Arvind Kejriwal

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal is an Indian social activist and crusader for greater transparency in Government. He was awarded Ramon Magsaysay Emergent Leadership award in 2006 for activating India's Right to Information movement at grassroots and social activities to empower the poorest citizens to fight corruption by holding the government answerable to the people.

After graduating as a mechanical engineer from IIT Kharagpur in 1989, he joined the civil services in the Indian Revenue Service (1992). Here he soon realized that much of the corruption prevalent in government is owing to lack of transparency in the process. Even while in his official position, he started crusading against the corrupt practices. After several years on Extra-Ordinary Leave from the Government, he resigned his official post and now devotes full time to his work as the founder-head of Parivartan - a Delhi based citizens’ movement trying to ensure a just, transparent and accountable governance.

Initially, Arvind was instrumental in bringing in a number of changes to increase transparency in the Income Tax office. Together with Aruna Roy and others, he campaigned for the Right to Information Act, which was passed in 2005. In July 2006, he spearheaded an awareness campaign for RTI across India.

In February 6, 2007, Arvind was named CNN IBN Indian of the Year in Public Service for 2006.

[edit] Awards

2004 Ashoka Fellow
2005 Satyendra Dubey Award for his campaign for bringing transparency in Government
2006 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership.
2006 Indian of the Year in Public Service