Smt. Margaret Alva

Foreign affairs and women’s development issues;

Widely travelled

Best All Round Student, Mt. Carmel College, 1961; Conferred, (i) The Hon. Degree of Doctorate of Literature by the University of Mysore, 1989; (ii) Mahila Siromani Award, 1991; (iii) Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award, 1991; and (iv) Dr. T.M.A. Pai Foundation Outstanding Konkani Award, 1991; President, (i) Delhi Y.W.C.A., 1975-78; (ii) Delhi Foundation of Deaf Women, 1975-82; and (iii) World Women Parliamentarians for Peace, 1986-88; Chairperson, (i) Foreign Students’ Welfare Committee of Indian Council of Cultural Relations, 1982-84; (ii) SAARC Technical Committee on Women, 1985-86; and (iii) UN Expert Group meeting on Women in Decision making, Vienna, 1987; General Secretary, All India Catholic University Federation, 1961; Joint Secretary, Government Law College Students Union, 1963-64; Member, (i) Indian Committee for International Women’s Year, 1975, (ii) Indian Delegation to U.N. Conference for International Women’s Year at Mexico, 1975;(iii) Indian Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly, 1976 and 1998; (iv) Central Youth Advisory Board, 1976-77; (v) National Children’s Board, 1977-78; (vi) National Adult Education Board, 1978-79; (vii) National Committee on Child Labour, 1979; (viii) Governing Council of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, 1982-84; (ix) Bar Council of India; (x) Panel of Eminent Persons for Asia and the Pacific for HRD (ESCAP); (xi) Governing Council of SID, Rome; and (xii) Commonwealth Observer Group for Elections in Camaroon; daughter-in-law of late Joachim Alva and Violet Alva, freedom fighters and the first couple in the Indian Parliament; elected to IPU Co-ordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians, 2000.; Spokesperson, Congress Parliamentary Party

Founder President, “Karuna”, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) working for women and children