Bhubaneswar: The Government of Odisha has appointed seasoned administrator Srikant Prusty as the Commissioner of the State Co-operative Election Commission. Shri Prusty, a distinguished IAS officer of the 2003 batch who recently retired from his illustrious services, brings to the role a wealth of experience and a proven track record in government administration and the development sector.
An alumnus of the prestigious IIT Kharagpur, where he earned his M.Tech degree, Shri Prusty has held several key positions throughout his career, demonstrating exceptional leadership and administrative acumen. Prior to his retirement, he served as the Revenue Divisional Commissioner for the Northern Division, Sambalpur, where he effectively supervised development initiatives and revenue matters across twelve districts. Notably, he also played a pivotal role in coordinating the General Elections 2024 spanning from January to June 2024 in this capacity.
Before his tenure as RDC, Shri Prusty served as the Special Secretary in the Panchayati Raj Department, where he efficiently managed resource allocation among Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). His contributions included overseeing the establishment of the ‘Ama Bank’ initiative and ‘Vana Surakshya Samitis’ (Forest Protection Committees), highlighting his commitment to grassroots development and community empowerment.
Shri Prusty’s expertise extends to the industrial sector, having served as the Special Secretary of the Handloom, Textiles & Handicrafts Department. He was instrumental in formulating the Odisha Textile & Apparel Policy 2022, a significant step towards boosting the state’s textile industry.
His diverse experience also includes tenures as Additional Secretary in the Higher Education Department, Director of Horticulture, and Program Director of the Odisha Tribal Empowerment and Livelihoods Programme (OTELP) within the ST & SC Development Department.
During these crucial years, Shri Prusty spearheaded development efforts in remote tribal areas, focusing on addressing critical issues such as land rights and livelihood enhancement. A significant achievement in this period was his leadership in launching the OPELIP project across 17 Micro Project Areas.
Furthermore, Shri Prusty has also served as the Director of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, showcasing his versatility and ability to handle diverse administrative responsibilities.
Shri Prusty’s extensive experience, coupled with his deep understanding of governance and development, makes him an ideal choice to lead the State Co-operative Election Commission. His appointment is expected to bring greater efficiency and transparency to the co-operative election process in Odisha.
The State Government has expressed confidence that under Shri Prusty’s leadership, the State Co-operative Election Commission will effectively discharge its duties, ensuring fair and democratic elections within the cooperative sector.