Chandana shunted out of School department

Four days after her unsavoury comments on school children, senior IAS officer Chandana Khan has been shunted out of the School Education department. Orders were issued on Friday transferring Chandana Khan to the Tourism department.

At a workshop on health and hygiene in government schools on Tuesday, Chandana Khan suggested that students form into groups and clean the toilets in government schools which were not in proper condition for want of maintenance.

What was the use of constructing toilets if they were not properly maintained, Chandana Khan said. Her comments triggered widespread protests from rights activists and child right activists.

Chandana Khan later clarified that her comments were not intended to hurt anyone but the government did not consider it.

A 1979 batch officer, Chandana Khan was removed as the special chief secretary to government (Primary Education), School Education department and posted as special chief secretary to government (Tourism, Cultural Affairs and Archaeology).

Meanwhile, Mrutyunjay Sahoo, principal secretary, Stamps and Registration has been posted as principal secretary, Energy department and Manmohan Singh, principal secretary, Housing department, has been transferred and posted as principal secretary, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries.

Dinesh Kumar, principal secretary, Energy, has been posted as executive director of the Food Corporation of India.