Kerala IAS Reshuffle: 35 Officers Moved, KSEB Gets New Chief

Power, health and industry get new leadership

The power sector sees two important changes. Puneet Kumar, who was handling Water Resources, has been posted as Additional Chief Secretary, Power. He will continue as Resident Commissioner at Kerala House in New Delhi. At the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), Prasanth N has been appointed Chairman and Managing Director, and he will keep charge of the Sports and Youth Affairs Department. M.G. Rajamanickam, who was heading the KSEB, has been posted as Secretary, Local Self Government Department.

In health, Mohammed Hanish has been appointed Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare. He will also hold charge of Ayush, General Education, Waqf and Minority Welfare. Sharmila Mary Joseph, who was Principal Secretary, Health, moves to the Transport Department. Subhash T.V. has been placed at the disposal of the Health Department for appointment as Managing Director of the Kerala Medical Services Corporation.

M. Beena, back from central deputation, has been appointed Principal Secretary, Industries. Jafar Malik, also returning from central deputation, becomes Commissioner of the Kerala State Goods and Services Tax Department.

Other appointments include:

• Anupama T.V., Secretary, Local Self Government, shifted to Finance (Expenditure)
• Veena N. Madhavan, Secretary, Agriculture
• P.B. Nooh, Special Secretary, Labour
• Afsana Perween, Managing Director, MILMA, after returning from leave

The order also covers Tourism, Higher Education, Science and Technology, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development, Disaster Management, and Electronics and Information Technology.

What it means for governance

Many of the new postings are in departments that the public deals with directly. Finance, State GST and Expenditure now have new officers at a time when revenue collection and spending control remain under close watch. Changes at KSEB and in the Power department will matter to every electricity consumer in the state. In health, the reshuffle brings new leadership to the department and to the corporation that handles the procurement of medicines and medical supplies.

Several senior officers will also be handling large combined portfolios. How quickly they settle into these roles will decide whether this reshuffle improves the administration’s pace.

With inputs from IANS.