Jammu, March 27 (Scoop News):-N. N. Vohra, Governor Jammu and Kashmir, and Chairman, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, today reconstituted the Shrine Board (SMVDSB).
Giving details, Navin Kumar Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, stated that the Governor, who is the Chairman, SMVDSB, has nominated E. Sreedharan, former Managing Director, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation; Ms. Sudha Murty, Chairperson, Infosys Foundation, Bangalore; Dr. S. S. Bloeria, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Jammu; Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, an internationally acclaimed Santoor maestro; Dr. Ashok Bhan, former Director General of Police, J&K; and H. L. Maini, former Chief Engineer and Member State Public Service Commission, and Technical Consultant, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, as Members.
E. Sreedharan, former Managing Director, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, is fondly called the “Wheel of the Nation” for his tireless work in building the Konkan Railway and for his outstanding achievement in establishing the Delhi Metro before the scheduled date and for progressively expanding it to cover the adjoining areas in UP and Haryana. Also associated with the country’s first Metro Rail project in Kolkata for a few years, he became Member of the Railway Board in 1989 and, immediately after his retirement in 1990, he took over as CMD of Konkan Railway. He served as Managing Director of Delhi Metro during 1997 – 2002. He was awarded the Padma Shree in 2001; named the Man of the Year by The Times of India Group of Newspapers in 2002; named as one of Asia’s Heroes by the TIME magazine in 2003; honoured with the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur by the Government of France in 2005. In 2008, he was honoured with the second highest national award, the Padma Vibhushan, for his most outstanding services to the nation.
Ms. Sudha Murty, is Chairperson of the well known Infosys Foundation which she set up in 1996. Wife of the legendary Narayana Murthy, she is a very highly educated and widely respected person in her own right. She holds an M. Tech in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and has been very actively contributing to the social upliftment of the poor and the neglected, under the aegis of Infosys Foundation. She is particularly well known for her signal contribution in the medical and educational sectors. A philanthropist, teacher and writer, Ms. Murty is the recipient of dozens of prestigious honours and awards which have been conferred on her within the country and by several foreign countries. These included the Padma Shree Award in 2006. She has written more than a dozen books.
Credited with a distinguished administrative career in the IAS, Dr. S. S. Bloeria, presently Vice Chancellor, Central University, Jammu, had earlier served in the Army. Before taking over as the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, he was Director, Enforcement Directorate, in the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. He also served as Advisor to the Governor during the period of Governor’s Rule (2008-09) in J&K. Awarded a Ph. D in 1995 for his research on “The Battle of Zoji La-1948”, Dr. Bloeria is the author of several well known books on military history.
Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, an internationally acclaimed Santoor maestro, has the distinction of bringing forth the folk instrument from the Valley of Kashmir to its classical status. With his creative genius, the maestro has created a new genre of instrumental music. Through his performances spanning over half a century, he has created millions of new listeners and ardent fans of Indian classical music around the world. His presentations are meditative and soothing. For his vast achievements, Pt. Shivkumar Sharma has been honoured with many national and international awards.
Dr. Ashok Bhan, joined the Indian Police Service in 1976 and retired in the rank of Director General of Police in 2010. During his career, he served the State in various capacities, including as SSP in districts of Anantnag and Rajouri, Principal Police Training College, DIG Jammu, IGP Kashmir and Armed Police, IGP Security, Additional DGP (CID), Commissioner of Vigilance and as DGP (CID). Dr. Bhan is recipient of DGP Commendation Medal, Police Medal for Meritorious Service, President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, Police Medal for Gallantry, Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medal for Gallantry, Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medal for Meritorious Service and Chief Minister’s Gold Medal for Honesty, Integrity and Meritorious Public Service. He attended the Indian Police Service Command Course in England in 1987 and Indian Senior Crisis Management Course at Washington D.C, USA in 2006. He is presently Chairman of the J and K Regional Branch of the Indian Institute of Public Administration and a Member of the National Security Advisory Board.
H. L. Maini, Technical Consultant to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, has remained closely associated with the various development activities of the Shrine Board since its inception 25 years back. A former Managing Director of the JKPCC in the rank of Chief Engineer, Maini has also served as Member of the State Public Service Commission. He is widely respected for his signal contributions for the establishment and progressive enlargement of the essential infrastructure and facilities for the millions of pilgrims who visit Mata Vaishno Deviji Shrine every year.