CHANDIGARH: It is the utmost duty of any government officer and employee to complete their work with honesty, empathy and within a stipulated time period, said Mr. Vijai Vardhan, after assuming the charge of Haryana Chief Secretary here today.
“It is a matter of great pride that I will be serving as Chief Secretary of Haryana”, said Vijai Vardhan, who has taken over as the 34th Chief Secretary.
Sharing his priorities, Vijai Vardhan said that as per Chief Minister, Manohar Lal’s vision, he will ensure that officers and employees should work with swiftness so as to ensure that the working of government departments is done in a transparent manner and benefits of government schemes are provided to the citizens.
Timely disposal of problems faced by common people and curbing corruption is the priority of the State Government. Therefore, officers and employees at both Headquarter level and District Administration should address the problems of common people on priority basis and ensure immediate disposal and speed up their working,” said the new Chief Secretary.
Vijai Vardhan is a graduate and post-graduate in History from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University. Prior to joining the Indian Police Service in 1984 he represented his College in Badminton, Squash, Boxing and Athletics. In the year 1985, he joined the Indian Administrative Service and was allocated the Haryana cadre.
In his distinguished career, Vijai Vardhan has held important assignments like Secretary to Governor of Haryana, Chairman, Haryana Tourism Corporation, Chairman, Haryana State Pollution Control Board and Principal Secretary Tourism and Renewable Energy Departments.
As Administrator, Haryana Urban Development Authority, Gurgaon and Panchkula, he was instrumental in catalyzing the industrial, residential and commercial development of Gurugram, Panchkula and various other towns of Haryana. While posted as Deputy Commissioner, Faridabad and Municipal Commissioner, Faridabad, he took several initiatives in the urban development of Faridabad.
Vijai Vardhan was chosen by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to undergo an advanced course in Urban Development and Regeneration in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Mr. Vijai Vardhan has contributed to the preservation and propagation of our heritage by conceiving the Pinjore Heritage Festival, Kartik Utsav at Raja Nahar Singh's Palace, Ballabgarh, Faridabad and by restoring the ancient Mata Mansa Devi Temple at Panchkula (near Chandigarh) and the Mughal Gardens of Pinjore.
The new Chief Secretary was earlier posted as Additional Chief Secretary of departments of Home, Jails, Criminal Investigation, Administration of Justice and Financial Commissioner Revenue and Disaster Management, Government of Haryana.
A keen historian, Mr. Vijai Vardhan has authored seven books till now. His collection of Sufi Haiku poems in English titled, 'Beyond the Great Beyond' and Tbadat The Breath of My Soul' have been greatly appreciated by critics and readers alike.
He has also authored three well researched monographs about the history and heritage of Haryana titled 'Buddha's Trail in Haryana, The Magnificent Monuments of Narnaul and 'RakhiGarhi Rediscovered'. "Happening Haryana" his latest book captures the history of Haryana from the Harappan age to the present days.