Himani Pandey, the new deputy commissioner of East Singhbhum, arrives at the district collectorate in Jamshedpur on Tuesday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, July 13: Himani Pandey, an IAS officer of 1998 batch, today replaced R.K. Agarwal as the deputy commissioner of East Singhbhum.

Agarwal has been shifted to the state urban development department as a director in Ranchi.

Soon after assuming office this evening, Pandey said implementing flagship welfare schemes would priority. “My focus will be on properly executing the projects under MGNREGA, JNNURM, rural electrification schemes under various other departments,” she told media persons at her office.

Asked how she plans to tackle the Naxalite problem, she said: “It is definitely a challenge. If the welfare schemes are implemented properly in the rebel hot beds, I think we will be able to check the spread of Naxalism, “ she said.

She added that the district administration would also focus on infrastructure development and social schemes.

Agarwal, who served as the deputy commissioner of East Singhbhum for more than two years, said that traffic was a one of the major concerns for the steel city.

“I had taken some measures to overcome the problem. I hope that my successor would continue to do so, “ he said.

The Jamshedpur chapter of Indian Red Cross Society organised a function at the Chambers Bhavan this evening.

The deputy commissioner happens to be the chairman of the local chapter of Indian Red Cross Society.