Speakers

1. Name: Ganji Kamala Vardhana Rao

2. Academic Qualification: MA, MPhil (Political Science) University of Hyderabad

3. Service/Cadre: Indian Administrative Service (Kerala Cadre – 1990)

4. Medals: Director’s Gold Medal for securing highest Marks in LBSNAA, Mussorie.

5. Present Occupation: Chief Executive Officer, FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)

 

 

DETAILS OF ACHIEVEMENTS / WORK EXPERIENCE

 

● Sub-Collector, Adoor (District Pathanamthitta) Government of Kerala (October,1992 – May, 1994).

● Dealt with Revenue, Regulatory, Administrative and Judicial matter in the sub-division.

● Handled severe flood situation in the district. Organized relief camps for more than 10,000 people for 10 days.

● Increased revenue recovery by 76%.

● Co-ordinated the visit of the Vice-President of India.

 

Secretary

Excise Department, Government of Kerala (15-11-1995 to 08-09-1996)

 

● Implemented new Abkari Policy (Arrack Ban) for the first time in the state.

● As In-charge of Enforcement implemented Arrack Ban Successfully.

 

Director of Fisheries

Government of Kerala (24-10-1996 to 18-03-1998)

 

• Implemented Janakiya Matsya Krishi, a people’s programme involving the local bodies in augmenting inland fisheries

• As Chairman of the State level committee on the welfare of the fisheries and allied workers made recommendations to the Government. First of its kind in the Country.

 

Consultant

National Institute of Rural Development,

(Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India)

Hyderabad (19-03-1998 to 20-06-1999)

 

● Assisted the Director General in implementing Action Research Projects on De-Centralized Planning and Rural Drinking Water Supply.

● Published article on drinking water in the Annual Report of NIRD.

● Conducted various training programmes on Schemes of Rural Development pertaining to many states in the Country.

 

District Collector

Kollam, Kerala (25-06-1999 to 05-06-2001)

 

● Conducted General Elections to the Parliament as the Returning Officer for two Parliamentary Constituencies in 1999.

● Conducted Elections for the Local Bodies and Municipalities in 2000 • Conducted Assembly Elections in 2001.

● Conducted Census operations in 2001. • Revenue collection recorded the highest growth during 2000-2001.

● Initiated new Schemes and programmes towards the promotion of the Tourism in the District

 

POSTS HELD IN ANDHRA PRADESH (ON INTER-CADRE DEPUTATION)

JOINT SECRETARY

DEPT. OF INDUSTRIES & COMMERCE (18-09-2001 TO 27-05-2002)

 

● Dealt with all the policy issues related to State Finance Corporation, A.P. Handicrafts Development Corporation, A.P. Industrial Development Corporation, Leather Industries Development Corporation, A.P. Industrial Infrastructure Corporation, Commissionerate of Industries.

● Dealt with many pioneering schemes such as development of bio-tech park, pharmacity, leather clusters etc.

 

Commissioner

Youth Services & Managing Director, Society for Training & Employment (STEP)

(27-05-2002 to 20-10-2004)

 

● Implemented Chief Minister’s Empowerment of Youth (CMEY) Programme – an income generating programme through micro-credit to the groups and individuals. Disbursed more than 400 Crores to the Self Help Groups through the Bank linked Credit Programmes.

● Conducted International Summit on Youth Employment (YES Summit) for the first time in the Country in association with Youth Employment Summit Programme, Boston, USA. More than 50 countries have participated in this programme.

● Formulated Youth Empowerment Policy 2004 (first of its kind in the country)

● Held Additional Charge of LIDCAP and executed training programmes for more than one lakh Leather Artisans and established Mini, Medium and Mega Leather Parks across the State

 

Vice-Chairman and Managing Director

Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh

(25-08-2005 to 08-09-2006)

 

● Conducted many International and National Level Tournaments including Asian Badminton Championship, Asian Chess Championship, Asian Rowing Championship etc.

● Convener, HRD Committee, Afro-Asian Games.

● Attended the closing ceremony of Commonwealth games in Melbourne in 2004.

● Made preparations for the World Military games at Hyderabad in 2004.

 

Director of Culture Government of India,

(11-09-2006 to 20-09-2007)

 

● Museums - incharge of Museums in the Country including National Museum, New Delhi and Indian Museum, Kolkata.

● Organized Nizam Jewellery Exhibition at National Museum, New Delhi.

● Prepared International Cultural Cooperation agreements with many Countries (Cultural Exchange Programmes)

● Attended Secretary level conference at Islamabad, Pakistan.

● Visited Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan as part of delegation lead by Shri Jayaram Ramesh, Hon’ble MOS, Commerce

● Dealt with the issues related to Archaeological Survey of India.

 

Private Secretary to Smt.D. Purandeswari

Hon’ble MOS – HRD,

Government of India

(21-09-2007 to 10-09-2010)

 

● Assisted Hon’ble Minister in Parliamentary Affairs and the Departmental issues.

● Assisted and accompanied Hon’ble Minister during the following visits abroad.

i. 117th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union on “Globalization for development – Opportunities and Challenges” at Geneva, Switzerland. (4th October, 2007 to 13th October, 2007)

ii. World Seminar on “Information & Communication Technology for Education Ministers” at London. (6th January, 2008 to 10th January, 2008)

iii. White Symposium on “Advancing Global Literacy – Building a foundation for freedom” – New York (18th Sept. 2008 to 28th Sept.)

iv. CONFINTEA VI – Preparatory Conference for “Asia Pacific Region – Building Equitable and Sustainable Societies in Asia and the Pacific” organized by UNESCO (5th Oct.2008 to 9th Oct.)

v. 48th Session of the International Conference on Education (ICE) “Inclusive Education – the way of future” at International Conference Centre – Geneva (25th to 28th Nov. 2008)

vi. Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), Asia – “Alternative Higher Education” - Hong Kong (1st Dec. to 3rd Dec.2008) vii. Joint Declaration of Multi lingualism between India and European Commission – Brussels (6th March to 7th March, 2009)

vii. Joint Declaration of Multi lingualism between India and European Commission – Brussels (6th March to 7th March, 2009)

viii. The new dynamics of Higher Education and Research for Social Change and Development at UNESCO HQ, Paris (5th – 7th July, 2009)

ix. Entrepreneurship and Innovation in a Global Economy, organized by Pan-IIT Alumni 2009 Global Conference – Chicago (8th Oct. to 10th Oct. 2009)

x. Minister-in-Waiting, accompanied Her Excellency, The President of India to London and Cyprus (26th Oct. to 1st Nov.2009)

xi. Sixth International Conference on Adult Education – CONFINTEA VI “Living and Learning for a viable future – The Power of Adult Learning” at Belem do Para, Brazil (29th Nov. to 6th Dec.2009)

xii. Ninth High Level Group Meeting on Education for all at AddisAbaba, Ethiopia. (23rd - 26th Feb. 2010)

xiii. Inauguration of Bharathiya Vidhya Bhavan at Qatar (13th – 15th May, 2010).

xiv. 2nd UNESCO World Conference on Arts Education at Seoul, South Korea (25th to 27th May, 2010)

xv. Eighth E-9 Ministerial Review Meeting at Abuja, Nigeria (20th – 25th June, 2010)

xvi. 10th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Indian Ocean RIM (IOR) – Association of Regional Cooperation at Sanna, Yemen. (4th – 6th Aug. 2010)

 

Chairman

Tobacco Board Ministry of Commerce & Industries

Govt. of India

(20-09-2010 to 04-12-2012)

 

● Introduced and implemented E-AUCTIONS for the first time in the world in Tobacco Sector.

● As part of promoting International Trade attended the following Tobacco Conferences.

i. Tobacco Conference at Zakarta, Indonesia (Oct.2010)

ii. World Tobacco Conference at Prague, Czechoslovakia (2011)

iii. Tobacco Trade Meet at Dubai (2011)

iv. World Tobacco Meet at Antwerp, Belgium (2012)

v. Annual General Body Meeting of International Tobacco Growers Association at Arushi, Tanzania.

vi. Led Tobacco Trade Delegation to Beijing, China.

 

Secretary

Ministry of Revenue and Disaster Management

Govt. of Kerala.

(06.09.2013 to 31.03.2015)

 

● Implemented “zero landless project” and a mission mode program to distribute of land to all the landless people in Kerala.

 

Principal Secretary

Ministry of Tourism Govt. of Kerala (01.04.2015 to 17.07.2016)

 

● As Principal Secretary Tourism and food and civil supplies implemented Food Security Act.

● As Principal Secretary Tourism, interacted with the Multinational Corporations at Silicon Valley during promotional activities of Kerala Tourism. More than 150 CEOs have attended from Silicon Valley.

● Led Tourist Trade Delegations, Kerala to Beijing, China. Promoted Ayurveda and Kalaripayattu (Martial Art of Kerala in Beijing along with Local Kung fu Specialist).

● Conducted Road Show in Shanghai, China along with Industry Representation.

● Led International Tourist Delegation to Sri Lanka for Road Show in Colombo to tap Chinese and Japanese markets, who visit Sri Lanka.

● Signed a MOU with Sri Lanka Government for starting a cruise connecting Colombo, Kochi and Maldives.

● Conducted Road Shows in Milan, Rome and London

● Celebrated Diwali at Trafalgar Square London. More than 50,000 people attended along with Deputy Mayor of London.

● Presented Kerala Tourism before 15 Members of Parliament in British Parliament.

● Conducted Road Shows at New York, Chicago and San Francisco.

● Participated in International Tourism Fairs at WTO London, ITB Berlin.

● Received many International honors for promoting Kerala Tourism.

● Conducted Road Show in Saint Petersburg, Russia

● Participated international exhibitions at Dubai and Singapore as part of Kerala Tourism promotion.

● Worked towards successful completion of Muziris Project inaugurated by Hon’ble President of India (this is an Archaeological project taken up by Kerala State Historical Research Institute.

● Promoted Spice Route Project taken up by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and inaugurated by Late Sh. Pranav Mukherjee, the then Hon’ble President of India, linking many countries involved in Spice Route.

 

Principal Secretary

Ministry of Public Works Department

Govt. of Kerala

(22.09.2017 to 23.10.2019)

 

● Prepared long term plan for flood resilient road network based on World Bank reports and recommendations in 2018 and got the Master Plan for the same implemented at district level.

● Personally involved in the approval of the outer ring road Parippally-Vengod-Aruvikkara-Vizhinjam route and development of allied areas and port and also for the inclusion of the same in Kerala Budget Speech of Hon’ble Finance Minister.

 

Chairman & Managing Director,

India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd.

(PSU of Govt. of India)

(11.11.2019 to 27.12.2022)

 

Director General – Tourism,

Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

 

Chief Executive Officer

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

(29/12/2022 till Date)

 

● Standards were set for first time for 14 different kinds of Millets in the Country. Honourable Prime Minister digitally launched a Book “Shree Anna- A Holistic Overview” on Millets during the Inauguration of Global Millets (Shree Anna Conference on 18th March,2023.

● Organized many interactive sessions between Food industry and 21 Scientific Panels (190 Scientists) for setting New Standards and improving Regulatory mechanism.

● Organised International Millets Conference on 18th and 19th March,2023 as part of International Year of Millets-2023.

● Organised Global Food Regulatory Summit on 20th and 21st July 2023for the first time in India. Scientist from reputed international Food Research and Institutes/Universities, Secretaries of Government of India, various research institutes and Industry stake holders from India Participated.

● A New project was initiated for improving Street Food in the country. 100 Food Streets have been identified for Modernization Which Includes Hygienic protocol and Food Safety. Country’s first Healthy and Hygienic Food Street “PRASADAM” was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare on 7th January, 2024 at Mahakal Lok in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.

● Initiated the following IT portals for the first time:

a. Launched Food-‘O’-Copoeia: Collection of Food Category wise monographs in the country which is single point of reference for all applicable standards for a specific products category specifying quality and Food Safety Standards, Labelling and claim requirements, specific packaging requirement and many more.

b. Launched SaNGRAHA: SaNGRAH was conceptualized to facilitate domestic and overseas exporters, importers, manufacturers, traders etc. This Handbook Provides the information about the Food Regulatory Authorities of Various countries across the world, their mandate, food Safety ecosystem, food testing facilities etc. at one platform.

c. Common Digital Dashboard: The Dashboardis a common unified IT-portal that provides comprehensive information on standards, regulations, notifications, advisories, guidelines.

● Initiated mega training program for 25 Lakhs Food Business Operator in the next 3 years.

● Initiated nationwide Milk Survey for testing 10,000 samples in all district of the country for the first time.

● As part of promotion of millets campaign in the country, different types of recipes were prepared meeting the nutritional requirement of various categories such as Ministry of Railway, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Sports and others.

● Actively involved in promoting the Rice Fortification across the country by Organizing the regular meeting with Dept. of Food Distribution, NitiAyog, FCI and the Industry.

● Eat Right Initiative which was launched in 2018 is taken up in a big way in schools place of worship, street food hubs, fruits and Vegetable Markets etc.142 Eat Right Melas were Organized in last 6 months.

● Initiated special enforcement drive for checking adulteration in Nutraceutical/Health supplement products etc. for the first time.