State bids farewell to outgoing Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 17
Nagaland State Government on Saturday bade farewell to the outgoing Chief Secretary, Pankaj Kumar who has been assigned as the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT, Government of India at the Secretariat Plaza. Pankaj Kumar who is known among the administration fraternity as a ‘cool, calm, and composed’ bureaucrat took over as the reins of Chief Secretary on March 1, 2015, during one of State's most turbulent phases.
Sailing through the tide with equanimity, Kumar has also been credited for crucial policies such as the Nagaland State Water Policy, land reform policy in the State. The IAS Association, Nagaland commended his contribution in ushering four major externally aided programs in Nagaland, namely Nagaland Health Project funded by the World Bank, Climate Resistant High Farming funded by IFAD, Nagaland Forest Management Project funded by JICA, and Biodiversity Conservation in community Conserved Areas funded by KFW.
“When I came back to the State in September 2014, I had no idea that I would be asked to assume the responsibilities of Chief Secretary within a few months. However fate had it all planned. As our senior Dr. D Bhalla opted for the post of Secretary in Lok Sabha Secretariat, suddenly I found myself in the forefront,” said Kumar during his farewell speech.
“Within a few days of my taking over as Chief Secretary, we had the March 5 incident at Dimapur. Then came the ENSF agitation. Then there were several rounds of political instability. Agitation against ULB elections was one of the most critical periods for the State,” recalled Kumar.
While these episodes highlighted the unmet aspirations of the public and brought out the weaknesses in governance in Nagaland, Kumar also posited these same experiences have taught and strengthened the system for the betterment of society. “Each event tested our mettle. The March 5 incident exposed our weaknesses in crowd control. But the police did one of the finest investigations in the case and probably for the first time, we exercised control over the social media,” pointed out Kumar.
The task was even more challenging following the retirement of senior officers within a few years thus leading to a ten year deficit of experience, remarked Temjen Toy, Addl. Chief Secretary & Finance Commissioner, who viewed that the taking over of Pankaj Kumar as Chief Secretary for the last three years has been the ‘most comforting, satisfying and fulfilling.’
Referring to Kumar as ‘good strategist, a facilitator, a great coordinator and a mentor’ who focused his ‘concentration on the well being of the governance in Nagaland’, Principal Secretary & Agricultural Commissioner, Imkonglemba representing the IAS Association Nagaland commented that in the lack of mentorship in Nagaland, Kumar was able to provide the mentorship for the junior administrators.
‘Several challenges ahead’
In his concluding remarks, Kumar warned of the several challenges that the State have to look forward in the future such as the streamlining of recruitment; more transparency in award of contracts; optimal allocation of fund where more priority must be given to completion of ongoing project which continues to pose a challenge; and improvement of revenue performance of power sector.
“The biggest continuing administrative concern is how to generate more resources for our roads, power and water supply,” asserted Kumar.
