M. R. Seetharam is an Indian

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

entrepreneur Entrepreneurship is the creation or extraction of economic value. With this definition, entrepreneurship is viewed as change, generally entailing risk beyond what is normally encountered in starting a business, which may include other values th ...

educationist Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Var ...

and

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

from the state of

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

. He was nominated as a member of Legislative Council in 2012. He was the Minister for Planning, Statistics, Science and Technology in the Congress state Government. He is also the

Vice-Chairman The chairperson, also chairman, chairwoman or chair, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the group ...

of Gokula Education Foundation and Director of M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, M.S. Ramaiah Polytechnic and M.S. Ramaiah Hostels. M.R. Seetharam has worked towards preserving the parks and lung spaces in his constituency. He has also implemented the Government's Self Employment Schemes like Antyodaya, Akshara Dasoha and Yeshaswini Co-operate Health Schemes.

Early life and family

M. R. Seetharam was born on 4 April 1956,

Bengaluru Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...

, Karnataka. He is the son of late Dr.

M. S. Ramaiah Mathikere Sampige Ramaiah (Kannada: ಎಂ. ಎಸ್. ರಾಮಯ್ಯ; 20 April 1922 – 25 December 1997) was a renowned educationist, Philanthropy, philanthropist, infrastructure visionary, industrialist, and a pioneer in creating several ...

, one of the pioneers in

Education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Va ...

and

Healthcare Health care or healthcare is the improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, amelioration or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in people. Health care is delivered by health profe ...

who founded the Gokula Education Foundation (GEF). He received his primary education from St. Joseph's School. He holds a graduate degree in Science from St. Joseph's College. He is married to Shruthy Seetharam who is a homemaker and is actively involved in social activities involving the poor and needy. He has two children, the elder son Raksha Ramaiah is a member of

Indian Youth Congress The Indian Youth Congress is the youth wing of the Indian National Congress party. The Indian Youth Congress was a department of the Indian National Congress from the period just after the Partition of India in 1947 until the late 1960s. While p ...

holding the post of Vice President, Bangalore Urban District. His younger son Sundar Ram is also an office bearer in IYC holding the post of

General Secretary Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the organization. The term is derived ...

Malleswaram Malleshwara (also referred as Malleshwaram) is a northwest neighborhood and one of the zones of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike in Bengaluru, India. It was planned in 1889 after the great plague of 1898, developed as a suburb in 1892 and h ...

Assembly constituency.

Political life

M.R. Seetharam started his political journey as the president of the Students Governing Council in St. Joseph's College. He entered mainstream politics by joining the

Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Em ...

and started off by serving as an executive member of Karnataka Pradesh Congress (I) Sevadal in 1986. He was appointed as the Treasurer of Karnataka Pradesh Congress (I) from the year 1989 – 1992 and KPCC Sevadal from 1992 – 1996. He was elected as a member of KPCC in the year 1997. M.R. Seetharam fought his first election in the year 1999. He won the Malleshwaram Constituency defeating his JD(U) rival Raghupathy M with a margin of 20,000 votes. This was the first time Congress won a seat from Malleshwaram Assembly Constituency after Independence. He won the next assembly election from Malleswaram in the year 2004 defeating his BJP rival Dr. C.N. Ashwath Narayan with a margin of 11,000 votes. In 2008, he lost the Malleshwaram constituency elections to his nearest rival. From 1997 – 2000, he was the In-charge to run the party offices and also the In-charge for Bengaluru division of

Bengaluru Urban Bangalore Urban district is the most densely populated district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is surrounded by the Bangalore Rural district on the east and north, the Ramanagara district on the west and the Krishnagiri district of Tamil ...

, Rural,

Kolar Kolar or Kolara is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of Kolar district. The city is known for its milk production and gold mines. It is also known for Someshwara temple and Kolaramma temple. History The Weste ...

Tumkur Tumkur, officially renamed as Tumakuru, is a city located in the southern part of Indian state of Karnataka. Tumkur is situated at a distance of northwest of Bangalore, the state capital along NH 48 and NH 73. It is the headquarters of the ...

Shimoga Shimoga, officially known as Shivamogga, is a city and the district headquarters of Shimoga district in the central part of the state of Karnataka, India. The city lies on the banks of the Tunga River. Being the gateway for the hilly region of ...

Davanagere Davanagere is a city in the centre of the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is the seventh largest city in the state, and the administrative headquarters of eponymous Davangere district. Hitherto being a cotton hub and hence popularly known ...

Chitradurga Chitradurga is a city and the headquarters of Chitradurga district, which is located on the valley of the Vedavati river in the central part of the Indian state of Karnataka. Chitradurga is a place with historical significance which is locate ...

Mysuru Mysore (), officially Mysuru (), is a city in the southern part of the state of Karnataka, India. Mysore city is geographically located between 12° 18′ 26″ north latitude and 76° 38′ 59″ east longitude. It is located at an altitude of ...

Haveri Haveri is a city in Karnataka, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Haveri district. Haveri is famous for its cardamom garlands and Byadagi red chillies. Around 25 km away, there is a place called Bada, which is the birthplace ...

districts for the Zilla Parishad elections 2000. M.R. Seetharam was elected AICC member in the year 2001. While serving as an MLA of Malleswaram, INC won five out of seven wards of

assembly in the

BBMP The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is the administrative body responsible for civic amenities and some infrastructural assets of the Greater Bengaluru metropolitan area. It is the fourth largest Municipal Corporation in India an ...

elections held on 11 November 2001. M.R. Seetharam has worked as Member of the KPCC Campaign Committee 2013 for the Congress party candidates in the districts of

, Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru City for the Assembly elections. In the year 2016 he sworn as Cabinet Minister for Planning, Statistics, Science and Technology and also Incharge Minister for Kodagu District Govt of Karnataka .

Contributions and Initiatives

1999 – 2003 * Provided permanent houses to more than 300 Sikh immigrants * Distributed hundreds of auto rickshaws under self-employment scheme to the youth * Renovated and developed Parsi Garden Slum * Distributed hundreds of sewing machines to trained women and granted stipend to women trained in embroidery * Development and rejuvenation of Sankey Tank Garden along with a joggers pathway through his own contribution 2004 – 2008 * During his second term as MLA, he got 70 crore sanctioned from BBMP for the following developments: **Mattikere – Gokula Railway Overbridge **Malleshwaram Overbridge **Yeshwanthpur Overbridge which was opened to public from 1 May 2008 * He helped set up the BBMP computer training centre in Yeshwanthpur which provides free training to people. 75 percent of the trainees are women (homemakers) and girls. More than 800 people have been trained so far through this initiative. The salaries of instructors and for the maintenance is borne by M.R. Seetharam * He contributed towards setting up Computer Labs in two P.U. Girls Colleges to impart technical education * Opened Govt. Model School from MLA fund for underprivileged children * Distributed free notebooks to 6 lakh students studying in government, aided and private schools in the assembly * Distribution of Artificial Limbs and other necessary equipment for the handicapped * Under the Valmiki Ambedkar Planning Project, Sunnadagoodu slum residents got pakka houses * Supported blood donation and health camps across the state through M.S. Ramaiah Medical Institutions * Provided thousands of scholarships to students from backward communities belonging to rural parts of the state

Achievements as the Planning Minister of Karnataka

* M.R Seetharam helped the evicted families to settle in Bayadagotta and Beserahalli of Somawarpet taluk and Kedanallur of Virajpet taluk. New layout was formed to locate them along with creation of Basic facilities such as housing, electrification, road, and drinking water facilities to rehabilitate them after they were forcefully evacuated by the Forest Department from Diddahalli village and Hoddur-palyamadu burial ground. * Completed various projects like Bapuji center in Gudda Hosur, Public Park at Harangi Dam, "St.Annamma Church" at Virajpet, Post-metric Ladies Hostel at Chennagiri Basavanahalli and Morarji Desai-Residential School Buildings. * Completed 48 War Soldiers Memorial-at Virajpet, which was built with the support of Kodava Samaja. * Laid foundation for local bus stand and Zilla Panchayath Office at Madikeri. * Laid foundation for the Science Centre in Kodagu.

Mobile Planetarium

M.R. Seetharam flagged the mobile Planetarium initiative called "Taare Zameen Par" in 2017. A total of 5 mobile vans will travel across the state to impart and educate students from the rural parts of the state on Astronomy. This is a first of its kind initiative in the country. There are a total of 7 planetariums in the country which are inaccessible by students in the semi-urban and rural parts of the country. This initiative of mobile planetarium will give access to more and more students to such facilities and help them learn about the universe in an entertaining way.

Positions and Representations

* Minister for Planning, Statistics, Science and Technology Government of Karnataka 2016–2018 * In-charge Minister for Kodagu District, Government of Karnataka * Member of Legislative Council(MLC) 2012, Government of Karnataka * Elected as MLA from Malleshwaram Constituency in 1999 and 2004 * Treasurer of Congress Legislature Party 1999, 2008-2009 * Member of the Subject Committee of Karnataka Legislature for the Housing & Urban Development * Member of the Subject Committee of Karnataka Legislature for the Health & Family Welfare Department * Member of Karnataka Postal Circle from Karnataka Legislature * Member of Public Undertaking Committee in the Karnataka Legislature 1997 – 2007 * Nominated to Academic Council Member to Bengaluru University in 2004 * Elected as AICC Member in 2001 and 2007 * General Secretary KPCC 1997 – 2002

References

External links

MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology Page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Seetharam, M. R. Living people 1956 births Karnataka MLAs 1999–2004 Karnataka MLAs 2004–2007