Currently posted as the Secretary - General Administration and Tourism and Culture, Anbalagan introduced niche tourism segments like water and adventure tourism, creating a unique Tourism Policy with guidelines for homestays and grassroots participation in tourism development.
Tenure: November 2019 - Present (5 years)
Location: Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India
During my tenure as Managing Director of the Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Marketing Federation (MARKFED) from 2017 to 2019, I led a significant transformation in the state's paddy procurement process. This role allowed me to streamline operations and implement technological solutions that benefited both farmers and the state’s economy. Under the guidance of then-Food Secretary Mrs. Richa Sharma (IAS-1994), we launched initiatives that positioned Chhattisgarh as one of the largest contributors to the central pool of rice stocks, and I am proud of the changes we achieved during this period.
Paddy procurement is one of the most critical agricultural processes in Chhattisgarh, often known as the rice bowl of India. The state has high paddy production, and MARKFED plays a key role in ensuring efficient procurement, storage, and distribution. When I joined as Managing Director, I observed significant inefficiencies in the process, such as delayed payments to farmers, logistical issues, and a lack of transparency in record-keeping. My primary goal was to address these challenges through innovation and technology.
One of our notable achievements was implementing an advanced online paddy procurement system. The system ensured even the smallest details, such as minimizing transportation distances, were optimized. We used an algorithm to allocate paddy lots to mills based on the least need for transportation, which improved logistics and ultimately saved the government a significant amount of money. By reducing transportation distances, we also lowered the environmental impact, making the process more sustainable.
Another key aspect of our work was ensuring timely and transparent payments to farmers. Before the reforms, farmers often experienced long delays in receiving payments for their produce, which created financial stress. We worked on integrating all payments through an online system, making real-time payments a reality. This step not only ensured that farmers received their dues promptly but also helped build trust between the government and the farming community. Timely payments had a direct positive impact on the livelihoods of thousands of farmers, making the process fairer and more farmer-centric.
We also focused on improving the internal operational efficiency of MARKFED by digitizing all its accounts and transactions. Using in-house software integrated with Tally Software, we shifted to a fully online system for financial transactions. This made tracking and auditing much simpler and reduced the chances of discrepancies or losses. Implementing online payment protocols ensured that every transaction was transparent and accounted for, and the results were significant—for two consecutive years, MARKFED disposed of all paddy with zero shortages.
In addition to financial and logistical improvements, our work at MARKFED also had a broader social impact. By making the paddy procurement process smoother, we helped establish Chhattisgarh as a reliable source of rice for the central pool, contributing to the country’s food security. The initiatives we implemented ensured that the benefits of this success were felt not only by the state government but, most importantly, by the farmers whose hard work drives the agricultural economy.
Modernizing paddy procurement was about more than just improving numbers; it was about creating a system that farmers could rely on, building an efficient supply chain, and contributing to the broader vision of sustainable agriculture in India. This experience reinforced my belief that with the right approach, technology, and collaboration, we can create significant positive change in the lives of those at the grassroots level. The progress we made at MARKFED is a testament to what is possible when innovation meets commitment, and I look forward to applying these lessons to future challenges.