Prof Rajeev Gowda appointed vice chairman of Karnataka planning board

Speaking to indianexpress.com, Gowda said, “This is an opportunity to work across departments and ministries with a potential to catalyse tremendous positive outcomes. The larger aim is to have the Karnataka model of governance. Just like any other institution this is being funded by the state government.”

Gowda is a public policy expert, economist and academician. He represented Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha between 2014-20. He is also the chairman of the Indian National Congress’s Research Department. He was convener of its Manifesto Committee for the 2019 elections and is a national spokesperson.

Earlier he was Chairperson, Centre for Public Policy and Professor of Economics and Social Sciences at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore. He has served as a Director on the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India.

He has a BA degree from St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore, an MA in Economics from Fordham University and a PhD in Public Policy and Management from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He has been a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley and an Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma.

The SITK’s (sitkgok.com) mandate is to formulate policy strategy and evaluate programme outcomes. It works with multiple departments to promote Karnataka’s socio-economic development.

The SITK will soon have eight domain experts representing the fields of planning, economics, social welfare, rural development, education, health, agriculture, science and technology, skills development, employment and clean energy as advisers.

The SITK’s Changemakers Programme focuses on feasible and scalable solutions to priority problems. The SITK also has a special focus on helping Karnataka achieve various Sustainable Development Goals. Given his domain knowledge and policy expertise, Gowda is expected to ensure engagement and constructive coordination across government departments and with external experts.