Rajiv Gauba takes charge as Urban Development Secy

Former Jharkhand Chief Secretary Rajiv Gauba today took charge as the Secretary of Urban Development Ministry.
A Jharkhand-cadre IAS officer of 1982 batch, Gauba joins the Ministry on superannuation of Madhusudhan Prasad yesterday, an official release said.
Gauba, who is a Physics graduate from Patna University, has wide-ranging experience in senior positions in policy-making and programme implementation in central and state governments and in international organisations, it added.
Prior to his current assignment, he was the Chief Secretary of Jharkhand for 15 months.
Gauba has also served in International Monetary Fund Board for four representing the country, besides serving as Collector and District Magistrate for seven years in districts of Gaya, Nalanda and Muzaffarpur in Bihar.

After assuming charge, he said, "With the launch of urban development initiatives like Smart City Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, Heritage City Development Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission, the focus of the Ministry now shifts to effective and timely implementation of the schemes by the states and urban local bodies through effective coordination with them."
"The government is attaching priority to urban agenda and best efforts need to be made for successful implementation of the new initiatives," he added.