On Wednesday, around 45 newly-elected Rajya Sabha members took oath — the first time that the new members have taken oath in the Upper House chamber when Parliament is not in session.
“Today’s oath taking has been organized to enable the newly elected members participate in the committee meetings which are underway at once and in the monsoon session which is to follow. I hope to nominate all of you on different committees in a day or two,” Vice President M Venkiah Naidu tweeted.
The Vice President of India & Rajya Sabha Chairman, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu administering oath to the newely elected members of Rajya Sabha, in Parliament House, today. #RajyaSabha pic.twitter.com/DyeQ2e0Wye
— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) July 22, 2020
From Odisha Muzibulla Khan (Munna Khan), Mamata Mahanta, Subash Singh & Sujeet Kumar were administered the oath of office.
Among the newly appointed MPs, there are several first timers, including Sujeet Kumar.
Sujeet Kumar, has served as the Advisor of the Special Development Council (SDC)-Odisha, in the rank of Chief Secretary to the Government of Odisha. In this role, Mr. Kumar is tasked with accelerating development, through leveraging technology and incorporating innovative and creative practices, in the 9 tribal districts, which constitute the SDC. At the Council, Mr. Kumars specific role includes, et al:
Conservation and propagation of tribal culture aligned with development objectives & for retaining tribal identity
Recognition of the indigenous knowledge system of the tribals and its promotion to help support retention of tribal culture
Documentation of tangible and intangible tribal culture, tradition and practices
Identification of tribal resources and making the indigenous knowledge/unique culture as a means of livelihood
Organization of exposure visits on the range of development issues
Promotion of tribal languages and dialects for developmental communication
Optimal utilization of available resources in tribal areas resulting in sustainable tribal development as per the felt needs of tribals.
Area/culture specific development interventions, which will address the felt needs of the tribals.
Previously, Mr. Kumar worked at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Geneva, Switzerland, and for United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and for Infosys Technologies Ltd. in India.
Mr. Kumar studied for the mid-career Master in Public Administration (MPA), at the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School. He also has the distinction of receiving the inaugural Skoll Scholarship for Social Entrepreneurship, to study for his MBA at University of Oxford. Sujeet also holds Bachelors degrees in Engineering and Law from India. He was an Asia Pacific Leadership Fellow (APLP) at the East West Centre, Hawaii (2009).
Sujeet has unique multi-disciplinary experiences, in the corporate, public and development sector (international, national and grass-roots). He is an advocate of building bridges between law, technology and development.
