Anandiben Patel
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 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (May 2014) |
Anandiben Mafatbhai Patel | |
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| 15th Chief Minister of Gujarat | |
| Assumed office 22 May 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Narendra Modi |
| Constituency | Ghatlodiya |
| Assembly Member for Ghatlodiya | |
| In office 2012–Incumbent | |
| Assembly Member for Patan | |
| In office 2007–2012 | |
| Assembly Member for Patan | |
| In office 2002–2007 | |
| Assembly Member for Mandal, Ahmedabad district | |
| In office 1998–2002 | |
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
| In office 1994–1998 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 21, 1941 |
| Citizenship | India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Spouse | Mafatlal Patel |
| Children | Anar Patel, Sanjay Patel |
| Parent | Jethabhai Patel |
| Residence | Ahmedabad |
| Occupation | Educationist |
| Cabinet | Government of Gujarat |
| Portfolio | Ministry of Education, Higher and Technical Education, Women and Child Welfare, Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities (1998-2007) Ministry of Revenue, Disaster Management, Roads & Buildings Capital Project, Women & Child Welfare (2007-2014) |
| Website | http://www.anandibenpatel.com |
Anandiben Mafatbhai Patel (born 21 November 1941)[1] is an Indian politician and the incumbent Chief Minister of Gujarat, a western state of India. She is the first woman Chief Minister of the state.[2] She is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 1987. She was the Cabinet Minister of Road and Building, Revenue, Urban development and Urban Housing, Disaster Management and Capital Projects in the Government of Gujarat from 2007 to 2014.[3]
Anandiben Patel has been a key leader in the BJP cadre of Gujarat, alongside former Chief Ministers of Gujarat Keshubhai Patel and Narendra Modi. At present, she is one of the longest serving women MLA in Gujarat. She started her political journey as a Member of Rajya Sabha in 1994 and moved to Gujarat during the state elections in 1998. She is currently the only woman MLA of Gujarat to be elected 4 consecutive times. It is also her fourth consecutive term as a Cabinet Minister in the Government of Gujarat.
Early life
Anandiben Patel was born on 21 November 1941, in Kharod village of Vijapur taluka of Mehsana district, Gujarat. Her father Jethabhai was a farmer. She completed her education till 4th grade in a Girls’ school and was then admitted to Boys’ school as there was no other school in the district. She studied as a single girl among 700 boys. She moved to Nutan Sarv Vidyalay in Visnagar in 8th grade. She was awarded “VeerBala” award in Mehsana for her outstanding achievement in athletics.[1]
She joined Bhilvai College in 1960 and was the only girl in First Year Science in entire college. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Visnagar later. She joined Mahila Vikas Gruh for the upliftment of women as her first job. She taught vocational courses to more than 50 widows.
She moved to Ahmedabad in 1965 with her husband Mafatbhai Patel and joined Master of Science. She took the responsibility of educating all the children of her extended family in Ahmedabad. In those days, more than 10 of her family member used to stay at her place in Ahmedabad. She joined Bachelor of Education to pursue her interest in teaching. She received gold medal in her M.Ed.
She joined as a school teacher in Mohniba School Vidyalaya in 1970. She was teaching subject like science and mathematics to higher secondary students. She later on became principal of the school.[1] She declined all the other offers only to stay with Mohniba School Vidyalaya for 30 years even while she was in important political positions.
Political career
Anandiben Patel's entry into politics began with an accident during school picnic in 1987. Two girl students from her school accidentally tripped over and fell into the river Narmada. In the midst of such a desperate situation, she jumped into the raging river and single handedly saved two drowning girls. She even received president's bravery award for this.[4] Impressed by this heroic act, BJP top cadre suggested Anandiben Patel to join the party. She initially declined the offer but later while volunteering for drought relief program she saw politics as a means of service to people and joined BJP as the Gujarat Pradesh Mahila Morcha President in 1987.[4]
Her first notable work was during a spread of bird flu in Viramgam district affecting children where she spent weeks helping local citizens and enforcing the government officials to take strong action. In 1992, she joined as the only woman leader from Gujarat in Ekta yatra (journey for unity) led by BJP with BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi
As a member of Parliament
Anandiben patel was elected to Rajyasabha from Gujarat in 1994. As an MP, she participated in the Fourth World women's Conference at Beijing (China) in 1994-95 representing India. She also Visited Bulgaria with the Leader of Opposition Atal Bihari Vajpayji and speaker of the Loksabha - P.A. Sangma.
1998 - First election in Mandal (As an education Minister)
Anandiben Patel resigned from Rajyasabha in 1998 and contested her first assembly election from Mandal assembly seat in Ahmedabad district of Gujarat. She became the State Minister in Government of Gujarat under the leadership of Keshubhai Patel. Later, she became the fifth ever Woman Cabinet Minister of Gujarat and was assigned the Education portfolio. In her first term as Education Minister she started “Lokdarbar” to solve issues related to schools and education on the spot. It was under her leadership, that the state Government first launched “Shala Praveshosav” to increase enrollment in schools, which is still the flagship program of Education department. Her efforts resulted in 100% increase in enrollment.[1] In the first two years as an Education Minister, she initiated a campaign to recruit 26,000 teachers to fill up the vacant positions for the last 6 years. She is also credited for her outstanding work to reduce corruption in transfer of teachers. She also decided to set up separate school for handicapped children.
Second and Third Election from Patan (2002-2012)
Anandiben Patel fought her second and third assembly elections under the leadership of Narendra Modi in 2002 and 2007 from Patan Constituency. Against the familiar trend of Education Minister not being elected again, she won the election in 2002 and in 2007. She continued as a Cabinet Minister for Education in her second term and was assigned two other important portfolios Roads & Building and Revenue in her third term. Anandiben, in her term of 10 years in Patan, worked tirelessly for the development of the region. Few of the high impact projects that took place during her time are, connecting Patan with Narmada canal for the welfare of farmers, creating 174 check dams in the region, building one of the largest water filtration plant to provide citizens of Patan with pure drinking water, a new medical and engineering college in the region, creation of more than 700 Kms worth road network and an underground drainage system. Patan today hosts world’s second largest photo-voltaic solar plant.
2012 - Fourth term election from Ghatlodiya
Amidst great speculation on her election assembly, Anandiben Patel moved to Ghatlodiya constituency of Ahmedabad for 2012 elections. She won with margin of more than 1.75 lakhs vote. Anandiben’s charismatic presence won her the maximum lead in the state.
2014 - Chief Minister of Gujarat
On 22-May 2014,Anandiben Patel took oath as 15th Chief Minister of Gujarat to succeed Narendra Modi after latter was elected as Prime Minister of India following the spectacular victory of BJP in the Indian general election, 2014 . Ms. Patel’s name was proposed and adopted unanimously at a meeting of the Legislature Party in the presence of Mr. Modi, who had moments earlier resigned as the Chief Minister. Ms. Patel is the first woman Chief Minister of Gujarat. [5]
Personal life
Anandiben is known for leading a frugal lifestyle and is known for her tremendous administrative efficiency. She travels extensively across the state to meet local government officials and mentor them on execution. She is very fond of children and does not miss on any opportunity to interact or teach kids. She has two children Sanjay Patel and Anar Patel.
Recognition
The Indian Express has listed her in top 100 most influential people of India for the year 2014.[6]
- Felicitated with the President's Award for the best teacher (1989)
- Felicitated with Governer’s Award for best teacher in Gujarat (1988)
- Felicitated with 'Sardar Patel' Award by Patel Jagruti Mandal, Mumbai (1999)
- Felicitated with 'Patidar Shiromani' Award by the Patel community (2005)
- Special honour bestowed by Dharati Vikas Mandal for Women's Upliftment Campaign.
- 'Veerbala' award for ranking first in Mahesana District school sports Event.
- Felicitated with the 'Vidya Gaurav' Award by shri Tapodhan Brahman Vikas mandal (2000)
Gallantry Awards
- Gallantry Award for rescuing two girls of Mohinaba Girl's school from drowning at Navagam reservoir in Narmada.
- Winner of Charumati Yoddha Award (Jyotisangh), Ahmedabad.
- Winner of Ambubhai Purani Vyayam Vidyalay Award (Rajpipala)
References
- ^ a b c d "Profile". Retrieved 2014-04-16.
- ^ "Narendra Modi resigns, Anandiben Patel elected new Chief Minister of Gujarat unopposed". Desh Gujarat. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ "Minister asks officials not to harass investors". Vapi. Times of India. February 18, 2012. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
- ^ a b "Iron Lady in Waiting". IndiaToday. August 10, 2013. Retrieved 2014-04-16. Cite error: The named reference "article" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ "Anandiben Patel takes oath as first woman CM of Gujarat". hindustantimes. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
- ^ "IE India's 100 most influential people". IndianExpress. Retrieved 2014-04-16.