The Bhajan Lal Sharma government changed the heads of three important departments – Water, Electricity and Health.
Bhaskar Sawant, who was serving as principal secretary food and consumer affairs, has been transferred as principal secretary public health engineering department (PHED) and water resources. Subir Kumar, who was serving as principal secretary higher education, has been transferred to food and consumer affairs department to replace Sawant.
“Sawant is a result oriented, efficient officer. As principal secretary energy and chairman discoms Sawant had done a remarkable job specially during the days of power crisis. He also has experience of working as principal secretary UDH. He is a good choice for PHED. His academic background of engineering can be handy in this department. Though it will be a challenge for him to bring out this department to the clutches of corruption,” said a senior IAS officer.
Sawant has replaced Samit Sharma, who has been transferred as secretary animal husbandry department with additional charge of skill, employment and entrepreneurship development. He will also handle charge of chairman and managing director of Rajasthan Skill and Livelihood Development Corporation.
“Samit Sharma is a creative officer. The additional charges he is handling suits him better,” the officer said.
Gayatri Rathore, who is credited to have transformed the tourism department in Rajasthan has been given a challenging and sensitive post of principal secretary medical and health. She will also handle the post of principal secretary medical education.
“Gayatri Rathore has emerged as an efficient, upright and dynamic officer. She pulled up Rajasthan tourism during Covid times through innovations. The medical and health department too needs the similar innovative initiatives from her,” said a senior IAS officer.
Rathore has replaced Shubhra Singh, who has been finally posted out of secretariat as chairman Rajasthan Road State Road Transport Corporation. She will also handle charge of chairman Rajasthan State Bus Terminal Development Corporation.
“Shubhra Singh, two batches senior to chief secretary Sudhansh Pant, is finally out of secretariat. During her tenure, the kidney transplant racket surfaced, which forced government to remove few officials including Dr Sudhir Bhandari, who was serving as the vice chancellor Rajasthan Health University,” the official said.
Ravi Jain, who was serving as secretary and commissioner Panchayatiraj, has been transferred as secretary tourism. Jain had served as director information and public relations and commissioner JDA in his previous tenures.
“He is considered as an efficient officer. Tourism is important sector and contributes around 15% in the SGDP. Jain has a crucial role to play with tourism season ahead,” said a senior IAS officer.
Vijay Pal Singh, who was serving as commissioner Sanskrit education, has been transferred as commissioner tourism. He had earlier served as managing director Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC).
Arti Dogra, who was serving as secretary information Technology & Communication (IT&C) has been transferred as chairman discoms and managing director Jaipur Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited (JVVNL).
She has replaced Bhanu Parkash Yeturu, who has been transferred to secretary tribal area development (TAD).
“Bhanu Prakash Yeturu has been requesting for his transfer for long time as discom seemed to hit to handle for him. The government has found a good officer to handle Discom now. Arti Dogra has done extremely well while serving as managing director Jodhpur Discom. As secretary to chief minister Ashok Gehlot, she as handling energy department. As a non controversial officer, Dogra has the capability to improve the efficiency of discoms,” said a senior IAS officer, who remained untouched in this list.
Inderjeet Singh, who was serving as special secretary and commissioner Information Technology and Communication, has been rewarded with important post of managing director RIICO. He will also handle additional charge of commissioner Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor.
“A couple of days back, he had led a team which won Silver Award for IT innovation at National e-Gov conference. Now he has been given charge of MD RIICO. At a time when government is busy in ensuring success of investors summit – Rising Rajasthan – instilling confidence in Inderjeet Singh means a lot,” said a senior IAS officer.
Singh replaced Nakate Shivprasad Madan, who has been transferred as excise commissioner and ex-officio director prohibition. He has replaced Ansh Deep who has gone on central deputation to union ministry of cooperation as deputy secretary. Nakate had served two terms as managing director RIICO.
Prakash Bhandari is a veteran journalist with over 50 years of experience. He has worked with The Times of India for 30 years and contributed to leading publications as well as international news agency AFP.
