Previous Fora / 2011
DESHMUKH, Vilasrao
Minister of Science & Technology, Minister of Earth Sciences, India
Educational Qualifications:
B.Sc., B.A., LL.B. Educated at Garware College, Pune University, Pune and I.L.S. Law College, Pune (Maharashtra)
Positions Held:
1974-79 Member, Zilla Panchayat, Osmanabad 1974-76 Sarpanch, Babhalgaon Village Panchayat, Taluka Latur 1974-79 Deputy Chairman, Latur Taluka Panchayat Samiti 1980-1995 and 1999-2009 Member, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly 1982-85 Minister of State, Department of Rural Development, Home, General Administration, Agriculture, Transport, Education, Technical Education, Sports and Youth Affairs, Information and Publicity, Government of Maharashtra 1986-95 Cabinet Minister, Rural Development, Agriculture, Cooperation, Dairy Development & Fisheries, Public Works, Industries, Education and Technical Education, Sports and Youth Welfare, Co-operation, Transport, Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Maharashtra 18 Oct. 1999-18 Jan. 2003 Chief Minister, Maharashtra 11 Nov. 2004-7 Dec. 2008 Chief Minister, Maharashtra (second term) Aug. 2009 Elected to Rajya Sabha May 2009 - Jan. 2011 Union Minister of Heavy Industries, Public Enterprises, 19 Jan. 2011 till 12 July, 2011 Union Minister of Rural Development and Minister of Panchayati Raj (Additional charge) and since 12 July, 2011 taken over as Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences
Social and Cultural Activities, Literary, Artistic and Scientific Accomplishments and other Special Interests:
Started Manjara Cooperative Sugar Factory, Latur, in 1987; it was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi; the factory transformed the socio-economic conditions of the people and has received many National and State Awards; it is the flagship Institute for the development of Latur
Other Information:
Worked for the implementation of the five-point Programme of the Youth Congress; credited for the empowerment of Zilla Panchayats and strengthening of the Panchayati Raj System; introduced separate policies for empowerment of the women and the youth; launched the Sant Ghadge Baba Gram Swachhata Abhiyan in Maharashtra; credited for implemention of inerest subsidy scheme for farmers; launched the Tanta Mukti Abhiyan in Maharashtra;Member, (i) Indian National Congress since 1972 and (ii) Congress Working Committee, 2008; President, Osmanabad District Youth Congress, 1975-78; elected Director, (i) Latur Agriculture Market Committee, 1976, (ii) Osmanabad District Centre Cooperative Bank, 1979 and (iii) Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank, 1979
12:00-13:30 17 NOVEMBER
PLENARY SESSION II. “THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF SCIENCE: EMERGING POWERHOUSES IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY” (GEOGRAPHICAL APPROACH)