R GopalaKrishnan Devanathan popularly known as 'Kris Dev' is a veteran of the steel industry with more than 20 years hands on experience in SAIL and erstwhile Ispat International now known as ArcelorMittal. After his return to India from North America in 2000, he wanted to contribute his mite for the development of our motherland. Hence he moved from the steel sector to the social sector. He is now well entrenched in the social sector as a veteran of poverty alleviation.... read on his story.
Kris joined the steel industry as a Management trainee in 1977 and held important positions in SAIL. He has made unique contribution to the development of steel industry in India. The sanction of the Hot Rolling Mill for stainless steel at Salem Steel Plant and setting up of the Stainless Steel Coin blanking line was his major contribution. He helped save valuable foreign exchange for India. He deservedly won the Jawaharlal Nehru best Executive Award.
He helped revive a closed company in Mexico set up by the Government of Mexico for manufacturing large diameter line pipes. Within a short time he assisted in achieving a turn around of the operations of the company. He has handled major international contracts including those with Halliburton, Bechtel, Enron etc.
Back in India in 2000, he ventured into the social sector and has developed and implemented e-Governance solution for transparency and accountability. His grass root initiative to empower the marginalized rural poor beneficiaries of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme by uniquely identifying them using their biometrics and tracking their payments, won him the prestigious Manthan Award in 2006 as the Best Entry among entries from 25 states of India under the category "e-Inclusion and Livelihood creation". He was invited by the Government of Bihar to carry out a Proof of Concept for e-Muster in 2006; based on the success of this trial, the Government of Bihar has now embarked on a rural poverty alleviation initiative impacting the lives of 25 million poorest of the poor. He was also recognized with the Innovations Award 2009 for his e-Governance initiative.
He has now entered the VILLGRO Lifetime Achievement Award 2009 set up to honor outstanding individuals for their contribution in developing and disseminating innovations that benefit the society for his rural poverty alleviation initiative. His initiative is worth encouraging.
The VILLGRO Lifetime Achievement Awards are due to be presented at the 4-in-1 UNCONVENTION an Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship Conference to be held in Chennai from Dec 10 -12, 2009. More at: http://www.villgro.org/awards/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22:test&catid=6:villgro-lifetime-achievement-2009-award-nominees&Itemid=14
To support the candidature of a steel veteran turned social veteran, we suggest members vote for him by sending an SMS with the words
