Shri Balasaheb Vikhe Patil

Agriculture, water management, industrial and human resource development; upliftment of the farmers and ensuring their security; rural development

Widely travelled (16 countries); attended International Sugar Technologists’ Conferences, (i) Brazil, 1977; (ii) Cuba, 1982; (iii) Cuba,-1985; International Farmers’ Conference, Paris, 1984; and Asian Conference on Rural Health, Beijing, 1988; as member of Indian Delegation led by Honble Speaker Lok Sabha, visited Moscow, Russia, Sept.- Oct. 2003; Budapest (Hungary), July 1999 for World Conference on Science

President, (i) Maharashtra State Distilleries Association, 1977-82; (ii) Friends of Soviet Union, Maharashtra, since 1980; (iii) Maharashtra Rajya Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Sangh Ltd., Bombay, 1981-84; and (iv) Maharashtra Granthpal Sangh since 1982; (v) Maharashtra Pani Parishad, Loni, Distt. Ahmedabad since 1995 (Founder Executive President); (vi) India Water Partnership, New Delhi since November 2003; Vice President, (i) Friends of Soviet Union, Maharashtra, 1975-80; and (ii) Maharashtra Rajya Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Sangh Ltd., Bombay, 1980-81; Chairman, (i) Pravara Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd., Pravaranagar, 1966-87; (ii) State level Accounts Committee, Maharashtra, 1986-88; (iii) State level Committee appointed by Maharashtra Government to suggest minimum wages for Agricultural Labourers, 1987-88; (iv) Study team appointed by Maharashtra Government to study sugarcane yield and recovery in Maharashtra; (v) Committee appointed by Maharashtra Government to suggest a chapter for the Co-operative Society Act on Co-operative Sugar factories; (vi) Pravara Rural Education Society since 1981; and (vii) Maharashtra Pani Parishad, Loni since 1995; Group of Ministers on Cooperative restructuring September 2001; Director, (i) Maharashtra State Farming Corporation Ltd., 1964-77; (ii) Maharashtra Rajya Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Sangh Ltd., Bombay, 1966-88; (iii) National Federation of Co-operative Sugar Factories Ltd., New Delhi, 1976-90 and Member, Executive Committee, 1982-86; (iv) Indian Sugar Export Corporation, 1979-88; (v) Pravara Sahakari Bank Ltd., Loni, 1975-96; and (vi) Padma Shree Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd., Pravaranagar, 1966-97; (vii) Indian Sugar Export Corporation 1979-1988; Founder Member, (i) Pravara Institute of Research and Education in Natural and Social Sciences, Pravaranagar; (ii) Pravara Sahakari Bank Ltd., Loni; (iii) Pravara Rural Medical Trust, Loni; (iv) Padma Shree Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Institute of Technology and Engineering, Pravaranagar; (v) Dr. Vikhe Patil Foundation, Pune; (vi) Pravara Dairy Society; (vii) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Academy for Performing Arts, Pravaranagar; (viii) Padma Shree Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation, Ahmednagar; and (ix) Dr. Vikhe Patil Foundation Nasik Centre; Member, (i) Governing Council and Executive Committee, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi; (ii) National Council of Rural Development, Hyderabad; (iii) Governing Council and Executive Committee, Deccan Sugar Institute, Pune, 1975-85; (iv) Managing Committee, All India Distilleries Association, New Delhi, 1978-89; (v) Deccan Sugar Technologists’ Association, Pune since 1976; (vi) State and Irrigation Committee; (vii) Advisory Committee on Power and Irrigation, 1975-78; (viii) Advisory Committee of Post and Telegraphs; (ix) State Sugar Wage Board, 1966-71; (x) State Agricultural Prices Committee, 1975; (xi) State Government Committee on Labour, 1966; (xii) All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation, Maharashtra State Council; (xiii) Technical Education Committee, appointed by Government of Maharashtra, 1982-90; (xiv) Maharashtra Economic Development Council; (xv) Maharashtra State Employment and Self Employment, High Level Committee, 1966-97; and (xvi) Pravara Study Circle, Loni since 1994; Senate Member, (i) Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, 1966-72 and 1974-79; and (ii) University of Poona, Pune, 1975-76 and 1985-86; (iii) Yeshvantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nasik since 1997; FounderTrustee, (i) Pravara Medical Trust, Loni, with Rural Medical and Dental College and well-equipped Rural Hospital since 1973; (ii) Shirdi Sai Rural Institute, Pravaranagar since 1997; (iii) Padma Shree Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation, Ahmednagar; (iv) Dr. Vikhe Patil Foundation, Pune; (v) Pravara Institute of Research and Eduction in Natural and Social Sciences Pravaranagar; (vi) Pravara Co-operative Dairy Society for 45 villages; (vii) Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru Academy for performing Arts, Pravaranagar; (viii) Dr. Vikhe Patil Foundation, Nasik Centre; Founder, (i) Parner Cooperative Sugar Factory, Parner, Distt. Ahmednagar; (ii) Jagdamba Co-operative Sugar Factory, Karjit, Distt. Ahmednagar (iii) Vrideshwar Cooperative Sugar Factory, Pathardi, Distt Ahmednagar; and (iv) Pravara Sahakari Bank Ltd., Loni; Chancellor, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed University) Loni, Distt. Ahmednagar (MS) since 2004; associated with a number of charitable trusts; Attended, (i) 6th Asian Conference of International Association of Agriculture, Medicine and Rural Health held at Pravaranagar on the subject of innovative approaches in Rural Health, 1993; and (ii) National Seminar on ‘Problems and Prospects of Rural Development’, Pravaranagar, 1997; participated in important discussions for the progress of the nation in different fields; actively participated in Lok Sabha Debates and provided innuumerable suggestions during the debates which initiated a process of thinking for the betterment of farmers and workers and of unorganised sectors

Upliftment of the weaker sections of the society including SC, ST and landless labourers in particular; playing an important role in the establishments of social, educational, health and financial institutions; starting cooperatives engaged in development of agriculture, rural education, rural industrialization and human resource development to maintain peace and harmony in strengthening secular forces; and interested to establish Padmashri Dr. Vikhe Patil Rural University, Pravarnagar for the purpose of Health for all, and education for all