Brief Introduction of Mr.Shekhar Dutt

BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF MR.SHEKHAR DUTT. Mr. Shekhar Dutt assumed the charge of Governor of Chhattisgarh w.e.f 23rd January, 2010. Prior to that he was Dy.National Security Advisor from 1st August 2007 where he was looking after the issues concerning defence and national security as well as strategic defence. He was Defence Secretary, Government of India from 1st August 2005 to 31st July 2007. An IAS officer of 1969 seniority belonging to Madhya Pradesh Cadre, Mr Dutt has also served in the Indian Army as a commissioned officer. He is the recipient of Sena Medal for gallantry in 1971 Indo-Pakistan war in the western sector. Before becoming Defence Secretary, he was Secretary, Defence Production and prior to that he was Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Government of India. During his tenure as Defence Secretary, number of initiatives were taken towards increasing the pace of modernization as well as bringing about greater probity in the defence procurement. The Defence Procurement Policy (DPP) was reviewed and a new policy, DPP 2006 was evolved. Similarly, Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) was also reviewed and a new policy DPM 2006 was promulgated. ‘Make’ policy enabling conceptualization and manufacture of defence equipment in the country was evolved. A policy of ‘offset’ was brought about for the first time so that the country could leverage its purchasing power enabling equipment, systems, sub- systems and parts to be made in India. Procedure for ‘fast-track’ procurement was also reviewed and a new procedure formulated. During this period, the New Framework for US-India defence relationship was finalized and a new defence procurement and production group as well as joint working group under the aegis of the India-US policy group was set up. 1 As Secretary, Deptt of Defence Production, he was responsible for overseeing and facilitating production of various land, sea and air systems. Mr.Dutt has earlier worked in the Ministry of Defence as Joint Secretary of Defence Production during 1991-1996. During this period, he was Director in the Boards of Defence Undertakings such as Bharat Electronics, Bharat Dynamics, Bharat Earth Movers (BEML), Mazagaon Docks, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers and Goa Shipyard. He was involved in the partial disinvestment of Bharat Electronics & BEML which resulted in these companies being listed in the Stock Exchange. During this period, he was also looking after the major projects of the Defence Ministry such as setting up of the Tank Factory at Avadi, setting up of the BMP Factory at Medak, Ordnance Ammunition Factory at Bolangir and the 5.56 mm Insas Rifle Manufacturing Project as well as the production aspects of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. Earlier in the mid 1980s he was Director (Navy) in the Ministry of Defence. In the early 1980s he was looking after the Command Area Development of all major irrigation dams (84 major projects) of India. During this period, he was instrumental in setting up Water Users Committees for ensuring proper water distribution in the irrigation command. The concept of ‘Wara Bandi’ i.e water distribution as per a time table was also developed. The posts held by Mr.Dutt also include Director General, Sports Authority of India (2001-2003) and Principal Secretary, Department of Tribal and Scheduled Caste Welfare and Principal Secretary, Departments of School Education, Sports & Youth Welfare, Govt. of M.P (1996-2001) During his tenure as Director General of Sports Authority of India (2001- 2003), Mr.Dutt played a pivotal role in the successful conduct of the first Afro Asian Games. During this period in the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth games, India secured 69 medals which was their maximum tally title that time. 2 As the Principal Secretary, Tribal Welfare (1998-2001), Mr.Dutt was instrumental in drawing up a number of schemes including special projects concerning area development, collection and marketing of minor forest produce and forest village development through Joint Forest Management mechanism. In his capacity as Principal Secretary in the Departments of School Education, Sports & Youth Welfare (1997-1998), Mr.Dutt was credited with the introduction of an innovative programme called Education Guarantee Scheme in which the community panchayats owned and ran the schools. He also developed the ‘Shiksha Karmi Bharti Niyam’ which gave the ownership of the primary school teachers to the Panchayats thereby ensuring teachers to be present in the schools at remote places. The scheme helped in universalizing elementary education in Madhya Pradesh to a great extent. -000- 3 .

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