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In a recent bureaucratic reshuffle, the Odisha government has reassigned key IAS officers, appointing new department Secretaries and assigning additional responsibilities to senior officials. This restructuring is expected to streamline administrative functions and address evolving state priorities. Here’s a breakdown of each officer’s previous and new assignments:
1. Girish SN
- Previous Position: On central deputation (no state-level department).
- New Position: Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department.
- Batch: 2002 IAS.
- Key Role: Tasked with enhancing rural development programs and ensuring effective implementation of water and sanitation initiatives across the state.
2. Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar
- Previous Position: Special Secretary, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department; Additional Charge as CEO of Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS).
- New Position: Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Handloom, Textiles & Handicrafts Department.
- Additional Charge: Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Excise Department.
- Batch: 2008 IAS.
- Key Role: Focuses on boosting Odisha’s traditional handloom and handicrafts sectors while overseeing policies in the Excise Department.
3. Deoranjan Kumar Singh
- Previous Position: Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department with Additional Charge as Special Relief Commissioner (SRC).
- New Additional Charge: Chairman, Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC).
- Batch: 1993 IAS.
- Key Role: In his expanded role, Singh will manage disaster relief, revenue matters, and forest resource development and sustainability.
4. Vishal Kumar Dev
- Previous Position: Principal Secretary, Electronics & Information Technology Department.
- New Additional Charge: Principal Secretary, Energy Department.
- Batch: 1996 IAS.
- Key Role: Responsible for synergizing technological advancements in IT with energy management and sustainability initiatives across the state.
5. Sanjay Kumar Singh
- Previous Position: Principal Secretary, Rural Development Department with Additional Charge as Principal Secretary to Information and Public Relations Department.
- New Additional Charge: Principal Secretary, Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Department.
- Batch: 1997 IAS.
- Key Role: Singh’s expanded role aligns with the government’s focus on rural development, resource distribution, and public welfare, as he now oversees multiple public-facing departments.
6. Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma
- Previous Position: Principal Secretary, Sports and Youth Services Department.
- New Additional Charge: CMD, Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL).
- Batch: (IAS batch not specified).
- Key Role: Sarma’s additional charge reflects an emphasis on integrating youth empowerment initiatives with infrastructure development in the energy transmission sector.
Key Implications and Government Focus
- Enhanced Rural and Industrial Development: The appointments indicate a concerted push toward balanced rural growth alongside Odisha’s industrial ambitions.
- Technology and Energy Integration: The integration of IT and Energy departments under one principal secretary showcases Odisha’s commitment to modernizing energy management through technological interventions.
- Public Welfare and Sustainability: By assigning officers to handle roles in welfare, rural development, and forest management, the reshuffle demonstrates the government’s dual focus on public welfare and sustainable practices.
The reshuffle aligns Odisha’s administration with current priorities, ensuring efficient governance and balanced development across sectors.
Prasanta Patnaik