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Babuji:Rajendra Darda ,Min of Industries

Posted in Uncategorized on 06/09/2010 05:31 pm by Team Lokmat

BIO-DATA


 


                        Rajendra Jawaharlal Darda


Current Portfolio          :           Minister of Industries – Government of Maharashtra


 


Prior Portfolios            :           Minister of State for Energy & Finance (2001-03)


                                                Minister of State for Home (2003-04)         


Education                     :          Passed B.A. from Nagpur University,


                                     :              Completed three-year course in Printing Technology from


                                                 Govt. Institute of Printing Technology, Mumbai.


                                     :             Passed two year’s advanced course in Graphic Arts from


     London College of Printing. Stood first in the order of merit.


Business Interests      :           Ex MD of Lokmat Group of Newspapers which is     Maharashtra’s largest circulated Marathi newspaper. The group is also a part of IBN Lokmat TV channel and G2 – Global Gujrati Magazine.


 


Achievements as journalist:


 


Mr. Darda has been the Editor-in-Chief of Lokmat group of newspapers. Lokmat, the largest circulated and read Marathi daily in Maharashtra, publishes 20 editions in 3 languages with 11 state-of-the-art printing centers. He has been responsible for creating Lokmat as one of the most powerful brands of the country. Today Lokmat is the 5th largest read newspaper of India reaching more than 10 million people every day. The Group has more than 100 marketing and distribution offices around the country.


Mr Darda has successfully created Lokmat’s foothold in the television, newspapers (in three languages), magazines & digital arena. Mr. Darda has traveled to more than 30 countries and has had the opportunity to accompany Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Narsimha Rao, A.B. Vajpayee and President Smt. Pratibhatai Patil during their foreign tours.


 Lokmat ,under his guidance has always been commited to the cause of social justice, health & environment.


Birthdate                      :           November 21, 1952


 


Wife                             :           Ashoo Darda


Sons                            :           Rishi &  Karan


He is the Trustee of Aurangabad Vidya Mandir and has been the Director of the Indian Institute of Hotel Management of the Taj Group of Hotels.


q He was a Technical Director of the Maharashtra Textbook Bureau Committee. He has written on a variety of subjects and has authored the book “Zumbar”.


q He is the Chairman of the Horniman College of Journalism and Mass Communication, Aurangabad from April, 1999.


SOCIAL ACHIEVEMENTS:


q  Mr. Rajendra Darda has played an important role in national integration and communal harmony. The communal riots of 1988 at Aurangabad were followed by a national integration rally organized by him on the 2nd of October, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. By personally interacting with people of all castes and communities, he always strives to maintain an amicable atmosphere in Aurangabad.


q  Mr. Darda has always been on the forefront of extending a helping hand to needy in times of emergencies & natural calamities. In 1984, he mobilized relief funds for the flood affected people of Nanded and Parbhani and constructed 13 school buildings. After the severe earthquakes of Bihar (1988) and Marathwada (1993), he made a significant contribution towards giving relief to the affected people.


q  Under his leadership, the Lokmat Group of Newspapers shouldered an important social responsibility by raising Kargil relief fund for the families of the martyrs. Through the funds raised, Lokmat Group constructed hostels for the children of the martyrs at Aurangabad, Nagpur and Solapur. Lokmat also collected funds for the martyrs of the mumbai terror attack(26/11)


q He had the rare opportunity of twice accompanying the late Prime Minister Shri. Rajiv Gandhi during his tours abroad to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Indonesia in October 1986 and later to Yugoslavia in September 1989. Along with Mr. Gandhi, he attended the conference of the non-aligned summit countries. He also accompanied the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in February 1999 during his tour to Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica and Morocco.


q  In his capacity as a journalist, he was invited by the government of United States of America to witness the presidential election and report the keen fight between Michael Dukasis & Sr. George Bush in 1988. It was a rare opportunity for him to meet the top US personalities from different walks of life.


q He has been writing eloquent editorials and articles on eminent personalities and burning issues from time to time. His latest literary creation “Vibrant Vignettes” vividly brings alive his experiences as a student in Europe and America in the 70’s.


q    He was the President of the Lions’ Club of Aurangabad-Chikalthana from 1988 to 1989.


q     He was the Chairman of the Lions Hospital, which holds the famous plastic surgery camp of Dr. Sharadkumar Dickshit annually, from 1991 to 1994.


q    In the year 1999, he won the Aurangabad (West) seat of the Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly. Taking into consideration his extensive & varied experience, he was inducted into the State Cabinet as Minister of State for Energy and Tourism. From March 2001 till 2003, he handled Finance & Planning portfolio as MOS Finance & Planning. Since January 2003 to October 2004 he was the Minister of State for Home (Urban). As minister of state for finance, he presented Maharashtra’s budget twice in the Legislative Council. From 7th November 2009 he is a Minister for Industries, Employment & Self Employment.


q     He was re-elected to Legislative Assembly from Aurangabad (West) constituency in the years 2004 & 2009.


q     He was felicitated by the Maharashtra Jaycees with the outstanding young person award of  Maharashtra along with Sunil Gavaskar and Shabana Azmi.


q    He was honoured by the President of India HE Smt. Pratibhaji Patil on 29th June, 2009 in Mumbai after being chosen as the best speaker in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.


q    Mr Darda accompanied Hon. President Pratibhatai Patil during her tour to Brazil, Mexico & Chilly (Latin American Countries) from 13th April 2009 to 24th April 2009.


q  He is the president of the Sakal Jain Samaj, Aurangabad.


q  He was president of the All India Marathi Jain Literary Conference held in Osmanabad on November 12 and 13, 2005.


Permanent Address    :           Lokmat Bhavan, Jalna Road, Aurangabad 431 210.


                                                Phone : 0240-2485301 to 4,  Fax : 0240-2484130


 


Current Address         :           Nandanvan Bunglow,


                                                Near Kamla Nehru Park,


                                                Malabar Hill, Mumbai.


Phone                         :           022-2363 0609 / 022-2363 0286, Fax : 022-2363 2905


 


 


* * *


 


 


 
 

Darda: Ready to work towards realising Rahul’s ‘Dream India’

Posted in Uncategorized on 06/08/2010 03:20 pm by Team Lokmat
Vikash Zade, New Delhihttp://onlinenews1.lokmat.com/template/themes/regular/images/lokmat.gif
June 5: 


“My unflinching faith in the Congress party and my term in the Rajya Sabha have convinced the Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi, to give me another chance. This is a victory of loyalty, honesty and integrity. During my third term, it would be a privilege to work with Mr Rahul Gandhi and I am fully prepared to work towards realizing the young leader’s ‘dream India’ while working under the guidance of Ms Sonia Gandhi,” said the Rajya Sabha member and Chairman and Managing Director of Lokmat Group of Newspapers, Mr Vijay Darda.
The Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi, has once again nominated Mr Vijay Darda for Rajya Sabha elections scheduled to be held on June 17. Along with him, the nomination of Congress secretary, Mr Avinash Pande, was also announced from Maharashtra.
 The senior Congress leader, Mr Oscar Fernandes, announced the nomination of Mr Darda and Mr Pande on behalf of the Congress chief. Prior to that, Ms Gandhi took out time from her busy schedule and called up Mr Darda to give him the good news at 11.15 am. Mr Darda thanked Ms Gandhi for this and assured her that he would do justice to the job.
 This would be Mr Darda’s third term in the Rajya Sabha. It might be recalled that Mr Darda had contested as an independent candidate and had secured an impressive victory in his first attempt. His father late Jawaharlal Darda was a life-long Congress loyalist. After Jawaharlal Darda, Mr Vijay Darda and Mr Rajendra Darda followed the footsteps of their father.
After winning the Rajya Sabha elections as an independent, Mr Vijay Darda won the confidence of senior Congress leaders and got himself included in the inner circle of the Congress party in a very short time. During his tenure, Mr Darda raised several important issues in the Upper House. Issues pertaining to farmers’ suicide and the ways to prevent it, welfare of farmers and securing government funds for the poor and needy were some of the issues that were close to Mr Darda’s heart.
 Mr Darda worked hard to secure the Prime Minister’s special package for the distressed farmers of the Vidarbha region. It was he who brought the young Congress leader, Mr Rahul Gandhi, to Yavatmal. According to Congress leaders, the third term is the result of Mr Darda’s hard work and sincere efforts.”
 Speaking to Lokmat Times, Mr Darda said that the Darda family has close ties with the Gandhi-Nehru family since a long period. “Babuji and Darda family were firmly behind Ms Indira Gandhi at all times. I never thought that just because I am an MP, I belong to an upper level. My first priority was the development of Maharashtra. A nation can develop only when its citizens get a chance to grow. Vidarbha, Khandesh, Marathwada and Konkan are the undeveloped regions in Maharashtra. I want all-round development of these regions. The central point of my work would be the farmers, farm workers and youths and I would do everything to better their standard of living,” said Mr Darda. “I am confident that with the help of Ms Sonia Gandhi, I will succeed in my efforts”.
Mr Darda said he got strength from the support extended by the Lokmat Group, IBN Lokmat and the entire Lokmat family. “I am confident that I will continue to get their support in all my future endeavours too. Babuji taught me to serve the people and my society. My younger brother Rajendra is always with me and that’s a symbol of my family’s unity. With the love of all my people, I will certainly succeed in my efforts. Strengthening my country is my ultimate aim,” said Mr Darda.



 

Mission Trees..!

Posted in Uncategorized on 06/05/2010 10:43 am by Team Lokmat

http://datastore.rediff.com/h120-w120/thumb/695B586527666A676A5F73/bgvsoczu8ol3223w.D.0.babuji1.jpgMission Trees..!
Minister of Industries ,employment & self Employment ,Maharashtra State, Rajendra Darda has taken upon himself an ecological commitment…to plant at least a lakh trees -through Maharashtra Industries -this year. Whether at the MOU signing of megaprojects in Mumbai or any industrial conference, meeting or program that he attends, he urges all present to plant trees and help to maintain the delicate ecological balance.”Look at the heat that we had to bear this summer,”he said. “Nobody will ever doubt that global warming is a serious problem. Every one of us needs to do our bit. Save water, use less power and fuel, minimise the use of plastic and grow trees. If you do not have space, plant trees in public places , or even better, in industrial areas.”
“We have really ravaged nature and it is high time we give back something. I will see that industries pollute less and go green. Trees give oxygen, shade, shelter , reduce soil erosion and dust and noise pollution. The cool greenery improves the working atmosphere. “He added. “This World environment Day, Lets pledge to do our bit..Use less, waste less, Save more!(fuel, water, power).Use cotton or jute shopping bags as far as possible. Grow or adopt a tree and take care of it.After all , tiny drops makes an ocean. Live and let live!”
 

State committed to assist exporters: Rajendra Darda

Posted in Uncategorized on 04/26/2010 11:37 am by Team Lokmat
Lokmat news service
Mumbai, April 22: 
The exporters are the backbone of a state’s economic progress and so the Maharashtra Government is fully committed to assist them, said the industry minister Rajendra Darda here recently. 
Mr Darda was speaking at function to felicitate entrepreneurs with illustrious contributions to State’s exports business at the Sahyadri Guest House here. 
The minister of state for industry Sachin Ahir, development commissioner Sanjay Sethi, CEO of MIDC Dr Chhatrapati Shivaji and bigwigs in the industry sector were present on the occasion. 
Mr Darda said Maharashtra contributed 27 per cent of the national exports business and it was possible only because the State has entrepreneur-friendly industrial policy. Maharashtra today is the number one industrially-developed state in the country, he added. 
He also said the State industry department has accorded clearance to as many as 169 mega industrial projects and out of them, 69 would be set up in the backward regions of the State. And out of these, 54 projects have already commenced production and these projects have opened employment opportunities to lakhs of people in the State.
The industry minister also said that MIDC was the best organisation in the country to provide industrial infrastructure and now efforts are on to provide five star infrastructural facilities to all industrial estates in Maharashtra. 
He also said that to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the formation of Maharashtra, the State industry department has plans to announce several new concession schemes for the entrepreneurs. 
In his speech, Mr Ahir said that India accounted for only 1.64 per cent of global exports business and it ranked 30th in the list of global exporters and this situation needs to be changed. He also complimented the exporters from Maharashtra for maintaining their export business even during the global recession period. 
The development commissioner Sanjay Sethi made an introductory speech and briefed the audience about the export excellence awards. 
The function also marked the felicitation of 60 entrepreneurs for their outstanding contributions to State’s exports business.
 

Shlok 2010, Vibrant and mesmerising

Posted in Uncategorized on 04/17/2010 02:21 pm by Team Lokmat

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A tranquil evening, muted lights, stunning paintings and sculptures and eager art lovers was the hallmark of the evening when the preview of Shlok 2010 was inaugurated today at Lokmat Hall. The programme took off with the lighting of the traditional lamp by the guest of honour Ms Prafulla Dahanukar, one of the senior most artists of India, who has a huge body of impressive work done in the last five decades. She is also internationally renowned. The other eminent dignitaries included Dr Ms. ManishaPatil, Dean, Sir JJ School of Art, Mr Harmeet Singh Sethi, CEO Aura Art, Ms Farah Siddiqui, Art consultant and critique, Mr Manas Roy, a Dutch based visual artist and Ms Chandreyee Manas Roy, a noted curater. 


http://datastore.rediff.com/h5000-w5000/thumb/695B586527666A676A5F73/9gr7lknrnurb1yqr.D.0.1.jpgThe preview show was presented by Hon Industry Minister, Mr Rajendra Darda and Founder President of Sakhi Manch, Mrs Ashoo Darda. Shlok , initiated by Mrs Sheetal Darda is committed to promoting art and culture, providing a platform to talented budding artists  to help them reach out to illuminated horizons  beyond their reach. Shlok is no more a fledgling organization. In its third year of pulsating progress, SHLOK is a name that evokes respect from connoisseurs.

The eminent artists were all praise for SHLOK and the platform it was providing to local artists. The chief guest Mrs Prafulla Dahanukar said that it was heartening to see the dedication of young women like Sheetal Darda towards propagation of art. She promised help and guidance in every possible way to SHLOK in all its future endeavours.


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Dr Manisha Patil stated that she was involved with SHLOK in Nagpur and was aware of the ripples it was making in art circles. Mr Harmeet Singh Sethi and Ms Farah Siddiqui also expressed happiness at the good work that SHLOK was achieving for local artists. Mr Manas Roy has been a pillar of strength for Shlok. He has been putting in his best whenever he is in India or abroad.


The ambience in the Lokmat Hall was simply mesmerising. Beautiful paintings in myriad colours and themes were a treat to the eyes for art lovers and novices too. On felt that one had walked into a vibrant realm where stark reality rubbed shoulders with dreams and fantasies. The exhibition was open from  April 10 to April 13.
 

The Maharashtra state has 169 mega projects worth of Rs1.4 lakh crore in pipeline

Posted in Uncategorized on 03/24/2010 07:59 pm by Team Lokmat

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The Maharashtra state has 169 mega projects worth of Rs1.4 lakh crore in pipeline, said Rajendra Darda, Minister for Industries, Employment & Self Employment,Government of Maharashtra while addressing captains of Indian industry at the CII Maharashtra Annual Day in Mumbai, which focused on Roadmap for Sustainable Development. 

He further added that the state has 54 approved SEZs, highest in the country, which will result in projects worth Rs52,000 crore. He said that the government is determined to increase the power generation capacity. “Despite bottlenecks in the infrastructure development projects, we have power projects under implementation with the generation capacity of 10,000 MW. Besides, the ambitious Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor would also help the state to grow tremendously,” he added. 

He informed the gathering that the state has recently received confirmation from the Japanese government on its plans of setting up a project in the state. “The project aims at transforming the Brown Fields to Green Fields and Maharashtra is the only state to receive this project along with Gujarat and Haryana. The state has initiated Udyog Setu, a program providing interaction between industries and government for better planning, investment and implementation of projects. Udyog Setu has been implemented in Thane and Nagpur and 12 more districts would be covered shortly,” Darda said.

Banmali Agrawala, Immediate Past Chairman, CII Western Region and Executive Director – Strategy & Business Development, The Tata Power Co Ltd in his address said, “The state government should broaden its vision on infrastructure. By the time one infrastructure project is over, the increased demand already surpasses the capacity. Besides for the infrastructure projects, the government should also ensure timely land acquisitions.”

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Minister for Industries Rajendra Darda was honoured with the Award for Excellence in Strategic Business Communication and Audio-Visual Journalism

Posted in Uncategorized on 03/22/2010 12:08 pm by Team Lokmat

http://datastore.rediff.com/h5000-w5000/thumb/695B586527666A676A5F73/yc0326qhyziogmg9.D.0.abci3.bmpMumbai ,  Saturday, March 20, 2010 :  The Governor of Maharashtra K Sankaranarayanan  said that with the women’s reservation bill round the corner,women should prepare themselves to shoulder greater responsibility in all walks of life including politics, business and various professions. The Governor was speaking at the 49th Annual Awards function of the Association of Business Communicators of India (ABCI) at Hotel Taj President in Mumbai on Friday (19 March) evening. ABCI is an organization of business communication and public relations professionals having major Corporates and organizations in the public and private sector as members. 

http://datastore.rediff.com/h5000-w5000/thumb/695B586527666A676A5F73/s7onaaicyf6krbdd.D.0.abci2.bmpThe Governor presented the Life Time Achievement award in Communication to veteran Cartoonist R.K.Laxman and senior journalist and former Chairman of the Prasar Bharati M.V.Kamath on this occasion. 

Sankaranarayanan said , “As India takes its rightful place as an emerging Superpower, the role of communication and public relations professionals is going to assume greater significance”, he said. 
Congratulating R. K. Laxman for being “the voice of the common man in the corridors of power”, the Governor said that through cartooning, Laxman had demonstrated that effective communication is possible even without uttering a single word. The Governor described well known journalist M.V. Kamath as the ‘conscience-keeper’ of journalism. 

President of the Association of Business Communicators of India Yogesh Joshi and Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India Dr Subir Gokarn were present on the occasion. 

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