Mumbai, June 30: Sujata Saunik, an IAS officer of the 1987 batch and presently the Additional Chief Secretary in the Home Department on Sunday took over as the 45th Chief Secretary of Maharashtra from the outgoing Chief Secretary Nitin Kareer.
She is the first woman IAS officer to be appointed as the Chief Secretary since the formation of Maharashtra on May 1, 1960. Besides, Saunik, the Additional Chief Secretary from the Revenue Department Rajesh Kumari (1987 batch) and Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Iqbal Chahal (1989 batch) were two other front runners for the Chief Secretary’s post. Saunik told IANS that Maharashtra is truly a great state which has a very large industrial and start-up base, excellent flow of revenue from GST and one of the highest gross state domestic products in the country.
“My effort will be to ensure that all government services and the new schemes meant for the beneficiaries reach them in the manner intended. My team shall work hard to ensure the implementation of all the new schemes that have been announced recently by the government. I look forward to all support and feedback from not only my officers but also from the people’s representatives, leaders and community members. I thank the government for giving me this opportunity,” she said.