Probity and transparency to be chief secretary's top priorities

PATNA: "Zero tolerance on corruption and complete transparency in the day-to-day government functioning would be my top priorities, besides focus on women's empowerment and literacy campaign," says chief secretary (CS)-designate Anjani K Singh (1981 batch).
Singh would take over his new assignment from outgoing CS Ashok K Sinha on Monday evening at the main secretariat.Sinha has been made director general, Centre for Good Governance Society, Bihar.
Talking to TOI here on Sunday, Singh, a national literacy award winner by the then PM Narasimha Rao, said, "I believe in team work. I will carry forward all government developmental programmes in the state in consultation with colleagues." Complete transparency would be maintained in all government works, he said.
Singh, who has served in key departments like finance, health, education and agriculture during his long career, is also committed to working for women's empowerment and literacy. "The government will work for proper implementation of various government schemes, including Indira Awas Yojana, MNREGA, midday meal scheme, old-age pension, basic healthcare, public distribution system and incentives to girl child and primary education," he told TOI.
Singh, who started his career as Hazaribagh SDO and was then Dumka deputy commissioner, has rich experiences of organizing events like national youth festival, Asian football championship and Bihar Diwas celebrations. He was instrumental in developing dozens of parks, including the Eco park, in the city. "I have decided rare plants should be planted in different parks located in state capital," he said.
The CS-designate has a collection of about 7,000 rare species of cacti plants. His sprawling official residence and his private house in the city are dotted with these plants. A round of his well-maintained garden speaks volumes of his passion. For more than two-and-a-half decades, he has been trekking in the dense forests of Kerala, Karnataka, Himalayan range, Western and Eastern Ghats in search of these rare plants.
Even after assuming charge, Singh is not likely to shift to the allotted bungalow of the CS at 11, Strand road. He is likely to stay put at his present address.