With more women on top, MEA heads for major rejig

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) is set for a major shake up — five divisional heads (joint secretaries) were shuffled around on Friday and many are in the process for getting new postings.

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) is set for a major shake up — five divisional heads (joint secretaries) were shuffled around on Friday and many are in the process for getting new postings.

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One of the ideas behind the rejig includes having more women heads at the headquarters, government sources said.

The MEA also decided to continue with a career diplomat, with Hamid Ali Rao replacing Talmiz Ahamed as country's ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The most visible face of the MEA, spokesperson Vishnu Prakash, is being considered for a posting to South Korea in September, sources added.

After a successful stint in the United Nations Political (UNP) division where he played a key role in India's ongoing efforts to be a permanent member in the world body, Harsh Vardhan Shringla has been shifted to head the BSM division that deal with key neighbours Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The present joint secretary of BSM division TS Tirumurti shifted to the UNES (United Nations Economic and Social), and AR Ghanashyam from that division is the new joint secretary in-charge of sensitive Gulf and Haj in place of Rajiv Chander. Chander has been made the joint secretary, Sarrc in place of Pawan Kapoor who is the new joint secretary (UNP).

Among the present joint secretaries who are set to move out from headquarters include TP Seetharam (Europe west), Taranjit Singh Sandhu (administration), Satish Mehta (JS north), Arun Goel (JS south), RK Tyagi (JS, CNV), Gurjit Singh (JS, Africa). Joint secretary (Latin America and Caribbean) Damu Ravi will be moving into the oil ministry.