Health budget may get a healing touch in pandemic shadow

Retired from the Indian Administrative Services, Ms Ahuja has over 34 years of experience in administration, policy formulation, project management, and leadership across the public sector. Her expertise spans health systems, nutrition, women’s workforce participation, vulnerable populations, petrochemicals, and social sector programs. She has held several senior positions in the Government of India, including Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, where she led reforms to strengthen worker welfare and represented India at the G20 Employment Working Group; Secretary, Ministry of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, where she initiated the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme; and Secretary, Women & Child Development, where she directed large-scale nutrition and empowerment initiatives, strengthening the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). As Secretary of Health, Government of India she played a pivotal role in India’s COVID-19 response, launched the National Digital Health Mission, and advanced national programs on TB and AIDS control. She continues to advise on gender, climate change, and nutrition, contributes to national and international publications, and teaches public policy and nutrition at leading academic institutions. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health; Master’s in Public Policy from Princeton University; Master’s in Economics (Gold Medallist) from Panjab University, and is a Bachelor of Law from the University of Delhi.