Insta
Bengal Health Secretary Replaced Amid Criticism Over COVID-19 Response; Nigam To Take Charge Of Department
IANS
May 12, 2020, 03:05 PM | Updated 03:04 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Amid severe flak from the centre and other opposition quarters over the Covid-19 issue, the West Bengal government on Tuesday (12 May) replaced Health and Family Welfare Department Principal Secretary Vivek Kumar with Narayan Swaroop Nigam.
Nigam is likely to take charge of the Health Department from 12 May itself. He was till now in charge of the state's Transport Department, a government notification said.
A 1990-batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, Kumar was shifted as Principal Secretary in the Environment Department.
The reshuffle came at a time when the state was battling the Covid-19 crisis, with the death toll in Bengal touching 118 till Monday evening. The total confirmed Covid-19 cases climbed to 2,063, including 1,374 active cases and 499 patients cured and discharged from hospitals.
Earlier, the state had transferred Manoj Agarwal, Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, after reports of protests poured in from various parts of Bengal over irregularities in ration distribution.
(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.