Bhubaneswar: Senior IAS officer Anu Garg assumed office as the 47th Chief Secretary of Odisha on Wednesday, becoming the first woman to hold this position.
She took charge from outgoing Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja at Lok Seva Bhawan.
A 1991-batch IAS officer, Anu Garg affirmed her commitment to Odisha’s progress. “It is a big opportunity and an important duty I assumed today. We have created a vision document, Odisha @ 2036 and India @ 2047, and it is our foremost duty to make this dream a reality,” she said after assuming office
Underlining the significance of collective efforts, women empowerment, youth empowerment, and ease of doing business, Garg said she will try my best to upgrade the underdeveloped sector apart from taking forward these initiatives.
Prior to this appointment, Garg served as Development Commissioner as well as Additional Chief Secretary in the Water Resources, Planning and Convergence departments. She was Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare from 2008 to 2012 and has also held the post of Principal Secretary in the Labour and Women and Child Development departments.
Garg has worked in several ministries at the Centre and served as Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office.
A native of Uttar Pradesh, Garg brings over 34 years of administrative experience to her new role.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi congratulated Garg on assuming office. “Congratulations to Smt. Anu Garg on assuming the office of Chief Secretary of Odisha. Her appointment as the first woman to lead the State’s civil services is a historic milestone that reflects our commitment to excellence and empowerment. I am sure that her vast experience and vision will drive Odisha to scale new heights of development,” Majhi said in a post on X.
The CM further said, “Simultaneously, I express my gratitude and best wishes to Shri Manoj Ahuja on his superannuation. His tenure as Chief Secretary has been marked by exemplary leadership and unwavering dedication to the State’s administration.
As one chapter of dedicated service concludes and a historic new one begins, I wish both Smt. Garg and Shri Ahuja the very best in their future endeavours.”.
