Madhya Pradesh Sees Major Administrative Reshuffle: 23 IAS Officers Transferred, 11 District Collectors Changed

Major Administrative Shake-up in Madhya Pradesh: 23 IAS Officers Transferred, 11 District Collectors Replaced

The Dr. Mohan Yadav government in Madhya Pradesh has undertaken a significant reshuffling of the state's administrative machinery, with 23 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers being assigned new posts. Orders issued late on the night of October 13 by the General Administration Department indicate that the responsibilities of collectors in 11 districts across the state have been altered.

As part of this extensive reshuffle, senior IAS officer Sukhbir Singh has been appointed Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, while Rashmi Arun Shami has been entrusted with the crucial responsibility of the Health Department. This revamp sees changes in leadership not only at the district administration level but also in several key government departments.

The government's decision impacts major districts including Jabalpur, Bhind, Raisen, Narmadapuram, Harda, Mauganj, Panna, Singrauli, Balaghat, Shajapur, and Burhanpur. The administrative command of these significant districts will now be in the hands of new officers. Some officials have been moved from district administration roles to the secretariat or other departmental responsibilities, while others have been appointed as new collectors.

Key Appointment in the Chief Minister's Office

The appointment of Sukhbir Singh to the Chief Minister's Office is a prominent part of this reshuffle. Previously, Sukhbir Singh served as the Principal Secretary of the Public Works Department. In the new arrangement, he has been appointed Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, with additional charge of the Public Works Department also assigned to him. This ensures that leadership for both the Chief Minister's Office and the Public Works Department rests with him.

New Responsibilities for Collectors of 11 Districts

Arun Kumar Vishwakarma has been appointed as the new Collector for Jabalpur district. He was previously serving as the Collector of Raisen district. The outgoing Collector of Jabalpur, Raghavendra Singh, has been transferred to the post of Managing Director of the Madhya Pradesh State Agriculture Marketing Board and Mandi Commissioner.

Rohit Sisodia has been appointed as the new Collector for Raisen district, having previously served as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development. In Bhind district, Pawan Kumar Jain has been appointed as the new Collector, previously serving as Deputy Secretary in the Cooperation Department. The current Collector of Bhind, Kirodilal Meena, has now been given the responsibility of Deputy Secretary in the Finance Department.

Ashish Vashishth has been entrusted with the responsibility of Collector for Narmadapuram. He was previously the Managing Director of the Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation. The former Collector of Narmadapuram, Somesh Mishra, has been appointed Director of the AIDS Control Society and Director of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation.

In Harda district, Kumar Satyam has been appointed as the new Collector; he was the former Collector of Balaghat. The outgoing Collector of Harda, Siddharth Jain, has been transferred to the post of Deputy Secretary in the Commercial Tax Department. In Balaghat, Aditya Singh has been appointed as the new Collector. Aditya Singh was previously the Director of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation.

The decision to change the Collector in Balaghat was made amidst questions raised regarding administrative action following a sensitive case related to child deaths. Similarly, issues concerning farmer protests over moong procurement and related administrative actions in Harda and Narmadapuram regions have also been in discussion recently.

In Mauganj district, Rajesh Kumar Ogare has been appointed as the new Collector, who was Additional Secretary in the Commercial Tax Department. The outgoing Collector of Mauganj, Sanjay Kumar Jain, has been sent to the post of Deputy Secretary in the Department of Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development.

In Panna district, Harsh Singh has been appointed as the new Collector, who was the former Collector of Burhanpur. The outgoing Collector of Panna, Usha Parmar, has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Department of Horticulture and Food Processing. This decision to change the Collector in Panna is considered significant amidst land acquisition cases related to the Ken-Betwa Link Project.

In Singrauli district, Ankit Asthana has been appointed as the new Collector, who was working as Deputy Secretary in the General Administration Department and Director of the Staff Selection Board. The outgoing Collector of Singrauli, Gaurav Benal, has been given the responsibility of Deputy Secretary in the General Administration Department and Director of the Staff Selection Board.

In Shajapur district, Parikshit Jhade has been appointed as the new Collector, who was the Chief Executive Officer of the Indore Development Authority. The outgoing Collector of Shajapur, Riju Baafna, has been appointed as Additional Commissioner, Revenue, in the Ujjain division.

In Burhanpur district, Vivek Kumar has been appointed as the new Collector; he was previously Deputy Secretary in the New and Renewable Energy Department.

Changes in State-Level Departments

Responsibilities have also been redistributed in several important state-level departments. Senior IAS officer Rashmi Arun Shami has been appointed Additional Chief Secretary of the Public Health and Medical Education Department. She has also been given additional charge of other important responsibilities, including the Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department, Commissioner of Food Safety, and Chairperson of the Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education. She was previously Additional Chief Secretary in the Food and Civil Supplies Department.

Changes have also been made in the Public Relations Department. Bharat Yadav, Managing Director of the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation, has been given the additional charge of Secretary, Public Relations Department. Consequently, Additional Chief Secretary Anupam Rajan will be relieved of this additional responsibility.

John Kingsley A.R., who was serving as Secretary in the Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion Department, has been appointed Secretary of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Department.

Other Significant Appointments

Important changes have also been made in the Indore Development Authority. Parikshit Jhade, Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, has been appointed Collector of Shajapur. Meanwhile, Sandeep Kerketta, who was serving as Deputy Secretary in the Chief Minister's Office, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Indore Development Authority.

Additionally, K.C. Gupta, Agriculture Production Commissioner, has also been given the additional charge of the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection Department. This comprehensive administrative reshuffle by the state government includes key departments such as the Chief Minister's Office, district administration, health, public relations, agriculture, and industry. The changes in Collectors will establish a new system of administrative leadership in the districts.

The new officers will now face significant responsibilities including the effective implementation of government schemes, swift resolution of public grievances, smooth coordination of law and order, and acceleration of departmental work. The actual impact of this reshuffle will be reflected in the administrative decisions and the execution of public welfare works in the concerned districts.