Dehradun: IAS officer Vinod Kumar Suman has been selected for the post of joint secretary in the center. Vinod Kumar Suman is the first IAS officer (promoted from PCS to IAS) after the formation of the state who has been nominated for the central government.
Has handled many posts: 2007 batch IAS officer Secretary Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Vinod Kumar Suman has been selected for the post of joint secretary in the central government. IAS officer Vinod Kumar Suman is currently handling the responsibility of Secretary Disaster Management and Rehabilitation as well as State Property, General Administration and Protocol. Earlier, he has served as Secretary Finance, Secretary In-charge Urban Development, Secretary Cooperation, Secretary Agriculture, Secretary Animal Husbandry.
Born in a farmer’s family: He has been the longest serving director in urban development since the formation of the state. He has also been DM in Chamoli, Almora and Nainital. He held the post of City Magistrate and Additional District Magistrate in the capital Dehradun for a long time and was also the Secretary of MDDM. Vinod Kumar Suman was born in a very poor farmer family in Khanu village of Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh. He received his primary education from the village.
Financial crisis for studies: Vinod Kumar Suman, the eldest of five brothers and two sisters, used to help his father in the family responsibilities and also continued his studies. Somehow he passed Intermediate but there was a financial problem for further studies. He reached Srinagar Garhwal to continue his studies. He did not have money even for food.
Raised money by working as a labourer: In those days, the construction of a Sulabh toilet was going on in Srinagar. After pleading with the contractor, he started working as a labourer there. He used to get 25 rupees daily as wages. Recalling the days of struggle, Suman tells that for about a month he spent nights in the verandah of the temple with the help of a sheet and a sack. During this time, he used to eat anything with the money he got from labour.
Has a deep connection with Srinagar Garhwal: His passion for studies was such that after a few months he decided to take admission in the University of Srinagar. He took admission in the first year of BA in Srinagar Garhwal University. He was good at mathematics, so he decided to teach tuition at night. He used to work as a labourer all day and teach tuition at night. After completing BA with first division in 1992, Suman decided to return to Allahabad on the advice of his father and did MA in Ancient History from Allahabad University.
IAS officer of 2007 cadre: In 1995, he did a diploma in public administration and started preparing for the administrative service examination. Meanwhile, he got selected for the post of accountant in the Accountant General’s Office. He continued his preparation and in 1997 he got selected in PCS and got the 1998 batch. After this he never looked back. After the formation of the state, he chose Uttarakhand cadre and after serving on important posts, he got the 2007 IAS cadre.
