As part of an important administrative shake-up to strengthen the efforts of restoring normalcy in Manipur, Puneet Kumar Goel, who till now held the post of Secretary, Sports, is the new Chief Secretary of the violence-hit state to replace Prashant Kumar. This is as various efforts to stabilize and restore peace in the northeastern state continue to be tried, which has been experiencing ethnic conflict since May 2023.
This was corroborated by a departmental order by the Department of Personnel and Training, which stated that the Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet had permitted the inter-cadre deputation of Goel by cutting short his central tenure so that he could be posted in Manipur. The government sources have pointed out discontent amongst the high government officials with the performance of Prashant Kumar, who served as the post holder for only seven months before he was pushed out.
In an interview given on the grounds of anonymity, a governmental officer at mid-level offices revealed that a number of measures are being taken to pave the way for the displaced communities returning home. There is a lot going on in the scene. Plans are already underway to reverse the relocation of some of the displaced families, and various agencies are operating 24 hours a day to ensure some of their major infrastructure works are completed, the officer added. There was an indication he also referred to the possible visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of Manipur and Mizoram at the end of this month, but this has not been officially announced.
Ethnic violence that broke out in May 2023 killed at least 260 people and displaced close to 60,000, with the Meitei and Kuki retiring to their individual strongholds. President Rule was imposed in Manipur since February, after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh filed his resignation in the face of an embarrassing audio tape leak.
Puneet Kumar Goel is a senior IAS officer, and earlier he was the Chief Secretary of Goa and a Commissioner of South Delhi Municipal Corporation. His appointment is patterned with a series of leadership change in Manipur that also involves the rotation of police officers in the state.
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