Rama Krishna Sangem
Vakati Karuna, 2004 batch IAS officer is the new secretary of education department of Telangana. Currently commissioner of health and family welfare, Karuna has been sent to this important department in a reshuffle of IAS officers effected May 19, Thursday. She will relieve Sandeep Kumar Sultania, 1998 batch IAS from full additional charge of education. Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar issued the orders.
With this, education department in Telangana is led by 3-women team – Minister Sabita Reddy, Commissioner of School Education Srideva Sena (2008 batch IAS) and now Karuna.
Karuna in her present post since 2020 has been instrumental in successful implementation of key initiatives like KCR Kits (kits provided to women at the time of delivery in government hospitals), which improved institutional deliveries in Telangana. Earlier, she worked as Warangal Collector. Now education department assumes significance in view of CM KCR’s focus to improve quality of infrastructure in government schools.
Sultania, a senior official, was unable to fully focus on education as he also looks after panchayat raj and rural development. Of course, even now he is entrusted with full additional charge of youth affairs, tourism and culture (YAT&C) departments, which are presently handled by CS Somesh Kumar. Compared to education, YAT&C is a light department. The CS will be relieved of thus burden.
Education department is witnessing phenomenal expansion since recently. Increase in number of residential schools, coming up of private universities and running of public varsities made this department important to the government. CM KCR wants to increase enrollment in government schools by improving facilities there. “Mana Vuru, Mana Badi” is a public-private drive to improve government schools in villages.
Other major postings are: Jyoti Budha Prakash (2002 batch IAS) is new secretary handlooms, textiles, industries and commerce, vice Shailaja Ramaiyer (1997 batch IAS). She will continue as commissioner of the same department. Jyoti Budha Prakash also got full additional charge of transport department, relieving KS Sreenivasa Raju (2001) from the post.
Rahul Bojja (2000 batch IAS) now, secretary to CM is given full additional charge as commissioner, stamps, registration and commissioner survey settlement and land records, which includes now controversial Dharani portal.
Sayed Ali Murtaza Rizivi (1999 batch IAS), now secretary medical and health is given full additional charge as director drugs control and public health. V Sheshadri, (1999 batch IAS), secretary to CM, is given full additional charge as secretary General Administration Department.
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