CM Nitish Kumar Meets 2023 Batch IAS Officers, Emphasizes Women's Empowerment

PATNA: In a significant interaction, 10 probationary IAS officers of the 2023 batch from the Bihar cadre met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at his residence, 'Sankalp', located at 1 Aney Marg. The meeting provided a platform for the officers to share their experiences and insights gained during their training period in the districts.

The officers who met the Chief Minister included Garima Lohia, Tushar Kumar, Anirudh Pandey, Kritika Mishra, Akanksha Anand, Pradyumn Singh Yadav, Anjali Sharma, Rohit Kardam, Shipra Vijay Kumar Choudhary, and Neha Kumari. Notably, out of the 10 probationary IAS officers, six are women, while four are men. The group comprises five officers from Bihar, four from Uttar Pradesh, and one from Rajasthan.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed his delight in listening to the officers' experiences, stating, "It was wonderful to hear about your experiences. You are currently undergoing training, and after completing it, you will be posted." The Chief Minister emphasized the crucial role of IAS officers in implementing government policies.

He also expressed his satisfaction with the increasing number of women in various fields, including the civil services. "It is heartening to see six women among the 10 probationary IAS officers. Women are making progress in all areas, which gives me immense satisfaction," the Chief Minister said.

Kumar highlighted the state government's initiatives to promote women's empowerment, including the provision of 50% reservation for women in panchayat and municipal elections. Bihar was the first state in the country to implement this policy. The Chief Minister also mentioned that women have been given 35% reservation in police services, and the number of women in the police force in Bihar is higher than in any other state.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Minister's Principal Secretary, Deepak Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary of the General Administration Department, Dr. B. Rajendra, Secretary to the Chief Minister, Anupam Kumar, Secretary to the Chief Minister, Kumar Ravi, and Special Officer to the Chief Minister, Gopal Singh.