Policy
My BSc (Economics) at the London School of Economics and Barrister-at-Law degree from Lincoln’s Inn, London, gave me a grounding in analytical methods, and application to a diverse range of challenges involving social issues and policy. With extensive education and experience in the Economic and Legal fields, I am often described as a Policy Influencer.
During my time at the Bar, I specialized in Admiralty Law and Contract Law, and registered as an Advocate at the Bar Council of Maharashtra in 1986.
When I was appointed CEO to turn around a sick company, I was also Co-Chairperson of International Trade Committee of the Indian Merchants Chamber. Anticipating the challenges that Indian Industry would encounter when Quantitative Restrictions would be removed in India, as per our WTO commitments, I recommended a crucial amendment to the Industrial Disputes Act in a one-on-one Presentation to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. My recommendations involved generating employment through labour-intensive growth of the Indian economy, rather than capital-intensive growth. PM Vajpayee gave me the responsibility to build a consensus among political leaders on the reform. I served as a special consultant to the Second National Labour Commission, working to reconcile viewpoints within pivotal Chambers of Commerce and Industry, as well as Trade Unions.
My fifteen years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry led me to do work in Public Health. Based on my corporate experience of licensing of new drugs and formulations, I formally suggested changes to the systems of the Office of the Drug Controller General of India,(who is the Regulatory Authority for drugs and pharmaceuticals for India), that would stimulate research and development while reducing drug prices. Such improvements could significantly benefit public health.
My work in the Environment field also involved Policy interventions by building a consensus within government.
