The government of Chandigarh administration has recently approved the appointment of IAS Deeprava Lakra as the Finance Secretary of Chandigarh. Officer Lakra served as the District Collector of Bathinda in 2017.
Mr. Deeprava Lakra, a 2005-batch Punjab cadre IAS officer and a native of Odisha has done MSc, LLB, and also B Tech (Electrical engineering) from IIT Kharagpur. He has held several key positions, including SDM of Zira and Dhuri, ADC of Muktsar Sahib, and Special Secretary for Home Affairs and Justice. Additionally, he served as the Deputy Commissioner in Jharkhand for three years on inter-cadre deputation starting in 2010.
During his tenure as Deputy Commissioner of Bathinda, he actively promoted the diversification of small farmers from traditional wheat and rice farming to vegetable cultivation. Nearly every Saturday, he visited villages to meet with residents, understand their challenges, and provide guidance on improving their agricultural practices. He encouraged farmers to consult the agriculture department for advice instead of relying on dealers or agents. He also urged villagers to take photos during agriculture training camps organized by the department and send them to him via WhatsApp.
Officer Lakra consistently monitored agriculture-related schemes on a biweekly basis, earning a strong reputation as an effective Deputy Commissioner in Bathinda.
