Bhubaneswar: Senior bureaucrats and officials gathered at Kharavela Bhawan to felicitate Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja ahead of his superannuation on December 31, marking the conclusion of his stewardship of Odisha’s administration. The programme served as a moment to reflect on his one-and-a-half-year tenure as Chief Secretary and the imprint he leaves on the state’s governance system.
Speaking on the occasion, Manoj Ahuja, accompanied by fellow retired administrative officer Aarti Ahuja, spoke fondly of Odisha and its people. He underlined the dedication and competence of the state’s civil service, describing the administrative apparatus as efficient, forward-looking and capable of meeting emerging challenges. Expressing confidence in Odisha’s growth trajectory, he conveyed his best wishes to officers for their future responsibilities.
Principal Secretary Usha Padhee recalled Ahuja’s collaborative and solution-oriented working style, noting that his consultative approach strengthened inter-departmental coordination. Development Commissioner Anu Garg highlighted his role in providing clear direction to the administration, particularly in advancing technology-driven governance and institutional reforms.
Sharing their experiences of working with the outgoing Chief Secretary, several senior officers spoke about his long and distinguished administrative career. Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary G. Mathi Vathanan, Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar Vashisth, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Saswata Mishra, Commissioner and Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department Aswathy S, and Commissioner and Secretary, Skill Development and Technical Education Department Bhupendra Singh Punia attended the programme as chief guests and highlighted his professionalism and leadership.
The felicitation meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Surendra Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary Hemant Sharma, along with Principal Secretaries, Commissioners and Secretaries of various departments, who joined in extending warm wishes to Manoj Ahuja as he prepares to conclude his service.
