Tripura Govt removed Health Secy, NHM Dir cum Ayushman Bharat CEO, ostensibly after former Health Minister raised allegation on Covid19 related purchases
Enewstime Desk
Agartala, April 24, 2020: Tripura Government decided to go for a major reshuffle in the State Health department and removed two officers – the Secretary of the department and NHM State director, ostensibly in the wake of former State Health Minister Sudip Roy Barman’s letter alleging irregularities in purchase of Covid19 kits, sanitizers etc. to the Chief Minister who also holds Health Portfolio. In the letter Sudip Roy Barman pointed out serious lapses on the part of the Health department authorities and sought Deb’s intervention.
Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department, Dr D Basu and Mission director of NHM, Agartala, also CEO of Ayushman Bharat Aditi Majumder have been relieved from respective posts and transferred to other departments. Education Minister Ratanlal Nath said this today in a press meet.
SK Rakesh, IAS will hold the additional charge of Health and Family Welfare department replacing Dr D Basu while Dr. Siddharth Shiv Jaiswal, IAS will replace Aditi Majumder and assume charges of NHM and CEO of Ayushman Bharat.
Even as Nath did not mention anything specific about Roy Barman’s letter to Biplab Kumar Deb, he said an inquiry team was formed to investigate if any irregularities had happened. The Education Minister said, the team consisting of Industries and Commerce Department Secretary Gitte Kiran kumar Dinkarrao and Finance Secretary Tanusree Deb Barma will investigate as to whether there are any irregularities in procuring multiple items by the NHM. He also mentioned that while the investigation would be impartial, actions would be taken against person(s) if found guilty.
Speaking to media, the Education Minister said, “Dr. D Basu, IAS, Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Education (YAS) and Health & Family Welfare Department is relieved from the charge of Health & Family Welfare Department”, Nath said and added, SK Rakesh, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of Tripura, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare & Fisheries Department with additional charge of Animal Resource Development Department, Forest Department will also hold the charge of Health & Family Welfare Department, in addition. He is relieved from the additional charge of Forest Department.
Nath added, “Aditi Majumder, TCS SSG, Mission Director, NHM, Agartala with additional charge of Chief Executive Officer, Ayushman Bharat is transferred and posted as Director, Fire Service” and Dr. Siddharth Shiv Jaiswal, IAS, ADM, & Collector, West Tripura District, Agartala with additional charge of Project Director, DRDA, West Tripura and Additional Commissioner, Agartala Municipal Corporation is transferred and posted as Mission Director, NHM, Agartala. Dr Jaiswal will also hold the charge of Chief Executive Officer, Ayushman Bharat, in addition. He will also continue to hold the additional charge of Additional Commissioner, Agartala Municipal Corporation, Nath said.
