Modi govt effects bureaucratic reshuffle, non-performing secretaries shifted

New Delhi, Feb 1: The Narendra Modi government on Saturday effected another bureaucratic reshuffle, transferring six secretaries.

Among the officials shifted were Urban Development Secretary Shankar Agarwal and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Secretary Anita Agnihotri.

While Agarwal was sent to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Agnihotri was transferred to the Department of Social justice and Empowerment. No show in PM Modi's pet Smart Cities and Housing for All schemes were seen as the reason behind the transfer.

Department of Commerce Special Secretary Madhusudan Prasad and National Commission of Women's Member Secretary Nandita Chatterjee replaced Agarwal and Agnihotri, respectively.

It was said that the Smart Cities scheme of the NDA government did not take off even after eight months of being announced and sources in the Urban Development Ministry said there was resentment among Agarwal's ministers against him as well. Agnihotri, too, failed to impress on the Housing for All scheme.

Among other changes, Gauri Kumar was shifted from the Labour and Employment Ministry to the Cabinet Secretariat. She took charge as Secretary (Coordination and Public Grievances) in place of S B Agnihotri, who retires on Monday.

Lov Verma was shifted to department of empowerment of persons with disabilities from health and family welfare. He replaced Stuti Narayan Kacker, who retired. Bhanu Pratap Sharma took over as the health and family welfare secretary.

Oneindia News