Sujata Saunik Biography

Sujata Saunik, an esteemed civil servant of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), achieved a significant milestone in July 2024 when she was appointed as Maharashtra’s first woman chief secretary. Born on June 15, 1965, her career has been defined by a steadfast commitment to public service and administrative leadership.

Sujata Saunik Age, Husband, Family, Biography, Career, & More

Throughout her tenure, Saunik has demonstrated exceptional capabilities, contributing extensively to the governance and development initiatives in Maharashtra. Her appointment marks a pivotal moment for gender equality in administrative roles, showcasing her competence and dedication in steering state affairs.

Early Life

Sujata Saunik’s early life was shaped by her father, C D Cheema, a distinguished IAS officer who later became the Election Commissioner of Punjab. Raised in a family dedicated to public service, she embarked on her own career in civil service, beginning in 1989 as an assistant collector in Aurangabad.

Her early assignments in Maharashtra included roles as Chief Officer of the Urban Development and Municipal Corporation of Jalna, and Chief Executive Officer in Ratnagiri. These formative years laid the groundwork for her future leadership roles in disaster management, public health, and international missions with the United Nations in Cambodia and Kosovo.

Education

Sujata Saunik completed her school education in Chandigarh and pursued her higher studies at Government College for Girls, Chandigarh, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History, Political Science, and Economics. She later obtained a Master of Arts (M.A.) in History from Panjab University and a Masters in Public Administration from Lal Bahadur Shashtri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Uttarakhand.

Age

Sujata Saunik was born on June 15, 1965, a Tuesday, in Haryana, India. As of 2024, she is 59 years old, with a Gemini zodiac sign and Indian nationality.

Physical Stats

Sujata Saunik stands approximately 5′ 6″ tall with black eyes and dark brown hair.

Husband

Sujata Saunik is married to Manoj Saunik, a former IAS officer. Details about her children are not publicly known.

Family

Sujata Saunik’s father was C D Cheema, a former IAS officer who has passed away. Her brother, Gautam Cheema, serves as an IPS officer. She has prominent relatives including aunts Asha Atri (IAS; Punjab) and Rani Jadhav (retired chairperson of the Mumbai Port Authority), and uncles A K D Jadhav (additional chief secretary (home) in Maharashtra) and Pradeep Singh (retired from the Indian Foreign Service). Her maternal grandfather was Kartar Singh, a former secretary to the union government.

Sujata Saunik Husband Manoj Saunik

Sujata Saunik Brother Gautam Cheema

Career

Sujata Saunik’s career spans a distinguished trajectory in civil service, marked by her roles in various administrative capacities across Maharashtra. Beginning as an assistant collector in Aurangabad in 1989, she subsequently served as Municipal Commissioner of Nashik and Collector of Jalgaon district.

Her international experience includes pivotal roles as a Civil Affairs Officer and Election Monitor in Cambodia and as a Municipal Administrator in Kosovo under the United Nations. Back in India, she held key positions such as Executive Director of the Central Social Welfare Board and Advisor at the National Disaster Management Authority.

Her tenure as Principal Secretary of Public Health in Maharashtra was notable for initiating campaigns on women’s rights and child survival, culminating in the formulation of the state’s first comprehensive policy on maternal and infant nutrition.

Net Worth

Sujata Saunik’s net worth is not publicly disclosed.

Some Lesser Known Facts About Sujata Saunik

• Sujata Saunik’s father, C D Cheema, was an IAS officer who served as the Election Commissioner of Punjab after retiring.
• In 1989, she started her career as an assistant collector in Aurangabad.
• In 1990, she was appointed as Chief Officer of the Urban Development and Municipal Corporation of Jalna, Maharashtra, serving until 1991.
• From April 1994 to April 1995, she served as Chief Executive Officer in the District Council of Ratnagiri in Maharashtra.
• Sujata Saunik then served as Collector and District Magistrate of the Jalgaon district from October 1996 to September 1998.
• In October 1998, she was appointed Municipal Commissioner of Nashik, serving until March 2000.
• Sujata Saunik was on deputation to the United Nations mission in Cambodia from June 1992 to July 1993 as a Civil Affairs Officer and Election Monitor, assisting in voter registration and conducting the first democratic elections.
• She was on deputation to the United Nations mission in Kosovo from 2000 to 2005, serving as Municipal Administrator of Prizren.
• From September 2006 to September 2008, she served as Executive Director of the Central Social Welfare Board in the Ministry of Women and Child Development in Delhi.
• From December 2009 to June 2013, she served as Advisor and Joint Secretary at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi, focusing on disaster management plans and capacity building.
• Sujata Saunik was a Takemi Fellow in Global Health and Population at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health from August 2017 to June 2018.
• She served as Principal Secretary of Public Health from November 2013 to December 2016, initiating campaigns on women’s rights and child survival in Maharashtra.
• During her tenure, the Public Health Department launched the first comprehensive policy on maternal and infant nutrition.

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