In a significant milestone for gender representation in Maharashtra’s bureaucracy, senior IAS officer Sujata Saunik has been appointed as the state’s first female Chief Secretary. Ms. Saunik, a seasoned IAS officer from the 1987 batch, assumed office on June 30, succeeding Nitin Kareer upon his retirement.
She currently holds the position of Additional Chief Secretary in the state’s Home Department and has recently been promoted to the post of Secretary.
Previously, she served as Additional Chief Secretary in the General Administration Department and has also worked in other departments, including Public Health.
Her appointment, unanimously endorsed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, marks a pivotal moment ahead of the state’s upcoming Assembly elections. It coincides with the government’s recent launch of the Fourth Women Policy, highlighting a commitment to women’s empowerment.
The transition ceremony took place at Mantralaya, the State Secretariat in Mumbai, where Ms. Saunik formally received charge from Mr. Kareer. Prior to her elevation, she held the position of Additional Chief Secretary in the Home Department, and has served in various key roles including public health and general administration.
Ms. Saunik’s appointment follows another trailblazing achievement earlier this year when Rashmi Shukla was appointed as the first woman Director General of Police in Maharashtra. These appointments signify a progressive shift towards gender parity in Maharashtra’s leadership positions.
Despite challenges and previous oversights, Ms. Saunik’s ascendancy to the Chief Secretary role underscores her resilience and competence in public service.
She is set to retire in June next year, after a distinguished career that has spanned several critical administrative domains in the state. She brings over 37 years of expertise in public policy and governance across healthcare, finance, education, disaster management, and peacekeeping.
She originally belongs to Haryana. She is a Takemi Fellow from the School of Public Health at Harvard Universit. Ms Saunik also served six years in Yugoslavia and one year in Cambodia as a representative of the United Nations.
Prior to becoming the chief secretary, Saunik, whose husband Manoj Saunik, also an IAS officer of 1987 batch, is also a former state chief secretary, served as the additional chief secretary in the state’s home department.
As Maharashtra welcomes its first female Chief Secretary, Ms. Saunik’s tenure is poised to set new benchmarks in governance and administration, reflecting broader strides towards inclusive leadership and gender equality in the state’s bureaucratic landscape.
