IAS officers posted as collectors after successful Covid stint

Bhubaneswar: Two young IAS officers -- Siddharth Shankar Swain and Chakravarti Singh Rathore-- who have contributed significantly in managing the Covid-19 situation in Ganjam have been posted as new collectors of Angul and Jajpur districts respectively.
Swain as project director of district rural development agency (DRDA), Ganjam and nodal officer of the Covid-19 management had played a crucial role in managing the situation in the southern district, which was once the Covid hotspot. Ganjam is now witnessing a significant turnaround.
Rathore, who was serving as commissioner, Berhampur Municipal Corporation had also worked hard to manage the situation in Berhampur city. While 3,385 cases have been detected in Berhampur city, it now has only 122 active cases with a recovery rate of 94.53 per cent.
The appointment came hours after chief minister Naveen Patnaik asked districts, which have recently seen surge in Covid-19 positive cases, to follow Berhampur model of testing, tracing and containment strategy. The Covid situation in Jajpur is very grim.
“Both Swain and Rathore have done a good job in Ganjam. Their experience will be crucial in their new assignments. New collectors have been appointed keeping in mind the Covid situation in various districts,” said a senior government officer.
Jajpur incumbent collector Ranjan Dash has been transferred as additional secretary in state culture department while Angul collector Manoj Kumar Mohanty has been posted as additional secretary in the revenue department.
New collectors have also been appointed in Balangir and Nuapada districts. Chanchal Rana has been appointed as new collector of Balangir while Swadha Dev Singh will head the administration in Nuapada district. Rana, who is currently serving as project director, DRDA, Mayurbhanj, had been recently deputed in Sambalpur for Covid management.
Arindam Dakua, present collector of Balangir has been transferred as director, special project under the panchayati raj department while Nuapada collector Madhusmita Sahoo has been brought as deputy secretary in the water resources department.
Among others, Berhampur sub-collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Sindhe has been elevated as project director, DRDA, Ganjam while Siddeshwar Baliram Bondar is new commissioner, Berhampur Municipal Corporation. Keerthi Vasan V will serve as new sub-collector, Berhampur while J Sonal has been posted as sub-collector, Gunupur.