Government starts headhunt for key secretaries

The Manmohan Singh government has started the search for officers who can fill up vacancies in the top slots in various key ministries.

The headhunt comes as several slots have become vacant or will in the next few months. Moreover, the government is gearing up for a big push to policy reforms associated with foreign and domestic investments, tackling corruption and inclusive growth in the next few months.

It would need officials who can handle jobs in these spheres effectively. Many of the vacant slots are now under officers with additional charge apart from their main departments.

Search is on to find a new secretary in ministry of information technology, which is currently being held as an additional charge by Telecom Secretary R Chandrasekhar, who has to play crucial role in finding ways to handle the situation arising out of the Supreme Court’s verdict cancelling 122 2-G licences.

Similarly, though Steel Secretary P K Mishra has moved to the department of personnel as secretary, he has been assigned the additional charge of steel ministry. The government has to appoint a full-time secretary in the steel ministry. Jawhar Sircar, who was secretary of culture, has been appointed as the CEO of Prasar Bharati, leaving the former post vacant.

A number of secretaries holding critical areas are retiring after March.

Economic Affairs Secretary R Gopalan is retiring in April. The official coming in his position will have to ensure implementation of Budget measures and handle government initiatives to drive foreign investments into the country in the backdrop of government’s intentions of taking tough decisions in this regard after March. The new economic affairs secretary will have to handle implementation of FDI in multi-brand retail and in civil aviation.

Other important secretaries retiring in the first half of this year include Law Secretary D R Meena. The new law secretary is expected to play a critical role in the 2G cases, and important legislations for handling corruption and government’s inclusive growth agenda.

Coal Secretary Alok Perti will be retiring in May. With the prime minister’s office taking keen interest in ensuring coal supply to the power producers, a balancing act between the government’s interest and that of Coal India will be the job of the official coming in place of Perti.