PV Sindhu takes charge as Deputy Collector in Andhra Pradesh government
PV Sindhu assumed office as a Deputy Collector in the Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday.
Badminton superstar and silver medallist in 2016 Rio Olympics P V Sindhu on Wednesday took charge as the deputy collector in the Andhra Pradesh government.
Sindhu joined the duty in the office of Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) at Gollapudi on the outskirts of Vijayawada and reported to Special Chief Secretary Anil Chandra Punetha. Later, she formally assumed her office by signing the roster in the presence of senior IAS officer M Jagannatham.
The ace shuttler was accorded grand welcome by the staff of the CCLA office with bouquets and garlands. Sindhu said she was happy to be part of the Andhra Pradesh government as deputy collector and assured that she would do justice to her job. She, however, said she would continue to play badminton as long as she could and win medals for the country.
“At present, I am undergoing training at Pullela Gopichand Academy for the upcoming events. I will participate in all the national and international tournaments and I am confident of bringing more laurels to the country,” she said.
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On July 27, the Andhra Pradesh government issued orders appointing Sindhu as deputy collector. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu personally handed over the appointment letter to Sindhu. She was given a month’s time to join the duty and submit all the relevant certificates.
Official sources said Sindhu would be allotted the district for posting as the deputy collector and she would have to undergo training as per the government rules.
The badminton star should execute a bond stating that she would serve the government for a period of three years after the completion of training. She will be on probation for a period of two years on duty within a continuous period of three years. And during the probationary period, she will have to pass the mandatory tests conducted by the government under relevant rules.
If Sindhu follows the norms and procedures of the Andhra Pradesh government, she would be eligible for the conferment of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre by the Union Public Service Commission within nine years.
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It may be mentioned that Naidu had offered Sindhu a group-1 rank officer job while felicitating her on her return from Rio Olympics with silver medal. Besides the job offer, the government gave her Rs 3 crore as cash prize and a 1,000 square yard residential plot in Amaravati after she won silver medal for the country in Rio Olympics.
Sindu accepted the offer and formally applied for the Group-I officer post in February this year. Subsequently, the state assembly unanimously passed a Bill amending the AP Public Services Act, providing a Group-I officer job to Sindhu. The amendment to the Act was required as this special appointment bypasses the regular recruitment process through the AP Public Service Commission. Later, the APPSC also cleared the proposal.