Shri Ashwini Vaishnav (born in 1970) is a member of the Rajya Sabha from Odisha. He worked for the people of Sundergarh, Balasore, Cuttack and Goa. He holds a Masters in Technology from IIT Kanpur and an MBA from Wharton. He has brought a combination of technology, finance and skill in its application to the most vulnerable sections of the society. He strongly believes in the philosophy of ‘Antyodaya’ i.e. transforming the lives of the marginalized sections of the society.
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Was Senior Design Engineer on Intel’s Microprocessor Team and then CPU Architect and on the Intel 80486 Design Team and then on the Architecture Team of the Pioneering Pentium Team. Worked under the famous Vin Dham and current Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger.
In 1991, he returned to India and founded BPL Mobiles in 1994, one of the pioneers to invest and build in the Indian telecom sector. In those 12 years, Rajiv has been a widely recognized and major active participant/contributor to the development of the Indian telecom sector, responsible for its transformation from a government monopoly to a vibrant breakthrough in the Indian infrastructure sector.
He built India’s then largest cellular network and being the first to distribute this technology, he simultaneously distributed this technology to Mumbai, Kerala, Puducherry, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra at a time when almost all or This was being done in one or two small markets.
He was instrumental in the creation of the independent regulator TRAI and the new telecom policy NTP’99, which led to the dramatic growth and success of the cellular sector.
He was instrumental in the formation of the independent regulator TRAI and the new telecom policy NTP’99, which led to the rapid growth and success of the cellular sector. He remained invested and active in the sector and was the only person not to be involved in any of the scandals and corruption that gripped the sector. In 2006, when he saw the arrival of Raja Raj, he moved out of this area.
For the first time in 2007, the issue of 2G scam was raised in the Parliament. Even at great personal risk, he was the only one to push back against heavy lobbying and pressure from telcos including big names on the spectrum auction issue. He was single-handedly responsible for ensuring the 3G auction went through despite a concerted campaign in the media and Parliament. The resulting 3G auction served to highlight the value of the free 2G spectrum being given away and the country today earns lakhs of crores from these auctions that would have otherwise accrued to these telecom companies. Fighting the 2G scam was done at great personal risk and cost as an independent parliamentarian.
He was the first to take it up in Parliament and oppose the misuse of the draconian Section 66A of the IT Act by the UPA. Raised it repeatedly in the Parliament and made the media aware about it. He was an active petitioner in the Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court which struck down Section 66A. was nominated for the Index Freedom of Expression Award for the year.
Leadership on the issue of privacy in the year 2010, started with his Private Member’s Bill – Right to Privacy Bill, 2010 and he continuously fought for the right to privacy despite lot of opposition in the media and that He was the petitioner and supporter of the PIL in which the Right to Privacy judgment was considered historic.
On two important issues, the UPA governments opposed the move to restrict and change the nature of the Internet. On net neutrality, opposed the UPA government’s attempts to allow telco’s to control and regulate access to the internet and ensured that TRAI and the government through a massive public campaign in Parliament and outside Parliament The induced step is reversed.
It also single-handedly created awareness about and stalled the Manmohan Singh government’s efforts to support China’s effort to transfer global Internet regulation to the United Nations bureaucratic organization UN-CIRP. The Narendra Modi government eventually had to reverse this situation and allow the Internet to continue to be a free and open global network without government control.
Since 2009, the UPA has been the only voice in and outside Parliament to oppose the Aadhaar architecture and design – including its lack of legislative support, lack of privacy protection, lack of integration with the National Population Register and its very insecurely lax verification process . All of which were finally resolved only after PM Narendra Modi became the PM.
He was the first to raise the issue of Public Sector Bank NPAs – NPA issue in 2010 and crony lending by PSBs to preferred UPA corporates till 2014 through PSB Lending. In particular, reforms in the banking sector, expansion of the financial sector and the role of the RBI have been extensively written and spoken about.
Since 2006, single-handedly pursued the OROP issue inside and outside Parliament, including taking forward the report of the Committee on Parliamentary Petitions which found in favor of OROP.
After repeated attempts by the Election Commission and then the government, approached the Supreme Court through a PIL and ensured that it was granted to the Armed Forces and their families Get the right to vote. He also stressed on the Election Commission to ensure that remote units can vote. The voting percentage of the armed forces has increased in the assembly elections in Uttarakhand and UP.
Since 2007 as a Member of Parliament has been urging the government to set up a National War Memorial and this dream came true when Narendra Modi became the PM. As the then Congress government was blocking it, a National War Memorial was also started in Bengaluru.
Took up the issue of Kargil Vijay Diwas in 2009 and ensured that the government agreed to celebrate it formally.
CQMH repaired and rebuilt the memorial of Abdul Hameed when the then government failed to intervene and protect the memorial of PVC Bravehearts. Through the Flags of Honor Foundation, countless veteran and braveheart families across the country have been helped.
Awarded by the GOC-in Commendation of the Army, Western Command for the work done by him for the Armed Forces and Ex-Servicemen.
In 2009, Aasaare, an unprecedented public-private initiative in association with the Government of Karnataka – was conceived and implemented to help rebuild thousands of homes and villages destroyed in the floods and provide relief to flood-affected families. Successfully roped in over 50 corporates committed to building 80,000 houses. He personally adopted three villages and built several hundred houses.
In 2009-2010 who worked for a vision for Bengaluru and a long term integrated plan for the development of the city. As the convenor of the Agenda for Bengaluru Infrastructure and Development (ABIDE) task force, he prepared Plan Bengaluru 2020 – a vision document and a blueprint for the city’s development to make Bengaluru a world-class metropolis. This is the first and only scheme of its kind for Bengaluru or any other city in the country. Through his NGO NBF, he has taken several initiatives for Bengaluru, including reclaiming encroached lakes and land from builders, protecting residential neighborhoods, environment, fighting city corruption, promoting good civic organizations and public servants. Rewarding etc. are included.
Served on the Select Committee of the RERA Act and actively lobbied to protect home buyer rights as per the Prime Minister’s vision, despite heavy lobbying by the real estate lobby to veto or dilute the bill Went . It is also responsible for drafting rules to be made through citizens’ interaction with the Ministry.
Also served on the select committee of GST and financial and regular media advocate for these reforms and have long employed it as a reformer that would increase tax compliance.
Actively spoke in Parliament on every budget from 2006-2021. Have talked about the $5 trillion economy roadmap and the necessary initiatives in Parliament, in committees and in various articles. Participated in the discussions of almost every budget session and has consistently recommended investment and economic growth as the main solution to transform the lives of the poor and downtrodden Indians.
Gave several suggestions to this government to improve Aadhaar so that it can be used to fulfill PM’s vision. Even held meetings with the base to explain the necessary security measures.
Consumer protection and rights – he was the first to take it up in the Parliament and mobilize public opinion. They have made continuous efforts for the consumer till the present situation where TRAI and Govt are fully supporting their consumer position. He has personally responded in detail to every major TRAI consultation with his suggestions in an open and transparent manner.
2016 marked the emerging challenges of regulating crypto currencies.
Strong supporter of the Government’s Digital India program. Contributed to a major part of the draft Digital Communications Policy on the 25th anniversary of Telecom Liberalization.
Big Tech Regulation Parliamentarians were the first to start a debate inside and outside Parliament about the need to recognize the power of social media and tech platforms and the need to regulate them, including the need for regulation of Big Tech. Policy advocate inside and out.
5G advocates more strategic planning for 5G – as the next generation technology for mobile Internet and the first generation technology of M2M and IoT.
Dakota “Parashuram” was accepted by the Chief of the Air Staff on 13 February 2018 at the IAF Vintage Fleet. The aircraft was purchased by MP from “scrap” and restored in the United Kingdom and gifted to the Indian Air Force in flying condition. Dakota has an important place in the history of India as it played a vital role in the defense of Srinagar in the Kashmir operation in the 1947 war.
Parashuram is a regular feature on Republic Day and other IAF fly pasts.
Since 2013 campaigns have been conducted to create awareness and response to the issue of child sexual abuse, trafficking etc. The issue has received public and media support and in many cases has helped parents and parent organizations fight the cases directly. Has initiated and supported many seminars and discussions under the NCPOC banner.
Campaigned relentlessly to implement CAA in India and expose the lies and hypocrisy of the opposition.
Advocating that it has the potential to deliver political and economic dividends for citizens.
The need to review the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 has consistently raised the issue and advocated for stricter punishment and the government is solely responsible for this due to their intervention. Agreed.
Took a first of its kind initiative to support MSMEs through the lockdown and continuously take up their problems with the Finance Minister.
Supported the poor and vulnerable sections by distributing grocery kits and immunity kits during the first wave and second wave. Organized vaccination camps and Covid testing across Bengaluru.
