Renowned Plastic Surgeon Dr K Sridhar, our mentor, inducted into State Planning Commission.

Planning is a quintessential activity.  The Planning Commission under Finance Department  is an institution in the Government of India, which formulates India's Five-Year Plans, among other functions.  Thought the rudimentary activity began as early as in  1930s, the Planning Commission was set up after independence on 15^th March 1950, with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as the chairman. The first Five-year Plan was launched in 1951.   

Whilst that is at the National level, the  State Planning Commission, Tamil Nadu was formed in the year 1971 with the objective of helping the State Government in the implementation of the Five Year Plans and the Annual Plans for the overall development of the State of Tamil Nadu.    The State Planning Commission (SPC), Tamil Nadu focuses on the areas like Agricultural Policy and Planning, Land Use, Health and Social Welfare, Industries, Power and Transport, Rural Development, Education, District Planning and Plan Co-ordination.  The State Planning Commission gives technical advice and support to the State Government in Analytical work, Preparation of the Five Year Plans and the Annual Plans, Appraisal of the new schemes, Human Development, Giving technical inputs to the State Land Use Board, and Knowledge services.  The Annual Plans of the State Planning Commission will be in line with the priorities and the objectives of the National Plan.

The newly elected Government in the State headed by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has reconstituted the state Planning Commission.   Through a notification on Thursday night, the government appointed Ms Shantha Sheela Nair a retired IAS officer as its Vice-Chairman. Chief Minister Ms Jayalalithaa will function as a Chairman of the Commission.

At present, Ms. Nair is an advisor in the Ministry of External Affairs to oversee the implementation of a rehabilitation project for internally displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka.  An IAS officer of the 1973 batch, Ms. Nair held various positions such as State Home Secretary, Chairperson and Managing Director of Chennai Metrowater and Secretary of the Drinking Water Supply Department in the Union Rural Development Ministry.   The fresh Commission has to handle the preparation of an approach paper for the 12th Plan.

The formation of working groups is under way in this regard. Other members of the Commission are: Chairperson of the Cancer Institute V. Shanta and plastic surgeon Dr.  K. Sridhar - Member (Health); industrialist A.C.Muthiah - Member (Industry); former Vice-Chancellor of Anna University E. Balagurusamy - Member (Education) and the Vice-Chancellor of the Karpagam University, Coimbatore K. Ramasamy - Member (Agriculture and Irrigation).

There is particular reason for SYMA to feel happy about this..  

Dr K Sridhar,  is a Senior Consultant and Coordinator, Department of Plastic Surgery in Apollo Hospitals, Chennai.  He has authored books and has delivered lectures in International Forums. 

File photo of Dr Sridhar & Mr Rajesh Lakhoni at our Medical Centre.

Known for his kind heart and calm disposition, he is extremely dedicated to social service and has been instrumental in the running of Kanchi Sankara Foundation which manages hospitals for the poor.  It was through his guidance and continuous motivation that SYMA launched itself into serving the poor with medical services.  Our SYMA medical centre initially functioned as a unit of KSF actively guided by Dr Sridhar and his wife Mrs Pankajam Sridhar, fondly known as Madam Subha.

With a kind and benevolent heart, he has been motivating us and SYMA owes a lot to him for guiding us properly.  We are extremely delighted at the honour bestowed on him by the State Government

S. Sampathkumar

Secretary – Srinivas Youngmen’s Association.