Vijaylaxmi Joshi, secretary in the Union government in-charge of the ambitious 'Clean India Mission', has sought voluntary retirement from service.
Her request for voluntary retirement citing personal reasons is under process, government officials said.
A 1980-batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, 57-year-old Joshi still has three years of service left.
She had written to the government in July seeking voluntary retirement with effect from October 31, 2015 to take care of her old parents. Her application is under process, a personnel ministry spokesperson said.
Joshi's decision to step down comes a couple of days after Home Secretary L C Goyal sought early retirement, 17 months before his term was to lapse.
She had served in various posts in the state and in the Centre. She had been joint and additional secretary in the commerce ministry between 2011 and April 2014. Joshi took over as Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj on May 1, last year.
She has been working as secretary, ministry of drinking water and sanitation since October 1, 2014. Her husband, G P Joshi, a 1978 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, also took early retirement under Voluntary retirement Scheme in 2008.
On Monday, senior IAS officer L C Goyal had sought voluntary retirement from the post of Home Secretary. Goyal, a 1979 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre, was appointed as home secretary on February 5 for a two-year term.
He was later chairman and managing director of India Trade Promotion Organisation.
