolios of nine Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers and three Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers.
Following a circular issued by the state’s General Administration Department, Mr. Rajat Kumar (2005-batch IAS officer), who recently returned from central deputation, has been appointed as the Secretary of Commerce and Industry. Officer Kumar had previously served in the Raman Singh government.
Ms. Richa Sharma (1994-batch IAS officer), last posted as Additional Chief Secretary for Forests, will now also handle the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Rights departments in new her role as Additional Chief Secretary.
Mr. P. Dayanand (2006-batch IAS officer), the incumbent Secretary to the Chief Minister’s Secretary, will be relieved from his additional role as Secretary of Commerce, Industry (Railway Projects), and the Aviation Department.
IAS Ankit Anand (2006 batch), the incumbent Secretary of Commerce and Industry, has been reassigned to head the Planning, Economy, and Statistics Department, while also taking on additional responsibilities as Secretary of Housing, Environment, and Pollution Control. Basavraju S, the Chief Minister’s Secretary, will now also oversee the Aviation Department.
IAS Bheem Singh (2008 batch) has been appointed Secretary of the Panchayat and Rural Development Department. The other IAS transferees include Mr. Rajesh Singh Rana, Mr. Sarveshwar Narendra Bhure, Mr. Jitendra Kumar Shukla, and Mr. Prabhat Malik.
The reshuffle also impacts certain IFS officers — Mr. Arun Prasad P (2006 batch), Mr. Vishwesh Kumar (2007 batch), and Mr. Vivek Acharay (2006 batch).
It is being perceived that this reshuffle aims to invigorate the Bhupesh Baghel government’s initiatives and ensure that welfare programs are delivered more effectively to beneficiaries.
