R. Chandrashekhar joined the Government of India in 1975 as a member of the Indian Administrative Service, the country’s premier civil service. Ever since, he has held a wide variety of key assignments, both in the Government of India and the State Government of Andhra Pradesh.

He established the first Department of Information Technology in the country and was Secretary of the department from June, 1997 to December, 1999. From July, 1996 as CMD of AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation and from June, 1997 as CMD, APIIC and concurrently Secretary, Department of Information Technology and Communications.

He masterminded the conceptualization, planning and implementation of various key initiatives in the state in the field of Information Technology. The comprehensive program drawn up covered, inter alia, creation of requisite infrastructure (HITEC City, etc.), strategic human resources development initiatives (Indian Institute of Information Technology, etc.) and evolving a comprehensive policy framework for adoption of IT in governance. The framework that was evolved was widely regarded as path breaking and catapulted the State to the forefront of IT development in the country. It became a role model for most other states, which sent several teams to study the experience of AP and emulated the ideas and concepts pioneered in the State. The unique program that was evolved powered the IT revolution in the State, attracted global attention and was widely covered in the national and international media.

He has a deep understanding of the issues and problems related to IT implementations in Government and experience in finding innovative solutions to such problems in field conditions. He has abundant experience in dealing with the working alongside highly reputed international consultants on major IT projects.

Mr. Chandrashekhar received a M.Sc. degree in Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and a M.S. degree in Computer Science from the Pennsylvania State University, USA.

P W C Davidar has completed degree in Commerce, and Masters in Public Administration from Madras Christian College. Also, he had the opportunity to complete Masters in Development Studies in the Institute of Social Studies at The Hague in Netherlands. After working for five year as an Assistant Professor in Political Science at the Madras Christian College, and joined as I.A.S. in 1986.

P W C Davidar has Served in several assignments throughout the State and headed the departments of Handlooms and Textiles, Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, Backward Classes, Rehabilitation and the most recently, Special Secretary, Health handling a 600 crore World Bank Project that was focused on upgrading the quality of care in 270 Secondary hospitals.

Among other commitments, worked as Special Officer, Bonded Labor Abolition for a five year period as a special assignment and was involved in rescue and rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers both from other States and within our State. Davidar has also, been deeply involved in the development of IT applications as Corporation Commissioner, Madurai (Property Tax Revision), HMIS (Health) and so on.

Dr. (Ms) Aladi Aruna Poongothai is the honorable Cabinet Minister for Information Technology, Government of Tamil Nadu, India She is the Member of the State Legislative Assembly from Alangulam under Tirunelveli District. By profession she is a doctor (gynecologist). Her educational qualification is M.B.B.S., D.N.B., M.R.C.O.G.,(London). She is the daughter of the late DMK minister Aladi Aruna.

Mr. Aladi Aruna has served as a Law Minister of Tamil Nadu. He was murdered during a routine morning walk in Alangulam, Tirunelveli District.

She has also served as Social Welfare minister in the Tamil Nadu government.During her tenure as the Social Welfare Minister, Chief Minister Kalaignar M Karunanidhi announced the Two Egg scheme in the midday meals and now it is three times a day. The Physically challenged people were given high priority during this period to the extent of a complete survey, National ID Card, Government benefits and motorized vehicles etc.

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Dr. Santosh Babu, IAS is the MD of ELCOT and is leading the e-governance agency of Tamil Nadu. Prior to this he has served as a district collector, joint secretary, sub collector and additional collector. He underwent the British Chevening Gurukul Scholarship in Leadership and Excellence Programme 2004 of the British Council at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

He was recognized by the Indian Express in its annual publication of the “Pride of Tamil Nadu “as one of the five persons in Tamil Nadu who have made a difference in various aspects of public life. He has pioneered several e-governance initiatives. Notable among them are the creation of the first paperless Government office in Tamil Nadu at TNCDW.

ELCOT and TNeGA are also paperless offices. ELCOT is the first ERP driven government office in the State, 100% computerization of the Chief Minister’s Special Cell while serving as the Special Officer, creation of the infrastructure for spreading the use of information technology as a developmental tool by launching the RASI project (rural access service through the internet) in Sivaganga using the Wireless in Local Loop (WLL) technology for last mile connectivity, while serving as the District Collector of Sivaganga district.

He was in the forefront of the Department of Rural Development in installing computers in all 12,618 village panchayats of Tamil Nadu. He has also created the Country’s first Rural Call Centre, FOSTeRA (Fostering Technologies in Rural Areas), at Hosur for the naxal affected youth.

Harsh Manglik, CM & MD, Accenture India will one of the key speakers at Connect2010. This post provides a quick profile of Harsh.

Harsh Manglik is chairman and geography managing director for Accenture in India, responsible for all Accenture activities in that country and for the strategic direction, growth and development of the company’s business there.

Mr. Manglik has more than 30 years of global business and consulting experience across a variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, electronics, telecommunications and IT services. Before rejoining Accenture in 2006, Mr. Manglik was a worldwide vice president at Symantec Corp. and served in leadership roles at IBM.

Mr. Manglik initially joined Accenture in 1990 in the Hartford, Connecticut, office, after working at United Technologies Corp. and as a consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton. He began his professional career as a management trainee with Metal Box India.

Mr. Manglik has been an active participant in the collaboration between industry and academia. He is a member of Carnegie Mellon University’s Presidential Committee on India and previously served on the Founding Operating Committee at MIT’s Leaders for Manufacturing graduate program.

Mr. Manglik is chairman of the executive council of NASSCOM for 2010-2011, served as vice chairman of NASSCOM’s executive council for 2009-2010, and is also an invited member of the National Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He received the IIT Kanpur Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur in 2008.

After studying physics at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, Mr. Manglik attended the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. In addition, he holds an MBA degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Case Western Reserve University.

Source: Accenture India