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Who is V K Saxena?
Vinai Kumar Saxena is the present Lieutenant Governor (L-G) of Delhi, taking charge since May 26, 2022, succeeding Anil Baijal. Saxena, unlike his predecessors, has had a very unusual career graph and does not belong to the ranks of bureaucrats and defence backgrounds. Delhi's L-G has had a long road from the corporate sector to NGO activism and to the world of Khadi. His stints in Gujarat and as the head of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) paved his path to one of the dominating seats in the capital. Saxena took the job at KVIC in 2015, and in his tenure of seven years, he was right in step with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visions- be it promoting beekeeping and honey production or Khadi.
Saxena, 64, belongs to Uttar Pradesh and is an alumnus of Kanpur University. Before KVIC, he spent most of his working life in Gujarat. In the 1980s, he joined the cement manufacturing firm JK Group in Rajasthan. During the 1990s, he was promoted as general manager in charge of the Dholera Port project, a joint project of JK Group, Adani Group and the Gujarat government. Later, Saxena was elevated as CEO and Director of the project.
In 1991, he founded an NGO called the National Council for Civil Liberties, famous for taking on Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar. His NGO launched "Mission ENDURE (Ensuring Dust Reduction), which won a 'Dubai International Award' instituted by the UN-Habitat in 2004.
Over the years, Saxena has also built a reputation for guarding the use of the word Khadi, and in 2018, the KVIC sued FabIndia chain for using Charkha, a trademark of the KVIC.
However, since V K Saxena came to power in the national capital, the Kejriwal-led AAP government and the L-G have constantly locked horns over various issues, including the Delhi excise policy and the alleged DTC bus scam.
Saxena, 64, belongs to Uttar Pradesh and is an alumnus of Kanpur University. Before KVIC, he spent most of his working life in Gujarat. In the 1980s, he joined the cement manufacturing firm JK Group in Rajasthan. During the 1990s, he was promoted as general manager in charge of the Dholera Port project, a joint project of JK Group, Adani Group and the Gujarat government. Later, Saxena was elevated as CEO and Director of the project.
In 1991, he founded an NGO called the National Council for Civil Liberties, famous for taking on Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar. His NGO launched "Mission ENDURE (Ensuring Dust Reduction), which won a 'Dubai International Award' instituted by the UN-Habitat in 2004.
Over the years, Saxena has also built a reputation for guarding the use of the word Khadi, and in 2018, the KVIC sued FabIndia chain for using Charkha, a trademark of the KVIC.
However, since V K Saxena came to power in the national capital, the Kejriwal-led AAP government and the L-G have constantly locked horns over various issues, including the Delhi excise policy and the alleged DTC bus scam.