Pandian gets Cabinet rank day after approval of voluntary retirement from IAS

A 2000 batch IAS officer, Pandian started his career as the Dharmagarh sub-collector in the Kalahandi district and joined the Odisha Chief Minister’s Office in 2011

Published on: Oct 24, 2023, 12:27:42 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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V Karthikeyan Pandian was on Tuesday appointed as the chairman of 5T (Transformational Initiatives) and Nabin Odisha in the rank of Cabinet minister, a day after his application for voluntary retirement from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) was accepted.

Pandian shall work directly under chief minister Naveen Patnaik. (ANI)

The Ama Odisha Nabina Odisha Scheme seeks to transform rural Odisha by augmenting rural infrastructure, accelerating growth as well as preserving the rich cultural heritage. It envisages spending of ₹50 lakh in each gram panchayat. The scheme was earlier known as the Ama Gaon Ama Bikash Scheme, which was launched ahead of the 2019 polls.

“Pandian shall work directly under the Chief Minister [Naveen Patnaik],” Odisha’s general administration and public grievance department said in a statement.

A 2000 batch IAS officer, Pandian started his career as the Dharmagarh sub-collector in the Kalahandi district. He joined the Odisha Chief Minister’s Office in 2011 and became Patnaik’s most trusted official.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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