- By Kamal Kumar
- Tue, 24 Oct 2023 01:50 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Odisha News: Former IAS officer VK Pandian, whose VRS or voluntary retirement was approved on Monday, has been appointed as chairman of 5T (Transformational Initiative) and 'Nabin Odisha' in the rank of Cabinet Minister and will directly work under the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The officer was serving as the private secretary to the Odisha chief minister before the latest appointment.
"Shri VK Pandian is hereby appointed as Chairman 5T (Transformational Initiatives) and Nabin Odisha in the rank of Cabinet Minister. Shri Pandian shall work directly under the Chief Minister," the letter concerning the appointment, which was released on Tuesday morning, read.
Earlier, BJD party sources had informed PTI that he will join the party before the assembly elections bound to take place next year, and is likely to be given a bigger role.
Who is V Karthikeyan Pandian?
A 2000-batch Odisha cadre IAS officer, Pandian started his elaborate career as a civil servant by assuming the charge of sub-collector in Dharmagarh, located in Kalahandi district. He went on to serve as the district collector in the Mayurbhanj and Ganjam districts before being called to his current role in the Chief Minister's office.
The dynamic officer has played a key role in many crucial decisions of the Patnaik government in the last 10 years. Before seeking Voluntary retirement, VK Pandian served as 5T Secretary to the State Government. Pandian played a pivotal role in significant projects like the Sri Jagannath Heritage Corridor, ensuring a seamless 75-meter passage around the temple. Overseeing the Srimandir Parikrama project, Pandian tried to enhance devotees' experience, increase security, and offer amenities. Additionally, he supervised the statewide renovation of ancient temples.
Completing a comprehensive tour of all 147 assembly constituencies, Pandian engaged with locals addressed concerns, and assessed heritage tourism sites' infrastructure under the 5T program. Pandian, instrumental in managing the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, oversaw hospital preparedness.
Also said to be the man behind the launching of the Odisha government's flagship program, Mo Sarkar, Pandian aimed to instil professionalism and behavioural change in public offices. This initiative utilizes citizen feedback to evaluate government services, promoting transparency and accountability. Despite his retirement, opposition parties suspect political motivations behind Pandian's departure.
5T Scheme
5T is a charter of governance that emphasizes Transparency, Technology, Teamwork, and Time leading to Transformation. This, the state government says, ensures the speedy completion of many projects.
Opposition Unleashes Attack Over Appointment
Pandian's retirement, however, didn't go down well with the opposition who saw a political motive behind the move. Congress took the lead in targeting the government over the decision.
"He has been a fine civil servant and helped Naveen Patnaik enormously. But it is good that a de facto situation will finally become a de jure one, and Pandian will become a political figure in his own right. It was a strange situation in Odisha for over a decade and a half with the CM being like an absentee landlord and his chief aide functioning as the state's CEO," Congress MP Jairam Ramesh posted on X.