Diprava Lakra, Diprava Lakra Chandigarh Finance Secretary: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recommendations to appoint IAS Officer Diprava Lakra as Finance Secretary of Chandigarh was recently approved. The official notification of the government reads, "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs for appointment of Shri Diprava Lakra, IAS(PB:2005) to the post of Finance Secretary, UT of Chandigarh on Inter-Cadre deputation from Punjab Cadre to AGMUT Cadre for a period of three years, in relaxation of the policy."
For the unversed, IAS Diprava Lakra has previously served as DC in Bathinda in 2017. Diprava Lakra IAS officer hails from Orissa and he has done an MSc. LLB. He has also done B Tech (Electrical Engineering) from IIT Kharagpur. Diprava Lakra has served as SDM of Zira and Dhuri, besides ADC Muktsar Sahib and Special Secretary, Home Affairs & Justice. In his career, Diprava Lakra has also served as DC in Jharkhand for three years on inter-cadre deputation in 2010.
During his tenure as DC of Bathinda, one of his facets of the functioning style was his campaign to motivate the small farmers to diversify from wheat/ rice circle to vegetable growing. He counseled farmers to seek advice from the agriculture department rather than to act on the recommendation of dealers or agents. He even asked the villagers to click a photo, whenever the agriculture department organise a training camp and send him on WhatsApp.
He had been personally monitoring all the agriculture-related schemes on a fortnightly basis. He earned a good name as a DC of Bathinda. Hence, due to his work on ground, MHA has appointed Diprava Lakra IAS officer as Chandigarh's Finance Secretary.