Chennai, 18 May (H.S.):
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday initiated a major administrative restructuring within the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), assigning key government departments to senior officials as part of efforts to strengthen governance and improve coordination across the administration.
The reallocation of responsibilities comes as the newly formed government begins shaping its administrative structure, with an emphasis on ensuring quicker decision-making, better monitoring of departmental activities and effective implementation of policy initiatives.
Through the latest order issued by the CMO, senior bureaucrats have been entrusted with groups of departments considered critical to governance, infrastructure development, welfare delivery and economic administration.
The restructuring is being viewed as an attempt by the Vijay government to establish a centralised and efficient system within the Chief Minister’s Office, enabling senior officials to closely track the functioning of departments and accelerate execution of government programmes.
P. Senthilkumar, Additional Chief Secretary and Secretary-I to the Chief Minister, has been entrusted with several key departments considered central to the functioning of the government. His portfolio includes Finance, Home, Municipal Administration and Water Supply, Industries, Highways, Health, Energy and Public Works departments. In addition, the Vigilance Commission will also function under his supervision.
The allocation gives Senthilkumar responsibility over several crucial sectors involving state finances, infrastructure development, public services and law and order, indicating the Chief Minister’s focus on ensuring tighter administrative control in these areas.
G. Laxmi Priya, Secretary-II to the Chief Minister, has been assigned departments linked to social welfare and development initiatives. Her responsibilities include School Education, Higher Education, Revenue, Rural Development, Housing, Social Welfare and Women Empowerment departments. She has also been given charge of appointments, protocol matters and the overall administration of the Chief Minister’s Office.
Meanwhile, A. Annadurai, Secretary-III to the Chief Minister, has been placed in charge of Water Resources, Agriculture, Transport, Co-operation and Law departments, bringing important sectors related to resource management and agriculture under a single administrative framework.
Additional Secretary V. Vishnu will oversee emerging and growth-oriented sectors including Information Technology and Digital Services, MSMEs, Tourism, Skill Development, Youth Welfare and Sports Development.
Officials said the restructuring is intended to enhance efficiency, improve inter-departmental coordination and ensure quicker implementation of the government’s policy priorities.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
