New Delhi/IBNS: The Centre has approved Odisha cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Sujata R Karthikeyan's request to retire early from service.

Known for her influence in higher education and sports policies during the erstwhile BJD government in Odisha, Karthikeyan opted for voluntary retirement (VRS) two weeks ago, media reports said.

She is married to former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik's associate, VK Pandian.

A graduate in Political Science from Lady Shri Ram College and Delhi University topper,  Karthikeyan became an IAS officer in 2000.

She also has a Master's degree in International Politics from the Jawaharlal Nehru University. She is also a gold medallist in the IAS Academy.

Karthikeyan served as a collector in Maoist-affected Sundargarh district.

Her credibility included the cycle scheme for high school students through sponsorships offered via a bank, under the motto, "Mobility is Empowerment".

This initiative to improve the enrolment of girls in schools was taken up by the state government for all schools across Odisha.

She is known to have used sports such as football to divert young people from Maoist influence in violence-prone districts of the state, and later set up hostels for girls and boys interested in pursuing hockey.

In 2006, she introduced eggs in the midday meals scheme in all government schools of Sundergarh. Inaugurated by Patnaik, this too was later scaled up across the state.

During the election last year, Karthikeyan was transferred to a less influential post following the direction of the Election Commission (EC).

The transfer was initiated after the BJP filed a complaint accusing her of being a "BJD agent".

The BJP came to power in the state, defeating the BJD that had governed the state for two decades.