V. K. Pandian

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V. K. Pandian
VK Pandian in 2024
Born (1974-05-29) 29 May 1974 (age 49)
Tamil Nadu, India
EducationMaster's Degree, Agriculture
Occupation(s)Chairman 5T (Transparency, Technology, Teamwork, Time and Transformation), Retired IAS officer
Political partyBiju Janata Dal (2023 - present)
SpouseSujata R. Karthikeyan

Kartikeyan Pandian (also known as V Karthikeyan Pandian, born 29 May, 1974), is a member of the Biju Janata Dal from the state of Odisha and a former IAS officer. In November 2023, Pandian was appointed as Chairman 5T (Transformational Initiatives) with the rank of a Cabinet Minister.[1][2] Prior to this, Pandian served as the Private Secretary to the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for 12 years and Secretary to the Chief Minister's Transformational Initiatives of the Odisha Government.[3] Former IAS officer V.K. Pandian is the most talked about political figure in Odisha these days. On November 27 2023, he formally joined the Biju Janata Dal in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and senior leaders of the party.

Early life and personal background

Kartik Pandian was born on May 29, 1974, in India. Pandian completed his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (Madurai campus) and later obtained a master's degree from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi.[4] In 2000, he began his career as an IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer in the Punjab Cadre.[5]

Career

Pandian began his career as an IAS officer in 2000, soon after Odisha was hit by a devastating super cyclone. Activism was always his calling as was the need to serve.[6]

In 2002, he was appointed Sub Collector of Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district where he played an integral role in ensuring the successful implementation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers.

In 2004, as Additional District Magistrate in Rourkela, he headed the Rourkela Development Agency (RDA), which was bankrupt for over 20 years and had not been able to build homes for the people who had invested their life’s savings with them. Under Pandian’s leadership, RDA, was brought about to a 15 crore surplus and within five months of his taking charge they were able to return the money to the people who had been waiting for over 20 years.

In 2005, he was appointed the District Collector of Mayurbhanj. He was one of the youngest District Collectors in India at that time and was responsible for the largest district in Odisha. His work prioritised those at the grassroots level benefitting from the government’s plans and policies. He introduced the Single Window System for disbursement of certificates to Persons with Disability. This led to an increase in distribution from 700 certificates a year to 19000 certificates a year. He received the National Award from the President of India for his exemplary work in Mayurbhanj. After its success in Mayurbhanj, the Single Window System for PWD certificates was taken up as a national model and implemented throughout the country. He was at that time the only government servant to receive the Helen Keller Award.

During his stint as the District Collector of Ganjam, Pandian introduced NREGS to improve livelihoods and provide job security. He initiated a bank payment system for wages for the first time, and opened 1.2 lakh bank accounts to ensure labor payments reach the wage earner directly. Pandian is a two-time recipient of the National Award for NREGS for the best district in the country.

In 2011, Pandian was appointed as the Private Secretary to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, a position he held until 2023. In 2019, he was appointed Secretary 5T, (Transformational Initiatives), which is as much a mission as a vision statement. Change has been a cornerstone of Odisha but with the state set to complete 100 years in 2036, transformation became a clarion call. And the man deemed most suitable to lead the transformation mission was Kartik Pandian.

Then began a revolution that continues unabated - the vision of Naveen Patnaik and the execution of Kartik Pandian. All high schools of Odisha have been transformed to Smart Schools. The elderly receive a monthly pension of Rs. 1000, youth receive an annual scholarship of Rs. 10,000. In a pioneering move, land rights were granted to tribals. Hailed for being the most equal state, women can now avail loans up to Rs. 5 lakh at zero percent interest. From being a food-deficit state, Odisha is now the third-largest contributor to India’s food security.

A recent transformation was bringing to fruition the dream of the 5-term CM, Naveen Patnaik, by way of the Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor where the center of people’s faith, the Jagannath Temple at Puri, was transformed after 500 years. Along with the Puri temple, Pandian has also been overseeing the transformation and upkeep of all heritage structures like churches, mosques, and temples in the state.

From sponsoring the Indian national hockey team (both Men and Women) to hosting the Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup twice in a row, Pandian has successfully put Odisha on the map as the cradle for sport in India, under the guidance of his mentor and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. For his contribution to the promotion of hockey, Pandian received the President’s Award by the International Hockey Federation.

In March 2023, as a part of the Chief Minister’s initiative, Mo Sarkar or My Government, he toured all 30 districts and 147 constituencies of Odisha in order to personally engage, listen to, and collect grievances from people’s doors. The response to his tour was overwhelming and it is here that Kartik Pandian recognized the love of the people and his inner calling to serve them unfettered by bureaucratic regulations.

In October 2023, Pandian took voluntary retirement from his bureaucratic role, and was appointed chairman 5T (Transformational Initiatives) holding a cabinet minister rank.

On 27 November 2023, Pandian joined the Biju Janata Dal formally in presence of party president and Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik. Upon his trusted aide joining his party, CM Naveen Patnaik said: “Mr. Pandian has earned the trust and the respect of the people due to his decades of hard work, and I am certain he will continue working harder for the people as a member of the party.”

Personal life

He is married to Sujata R. Karthikeyan, a fellow IAS officer in 2000[7] who got her home cadre Odisha and is at the helm of Mission Shakti, one of the most successful SHG groups in India with 7 million members.[8]

Awards and recognition

  1. National award from the President of India, for the rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities  (PWDs)
  2. Helen Keller Award
  3. National Award for Working for Persons with AIDS, from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
  4. National Award for NREGS (2 times) for the best district in the country - Ganjam by Prime Minister India
  5. President’s Award by the International Hockey Federation for his contribution to the promotion of hockey.

References

  1. ^ Barik, Satyasundar (24 October 2023). "Day after quitting IAS, Odisha Chief Minister's aide V.K. Pandian takes up key roles". The Hindu.
  2. ^ Takkar, Jatin (2023-10-25). "Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik's aide gets cabinet rank". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  3. ^ "Naveen Patnaik's ex-private secretary VK Pandian joins BJD; likely to get number-2 position in party". The Indian Express. 27 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Naveen's trusted IAS officer VK Pandian takes voluntary retirement, likely to assume big role in BJD". The Times of India. 2023-10-23. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  5. ^ "Who is VK Pandian, Odisha's power player in new role under CM Naveen Patnaik?". Hindustan Times. 2023-10-24. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  6. ^ "V Karthikeyan Pandian: 'Super CM' or efficient bureaucrat". The Times of India. 2018-02-11. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  7. ^ Sharma, Nootan (2023-09-19). "Odisha is becoming an IAS state. Patnaik-Pandian combo is changing grammar of governance". ThePrint. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  8. ^ "Sujata Karthikeyan gets addl charge". The Times of India. 2023-11-23. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
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