Former finance secretary and commissioner S.P.Ganguly no more, leaves happy memories

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, March 17, 2023

The former finance secretary and commissioner of the state government S.P.Ganguly (IAS) breathed his last on March 7 at the age of 96 at Siliguri. He is survived by two daughters and wife. A sterlingly honest and efficient officer, S.P. Ganguly had introduced certain welfare measures for the state’s employees like grant of 50% of last basic salary as pension, payment of pension through nationalized banks and Group Insurance for employees etc. During his tenure he proved himself as an accomplished expert in preparation of budgets of the state government and at that time efficient officers like H.L.Dutta, deputy secretary, and other juniors used to spend around a month in the budget section of finance department, working day and night.

Ganguly , a widely respected officer, had also authored a book titled ‘How to Prepare Budget’ which was highly appreciated by the CAG department and union finance ministry . This book also forms part of the academic syllabus in many financial institutions of the country.

Late S.P.Ganguly’s devoted fans and followers, all retired bureaucrats of Tripura administration, still respectfully recall his sterling honesty reflected in his refusal to incur any personal and familial expenses or draw any extra benefits from government exchequer. Even in many government meetings he would meet the expenses on light refreshments from his own pocket without billing the government. Even when he himself and his family members-wife and two daughters-would go out on tour and stayed in government lodgings he would pay be bill for this through treasury. He was also closely connected with the Ram Krishna Mission and would sometime spend sometime once in a while amidst his hectic schedule there. At the time of retirement he was requested by then chief minister Nripen Chakraborty to remain in service on extended tenure but S.P.Ganguly politely excused himself and went ahead on retirement. He is respectfully recalled by all his surviving juniors in the state administration.