V Karthikeyan Pandian was on Tuesday appointed as the chairman of 5T (Transformational Initiatives) and Nabin Odisha in the rank of Cabinet minister, a day after his application for voluntary retirement from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) was accepted.
The Ama Odisha Nabina Odisha Scheme seeks to transform rural Odisha by augmenting rural infrastructure, accelerating growth as well as preserving the rich cultural heritage. It envisages spending of ₹50 lakh in each gram panchayat. The scheme was earlier known as the Ama Gaon Ama Bikash Scheme, which was launched ahead of the 2019 polls.
“Pandian shall work directly under the Chief Minister [Naveen Patnaik],” Odisha’s general administration and public grievance department said in a statement.
A 2000 batch IAS officer, Pandian started his career as the Dharmagarh sub-collector in the Kalahandi district. He joined the Odisha Chief Minister’s Office in 2011 and became Patnaik’s most trusted official.
Source: Hindustan Times
