Madhya Pradesh: Following the Indore water quality crisis, the government is reconsidering its functioning. Many officials are so overwhelmed with work that they are unable to perform their duties effectively.
Officers in charge of key departments are typically assigned to a single wing so they can focus on and deliver on the needs of that particular department. Now, officers assigned to key departments are handling multiple other tasks, which is impacting performance.
On the other hand, officers in smaller departments are handling only one department.
The Home Department is considered crucial, and a senior officer is assigned full-time to oversee it. However, now, this department is functioning under an officer who has been given additional charge.
Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Shiv Shekhar Shukla oversees the Tourism, Culture, and Home departments. Shukla is also the Managing Director of the Tourism Board.
Shukla, who also handles the Religious Endowments Department, is the trusted secretary of Bharat Bhavan and the director of Swaraj Bhavan. This impacts the Home Department.
ACS Ashok Barnwal, along with the additional charge of Agriculture Production Commissioner, also oversees the Forest Department. He also holds the additional charge of the Environment Department and the Director General of the Environmental Planning and Coordination Organization (EPCO).
Barnwal is also on the Senior Secretary’s Committee, so he has to attend many meetings with the Chief Secretary. Consequently, he faces a heavy workload.
The Urban Development Department is important. Simhastha work is also underway. Therefore, ACS Sanjay Dubey oversees the Science and Technology Department, under which the Information and Technology Department functions. Dubey is frequently on tour.
He also travels to various locations with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to deal with investments in the IT sector, which impacts work.
ACS Anupam Rajan oversees the Higher Education, Horticulture, Public Relations, and Parliamentary Affairs departments. Because the Higher Education Department faces numerous court cases, Rajan remains busy with this department.
The Revenue Division is overflowing with pending cases, and despite this, ACS Aniruddha Mukherjee, the Chairman of the Revenue Division, has been given the Public Assets and Management Department.
The Food and Civil Supplies Department is directly connected to the public. ACS Rashmi Arun Shami heads this department. Along with this responsibility, she has been appointed Resident Commissioner and Special Commissioner (Coordination) of the MP Bhavan in Delhi.
Principal Secretary (PS) Umakant Umrao heads the Mining Department along with the Animal Husbandry Department. Similarly, PS DP Ahuja is looking after the Cooperative, AYUSH, and Fishermen Welfare departments.
These departments are small, but coordinating with the ministers of these wings is no easy task.
