Top priority to get economy back on track: Rajasthan chief secretary Rajeeva Swarup

JAIPUR: Rajeeva Swarup, who has been appointed the new chief secretary of Rajasthan, said the main challenge for him would be to bring the state’s economy back on track as it got badly hit due to the corona pandemic.
“The pandemic has affected the state’s economy badly. Our biggest challenge will be to put the state’s economy back on the rails. My objective will be to implement the priorities of the government promptly. In this challenging situation, the chief minister (Ashok Gehlot) has given me a heavy responsibility. We have to deal with Covid and also revive the economic condition that has been disrupted (due to the pandemic and lockdown),” said Swarup.
The elevation of Swarup, who led as ACS (additional chief secretary) home during the lockdown period, is being seen as a reward for his work in fighting the Covid crisis. The new chief secretary is due to retire in October this year, but it is believed that he may get an extension for six months or even for a year. However, Swarup wants to focus on the next four months for now.
During the Covid crisis in the state, he became the face of the government as he sent out video messages urging people to adhere to the Covid norms and protocol, preparing the guidelines for different phases of lockdown and unlock, executing the guidelines strictly and regulating inter-state movement of people. He was also instrumental in drafting and later bringing the Rajasthan Epidemic Diseases Ordinance, 2020.
Before becoming ACS home, Swarup held charges of industries, state enterprises and investment, micro, small and medium enterprises as ACS and RIICO as its chairman; He was also principal secretary to MSME department, higher education and technical education department and information and public relation and Devasthan department.