Bureaucrat who had trust of both BJD and BJP govts, Anu Garg is Odisha’s first woman chief secretary

Her career, spanning more than three decades, and her experience of serving in different positions in the state government as well as at the Centre, including in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), helped her secure the top administrative post in Odisha. BJP sources said Garg’s appointment is also part of the government’s push for greater gender representation in the top bureaucracy.

“Her vast experience in various roles would help her drive the state’s administration in an efficient manner,” said a senior bureaucrat.

Starting her career as a sub-collector in Jharsuguda, Garg earlier served as collector of large districts such as Sambalpur and Bargarh. She also served as commissioner-cum-secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Odisha, during 2008–12. During her tenure on central deputation, Garg served as a joint secretary in the PMO from October 2012 to April 2015.

After returning from central deputation, she served as secretary of the labour and employees’ state insurance department and became one of the longest-serving secretaries in the crucial water resources department. She led initiatives to complete long-pending water resources projects and took up new initiatives such as infusing information technology (IT) along with community involvement in water management.

An alumna of Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, where she studied sociology, Garg also completed a Master of Public Health from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, USA, in 2007. She was one of the members of the High-Level Expert Group (HLEG) for Universal Health Coverage instituted by the Planning Commission in October 2010, which submitted its report in November 2011.