The Cabinet Ministers and the Ministers of State of the different ministries and portfolios have assumed the charges today. Along with the joining formalities, the ministers have also laid out the plans for their tenures.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Nitin Gadkari has assumed the charges as Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways in New Delhi today. He also holds the portfolio of the Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
General V K Singh (Retd) took charge of the office of the Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways. Gen Singh said he will take forward the good work done by the ministry. He also stated that holistic development of road infrastructure in the country will be given top priority.
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
While Gadkari already held the office of Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, the portfolio of MSMEs has been assigned to him in this session of government.
Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Union Minister for State of MSME also took charge in the Ministry along with the Union Minister.
While assuming office, Gadkari said that the most important work to be done is boosting economic development of the country by employment generation and the MSME Ministry is a core Ministry which can create jobs in rural, semi-urban and urban areas of the country.
He further said that import substitution is the need of the hour and the SME industries of the country can contribute hugely to the products that need to be manufactured domestically in order to restrict imports.
Both Ministers were welcomed by Secretary MSME, Dr Arun Kumar Panda and KVIC Chairman, Vinay Kumar Saxena and other senior officers of the Ministry, KVIC and Coir Board.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey took over as the Cabinet Minister for the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. R. K. Singh, Minister of state in the ministry and Dharmendra Pradhan, former Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Pandey said Prime Minister carved out the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, so that youth of our country are in a better position to compete, within and outside the country.
He also said that youth will be better skilled, and efforts will be made to provide them opportunities which are sustainable and regular in nature. The Minister said that employment is going to be his top agenda.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Thaawarchand Gehlot assumed charge as the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment.
The new Ministers of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Krishan Pal Gurjar, Ramdas Athawale and Rattan Lal Kataria also assumed charge.
Neelam Sawhney, Secretary, M/o Social Justice and Empowerment, Shakuntala D. Gamlin, Secretary, DEPwD and senior officers of the Ministry were present on the occasion.
Gehlot held a Meeting with the Ministers of State, Secretaries and senior officers of the Ministry to review the programmes and projects of the Ministry.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Arjun Munda assumed charge as the Union Minister of Tribal Affairs today. Renuka Singh, the new Minister of State for Tribal Affairs also assumed charge today.
After completing the joining formalities, Munda held a meeting with Deepak Khandekar, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and senior officers of the Ministry to review the programme of the work and projects of the Ministry.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
Rao Inderjit Singh took charge as the Union Minister of State(I/C) for Planning at NITI Aayog on Monday.
He said that the focus will be on work for New India by 2022. The Union Minister added that Inclusive Growth and all-round development will be the priority areas.
He also said that the implementation of pro-poor and pro-people policies of Government are our priorities. The Union Minister added that effective use of data for reaching out to the beneficiaries is the need of the hour.