Thiruvananthapuram: In a significant administrative overhaul, the Kerala government has effected a major reshuffle in its IAS cadre, transferring nearly two dozen senior officers across departments and districts.
A key highlight of this shake-up is the creation of a new ex-cadre post – Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Wayanad Township Project – a move that signals renewed focus on infrastructure development in the ecologically sensitive hill district.
New Ex-Cadre Posts for Key Development Projects
Arun J.O., formerly Director of the Backward Classes Development Department, has been appointed as the COO for the Wayanad Township Project, a position newly created for a one-year tenure. The post has been declared equivalent in status to the cadre post of Deputy Secretary under Rule 12 of the IAS (Pay) Rules, 2016.
Similarly, Harshil R. Meena, Subcollector of Kozhikode, has been transferred and appointed as Director, Environment and Climate Change, also through the creation of an ex-cadre post.
Major Departmental and District-Level Transfers
K. Vasuki, Secretary, Labour and Skills, has been transferred as Secretary, General Education.
Shanavas S., Director of General Education, will now serve as Special Secretary, Labour and Skills, with additional charge of Director of Panchayats.
Sheeba George, Additional Secretary in Revenue, becomes Additional Secretary, Health and Family Welfare.
Chithra S. takes charge as Additional Secretary, General Education.
Geetha A. is posted as Additional Secretary, Revenue, with full additional charges of Commissioner, Housing, Secretary, Kerala State Housing Board, and Director, Nirmithi Kendra.
Geromic George, back from study leave, has been posted as Principal Director, Local Self-Governments Department.
New Appointments of District Collectors
Umesh N.S.K (formerly DC, Ernakulam) is appointed Director of General Education, with additional charge of MD, Kerala Financial Corporation.
Priyanka G., DC of Palakkad, is posted as District Collector, Ernakulam.
Madhavikutty M.S. takes over as District Collector, Palakkad.
Chetan Kumar Meena becomes District Collector, Kottayam.
Dinesan Cheruvat is appointed District Collector, Idukki.
John V. Samuel moves to Director, State Water Transport Department.
V. Vigneshwari, DC of Idukki, is now Additional Secretary, Agriculture, with key additional responsibilities in the Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Project (KERA) and Centre for Continuing Education.
Leadership Changes in Key Missions and Agencies
Nizamudeen A., former MGNREGS Mission Director, is now Director, Kerala Institute of Local Administration, with additional charge of MD, Impact Kerala.
Sreedhanya Suresh, IGR, takes over as Additional Director (General), Tourism, continuing additional charge of Samoohika Sannadha Sena and Kerala Youth Leadership Academy.
Aswathy Srinivas becomes Additional Resident Commissioner, Kerala House, and takes charge of Director, Kerala State Insurance Department.
Meera K., Subcollector of Fort Kochi, is now Director, Survey and Land Records, and will continue as Inspector General, Registration.
Mithun Premraj is now Joint Commissioner, Land Revenue, with additional charge of Secretary, Land Board.
Misal Sagar Bharat becomes Deputy Secretary and OSD, SC/ST/Backward Classes, and Director, Backward Classes Development.
New Mission Directors and CEOs Appointed
Jayakrishnan V.M. is appointed MD, Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation.
Ranjith D. is posted as Mission Director, MGNREGS.
Apurva Tripathi is appointed CEO, Life Mission, with additional charge as Mission Director, AMRUT.
Fresh Posting for 2023 IAS Batch Subcollectors
Following completion of their training at LBSNAA, seven officers from the 2023 IAS batch have been posted as Subcollectors–
Anjeet Singh – Ottappalam
Atul Sagar – Mananthavady
Ayush Goel – Kottayam
Arya V.M. – Devikulam
S. Gautham Raj – Kozhikode
Grandhe Saikrishna – Fort Kochi
Sakshi Mohan – Perinthalmanna
These appointments reflect Kerala’s commitment to bolstering governance capacity at the grassroots level with trained young officers.
