BHUBANESWAR: Odisha is all set to get its first woman chief secretary with the government appointing senior IAS officer Anu Garg to the post. Garg, presently the development commissioner-cum-additional chief secretary, will take over from Manoj Ahuja, who will retire on December 31.
“Anu Garg, IAS, DC-cum-ACS and secretary to Government, Planning and Convergence department with additional charge of additional chief secretary to government, Water Resources department is appointed as chief secretary, Odisha and secretary to government, General Administration and Public Grievance department vice Manoj Ahuja, IAS, retiring on December 31,” read the notification issued by the General Administration and Public Grievance department on Wednesday.
A 1991-batch IAS officer, Garg brings extensive administrative experience spanning more than three decades. Born on March 31, 1969, she has over three years of service remaining before retirement, providing her sufficient time to further shape and strengthen the administration.
In February 2023, Garg became the first woman IAS officer to assume charge as the development commissioner of the state. During her tenure, she also became the first senior official to visit Swabhiman Anchal, a Maoist-affected region, where she spent a night at Badapada village in March 2023 along with a team of senior officials.
Known for her committed work, Garg has served in several key departments, including Women and Child Development, Labour and ESI, and Health and Family Welfare.
She also has significant experience at the Centre. Her most notable central assignment was as joint secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) from November 10, 2012, to April 22, 2015. She also served as joint secretary in the Textiles and Health and Family Welfare ministries before returning to the Odisha cadre in 2017.
Garg began her administrative career as sub-collector of Jharsuguda sub-division from August 30, 1993, to July 1, 1995. She later served as collector of the western Odisha districts of Bargarh and Sambalpur between 1996 and 1998. She was also posted as deputy resident commissioner of Odisha at New Delhi from December 21, 1998 to June 15, 2000.