Anbalagan P. is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 2004 batch who is serving as Secretary, Tourism and Culture Department,Food , Civil Supplies,Consumer protection in Chhattisgarh State Government
Raipur, Chhattisgarh
As Tourism Secretary, I had the privilege of introducing niche tourism segments such as water and adventure tourism to Chhattisgarh's tourism bouquet. A unique Tourism Policy for the state coupled with specific guidelines for Home Stays and Water- Adventure Tourism activities that involve grass root level participation in the Tourism Development of the State.
As the Secretary of Water Resources Department, I have a proven track record of success in preserving and sustainably using groundwater, one of our most precious natural resources. I led a team that successfully drafted the legislation that was enacted by the State Assembly to regulate and manage groundwater usage as per the Hon'ble Supreme Court's directions. This has resulted in a more systematic framework with additional checks and balances, along with increasing state revenue by 20% from water resources.
I have served in various capacities in different parts of the state over the past 19 years, including as CEO Zila Panchayat (Dantewada) and Collector (Bastar) of the Bastar region for about four and a half years. During this period, I contributed to improving healthcare infrastructure, skill development for tribal youth, and employment generation in naxal-infested interior areas. I also coordinated with the Army Recruitment Office in Raipur to hold Army Recruitment Rallies in Bastar, resulting in the selection of 126 tribal youth to the Indian Army in 2012. This was the first time the District Administration had actively facilitated an Army Recruitment Rally. The state government subsequently launched a scheme in similar lines that has helped thousands of youth across the state join the Army and other security forces.
Diversity and innovation are the pillars of our service, and my 19-year career across myriad departments and districts has given me a wealth of experience that I can use to facilitate smart governance in our country. I have had the privilege of serving in the areas of public health and family welfare, agriculture and cooperatives marketing federation, infrastructure development, land and revenue administration, rural development, public health engineering, food and civil supplies and consumer protection, disaster management, elections, mineral resources, labour welfare, culture, and tourism.
In 2015, as Director Geology and Mining under the leadership of then-Secretary Mr. Subodh Kumar Singh (IAS-1997), we initiated a project to computerise the state government's mineral resources sector. The project was later awarded the National e-Governance Award in 2018. In 2020, we launched the second phase of the project to implement a foolproof vehicle tracking system integrated with the state-level command and control center for mineral-carrying vehicles. As Special Secretary (Independent Charge) of the Public Health Engineering Department, myself and my team developed a mobile application in 2018 with the help of NIC, called "Hand Pump Tracker." This app helps to expedite the repair of faulty hand pumps and provides a robust database on groundwater level fluctuations, which can be used to improve the institutional mechanism for safe and assured rural drinking water supply for all.
As Managing Director of the Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Marketing Federation (MARKFED) from 2017 to 2019, I had the privilege of leading the state's paddy procurement operations under the guidance of then-Food Secretary Mrs. Richa Sharma (IAS-1994). We emerged as one of the largest contributors to the central pool of rice stocks. We developed a robust online paddy procurement system that ensured even the smallest details, such as minimising transportation distances. We used an algorithm to allot paddy lots based on the least need for transportation before milling, saving the exchequer a significant sum of money. We made real-time payments to farmers a reality, and MarkFed disposed of all paddy with zero shortages in those two years. We also made all MarkFed accounts online using in-house software integrated with Tally Software and implemented online payment protocols.
As Collector of Bilaspur District, I experimented with using DGPS technology to resolve longpending land disputes involving very small patches of land parcels in unplanned urban areas. This experiment was very successful in land demarcation disputes. To make the goal of "Free Access for All" a reality, I worked diligently to make the city of Bilaspur "Divyang Friendly" while serving as Collector. My efforts were recognised by the Hon. President of India with an award to the Bilaspur team in 2016.
As Collector and District Election Officer of Janjgir Champa District, I had the privilege of conducting the State Assembly Elections 2013 and the General Elections 2014. I also had the opportunity to experiment with women-only counting centres, which was widely appreciated and made everyone part of this huge democratic exercise.
I had the privilege of serving in the healthcare sector. My roles included Director of Health Services, Director of Family Welfare, Project Director of SACS, MD of NRHM, and Deputy Secretary in the Public Health and Family Welfare Department from 2009 to 2013. During this period, I played a pivotal role in revitalising the healthcare infrastructure in the state. One of our major achievements was the successful introduction of the 108 Emergency Ambulance Services, a project that took months of dedicated effort. This initiative revolutionised the approach to emergency and critical care in the state, making it more accessible and efficient. Additionally, I had the honour of being one of the founding directors of the Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation, which was modelled after the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC). This organization became the cornerstone of the state's healthcare infrastructure, contributing significantly to its development and enhancement.
Anbalagan P. (IAS RR CG-2004)