Sriballav Panigrahi
Encyclopedia
Sriballav Panigrahi is an India
n politician, a leader of the Indian National Congress
party in Orissa
and is currently a member of the All India Congress Committee
(AICC
). He has been elected to the Parliament of India
from the Deogarh
Lok Sabha
constituency, three times, 1984, 1991 and 1996.
, Orissa in 1940, he has held various positions in the party as well in the government. He was thrice elected as a Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha
) from the Deogarh
Parliamentary Constituency (1984, 1991 & 1996) and was also a Member of the Orissa Legislative Assembly
for two terms (1971 & 1974). He was a Cabinet Minister in Orissa from 1973 to 1977 (widely believed to be the Youngest Cabinet Minister in India at that time). He is regarded as an honest and straightforward politician. He is also known as 'Mr. Clean' in Orissa political circles for having a squeaky clean reputation. Good oratory skills,austere lifestyle and simple demeanour are seen as hallmarks of his personality. In his hometown, he is widely believed to be the person who was responsible for the establishment of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) at Sambalpur. He is also credited for getting the Railway Division for Sambalpur City.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n politician, a leader of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
party in Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
and is currently a member of the All India Congress Committee
All India Congress Committee
The All India Congress Committee is the Presidium or central decision-making assembly of the Indian National Congress Party. It is composed of members elected from State-level Pradesh Congress Committees and can have as many as a thousand members...
(AICC
AICC
AICC of AICc may refer to:* Adiabatic Isochoric Complete Combustion, meaning a chemical reaction which proceeds to completion with no heat transfer, in a constant-volume region...
). He has been elected to the Parliament of India
Parliament of India
The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body in India. Founded in 1919, the Parliament alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all political bodies in India. The Parliament of India comprises the President and the two Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha...
from the Deogarh
Deogarh (Lok Sabha constituency)
Deogarh Lok Sabha constituency was a Lok Sabha constituency in Orissa state in eastern India till 2008. Assembly constituencies which constituted this parliamentary constituency were: Pallahara, Talcher, Brajarajnagar, Jharsuguda, Laikera, Kuchinda and Deogarh.-Members of Parliament:*1977: Pabitra...
Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
constituency, three times, 1984, 1991 and 1996.
Biography
Born into a freedom fighter's family at Bargaon, Sambalpur districtSambalpur District
Sambalpur District is a district in the western part of state of Orissa, India. The historic city of Sambalpur is the district headquarters.The district is located in the Mahanadi River basin. It has a total area of 6,702 square kilometers, of which almost 60% of the district is covered in dense...
, Orissa in 1940, he has held various positions in the party as well in the government. He was thrice elected as a Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
) from the Deogarh
Deogarh (Lok Sabha constituency)
Deogarh Lok Sabha constituency was a Lok Sabha constituency in Orissa state in eastern India till 2008. Assembly constituencies which constituted this parliamentary constituency were: Pallahara, Talcher, Brajarajnagar, Jharsuguda, Laikera, Kuchinda and Deogarh.-Members of Parliament:*1977: Pabitra...
Parliamentary Constituency (1984, 1991 & 1996) and was also a Member of the Orissa Legislative Assembly
Orissa Legislative Assembly
The Orissa Legislative Assembly is the unicameral state legislature of Orissa state in eastern India. The seat of the Legislative Assembly is at Bhubaneshwar, the capital of the state. The Legislative Assembly comprises 147 Members of Legislative Assembly....
for two terms (1971 & 1974). He was a Cabinet Minister in Orissa from 1973 to 1977 (widely believed to be the Youngest Cabinet Minister in India at that time). He is regarded as an honest and straightforward politician. He is also known as 'Mr. Clean' in Orissa political circles for having a squeaky clean reputation. Good oratory skills,austere lifestyle and simple demeanour are seen as hallmarks of his personality. In his hometown, he is widely believed to be the person who was responsible for the establishment of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) at Sambalpur. He is also credited for getting the Railway Division for Sambalpur City.
Congress Party
He joined the party during his student days and rose quickly within its ranks. Was made the District Congress Committee (DCC) President of Sambalpur District in 1967 while he was just 27 years old.This made him the youngest DCC president in the country. He has been in the party all through and has held several positions within the party. He is currently a member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).Organisational responsibilities
- General Secretary, Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC)(1969-74 & 1977-80)
- Vice President, Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (1992–95)
- AICC observer for elections:
- Assam-1985, 2002
- Tamil Nadu-1988
- Madhyapradesh-1994
- Chhatishgarh-1999 & 2004
- Membership of AICC Committees:
- Member of AICC Committee to Probe into the causes and circumstances of the debacle of the party in Punjab Assembly Elections (1997)
- Member of the AICC team to enquire into the communal disturbances in Rae Barielly (U.P) in 1994
- Member of the AICC team to enquire into the communal disturbances in Ajmer (Rajasthan) in 1996
- Pradesh Returning Officer (PRO)-cum-Chairman State Election Authority for organizational election in Gujarat in 2006-07
- Pradesh Returning Officer (PRO)-cum-Chairman State Election Authority for organizational election in Gujarat in 2010
Orissa Legislative Assembly
Was elected to the Orissa Legislative Assembly twice (In 1971 and 1973) from Sambalpur Assembly Constituency. Was made Cabinet Minister in 1973 by the then Chief Minister, Mrs. Nandini Satpathy at the age of 33 years. He was widely regarded to be the Youngest Cabinet Minister in India at that point of time. Handled portfolios of Revenue, Irrigation & Power, Law, Education, Parliamentary Affairs, Food & Civil Supplies and Commerce.Lok Sabha
Was rated as an excellent Parliamentarian and was given the responsibility by the party to speak on important debates. Because of his active participation in the house proceedings, he was made the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum and Chemicals (1993 onwards) and also made member of various important committees. He has held several positions while being in the Parliament like:- Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum & Chemicals (1993–1996)
- Member of Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Executive Committee (1991–1997)
- Member of the high profile JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) to probe the Securities Scam in 1992
- Member of the JPC on broadcasting(1996)
- Member of Estimates Committee, Consultative Committee (Ministry of Coal)
- Chairman, Energy Ministry Probe Committee
- Chairman, INTUC (Indian National Trade Union Congress)Parliamentary Forum (1993–97)
Trade Union Activities
- Member, INTUC (Indian National Trade Union Congress) National Working Committee
- President, Orissa Colliery Mazdoor Sangh (INTUC) Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) Sambalpur, Orissa. This Union is among the largest trade unions in Orissa with a membership of over 10,000 employees (among the 5 largest trade unions in Orissa)
- Vice President of Indian National Mineworkers Federation
- Member Trust Board of Gandhi Labour Foundation Puri
- Member, National Safety Council
Other Activities & Positions held/holding
Has been associated with Several Educational, Social, Cultural and Spiritual Organizations. Currently holding the below responsibilities:- President, New Life Education Trust for Promotion of Sri Aurobindo Integral Education in Orissa (A managing body of over 540 schools in Orissa)
- President, Sri. Aurobindo Karma Mandir, Sambalpur.
- National Vice President, All India Peace and Solidarity Organization (AIPSO)
- National Vice President, Indian Society for Cultural Cooperation and Friendship (ISCUF)
- General Secretary, All India Yoga Conference
- Chairman, State Gandhiji’s Satyagraha Celebration Committee
- Member of the Senate and Syndicate, Sambalpur University 1969-72.
- Editor, Oriya Daily ‘The Hirakhand’ (1982–84)
Personal life
He is married to Mrs. Sunanda Panigrahi (A retired Reader in English,Government of Orissa) and has two sonsExternal links
- Official page at Lok SabhaLok SabhaThe Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...