Ashok Chawla appointed divestment secretary

Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla has been given additional charge as Divestment Secretary.

Divestment of government stake in public sector units is one of the priority reform areas for the recently elected United Progressive Alliance-II government.

With Chawla's appointment, the UPA-II government has sent a clear message that it is keen on selling off its stake in sick PSUs.

His appointment assumes significance considering the fact that the process of preparing the Union Budget is now underway.

An IAS officer of 1973 batch of the Gujarat cadre, Chawla also hold additional charge of the Department of Economic Affairs and the Department of Financial Services.