Major IAS reshuffle; Sriram Venkitaraman appointed as Director of Agriculture Department; Promotion and transfer for senior officers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has issued orders for transfers and promotions of senior IAS officers. Additional responsibilities of some have been waived. Sriram Venkitaraman, who was the Resources Secretary in the Finance Department, has been appointed as the Director of the Agriculture Department. This post has been specially elevated for one year. He has also been given the additional charge of the Managing Director of the Kerala Financial Corporation till the end of the financial year. PB Nooh, who was the Chairman of Civil Supplies, has been appointed as the Special Secretary of the Transport Department. He will also have the additional charge of the Chairman of the Transport Development Finance Corporation.

Dr. Aswathy Srinivas will be appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Civil Supplies Corporation. Mukund Thakur, who was the Civil Supplies Commissioner, has been replaced by Muhammad Shafiq. Additional Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar, who is holding additional charge of the Social Justice Department, Principal Secretary Dr Sharmila Mary Joseph, who is holding additional charge of the Women and Child Development Department, Principal Secretary Muhammad Haneesh, who is holding additional charge of the Sports, Youth Affairs and Minority Welfare Departments, and Secretary Dr K Vasuki, who is holding additional charge of the Transport Department, have been relieved of their additional charges. All the Special Secretaries posted above will have independent charge of their respective departments.

Adheela Abdullah has been appointed as Special Secretary, Social Justice Department. She has also been given additional charge of the Women and Child Development Department. Fisheries Director B Abdul Nasser has been appointed as Special Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs Department. He will also have additional charge of the posts of Special Secretary, Minority Welfare Department and Fisheries Director.