Social activist Harsh Chauhan appointed Chairman of NCST

New Delhi, Feb 20: Harsh Chauhan, noted social worker, founder of Shivganga project and Halma movement in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh is appointed as Chairman of the National Scheduled Tribes Commission (NCST) by the President of India.

Chauhan is associated with Janjati Suraksha Manch and Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram.

The chairperson, vice-chairperson and members of the NCST are appointed by the President for three years from the date of assumption of charge.

The chairperson has the rank of Union Cabinet minister and the vice-chairperson that of minister of state. Members have the rank of secretary to the Government of India

His appointment to this coveted post has resulted in joy and happiness among the people of Jhabua and the entire Janjati population.

Harsh Chauhan comes from Bhilala Janjati of Dhar district. His father Bharat Chauhan was a freedom fighter and was Member of Parliament from Dhar constituency for three times. Harsh had his education from SGSITS Indore and did his masters from IIT Delhi in 1984. Avoiding the attraction of good salaried job and foreign visits, he dedicated his life for the uplift of Janjati community.

Harsh Chauhan has been working in Jhabua district which houses over two crore janjati people for their all round development. He studied in depth about the problems of the janjati people, understood their strength and developed a system of working based on spiritual traditions. He worked hard to eliminate the gap between the image and reality between the janjati and urban communities since 1984.

His wonderful contribution to the society was starting of Shivganga project in Jhabua. Due to this vision the mass movement of Shivganga has made its presence in about 700-800 villages in the water-starved district of Jhabua. Students of IIT, IIM and other best academic institutions come to Jhabua to study the Jhabua project from all over the country; some of them stay there and dedicate their life to this project.

Harsh Chauhan is closely associated with the RSS and was Vibhag Karyawah of RSS besides being the President of Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad. Presently, he is the Member of the Board of Governors of IIM Kolkata.