THE MAN WHO FELLED A GIANT - AMIT KHARE

For Amit Khare, an IAS officer of 1985 batch, Monday was just another day in HRD Ministry. 

The man did not seek credit for unearthing the multi-crore fodder scam, which has put a question mark over the political career of one time mighty leader Lalu Prasad. 

The RC 20A/96 case surfaced in January 1996 when Khare was West Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner in the then undivided Bihar. “I performed my duties as a Government servant just like any other officer would have or should have done. I appreciate the much-awaited judgement, which came after a protracted legal battle.
Being a collector of a district it was my responsibility to look after the treasury and any anomalies and discrepancies in funds to be investigated,” Khare told The Pioneer when asked for his comments over the judgement. Khare, a St Stephens’ and IIM alumnus, is now Joint Secretary at HRD Ministry and has held important assignments including the CVO & Administration of MHRD. He was handpicked by former HRD Minister late Arjun Singh and brought to Delhi in 2008. On 27 January 1996, Khare, acted on information to conduct a raid on the offices of the animal husbandry department in Chaibasa.The documents his team seized, and went public with, conclusively indicated large-scale embezzlement by an organised mafia of officials and businesspeople. Lalu Prasad as Chief Minister handed over the case to the State vigilance. Lalu later shunted Khare as Director (Primary Education) of Government of Bihar, and then Secretary, Board of Examination, a post which did not even exist.

When Jharkhand was created, Khare returned to important portfolios as Secretary, HRD Jharkhand, and also in-charge Vice-Chancellor of Ranchi University. Khare had deposed as prosecution witness many times till 2008 in the fodder scam case. "Why should I have grudges against anyone (Government or in person)? As a Government servant you have to discharge your duties with complete dedication and I successfully attempted. For a bureaucrat all type of postings are equally important, which has a specific role in the overall development of locality, district, State and country," Khare said while keeping his date with several appointments and also a major HRD event of the day.

 He is presently holding the charge of Joint Secretary, International Cooperation, Book Publishing & Copyrights and Education Policy & Planning in the Development of Higher Education under MHRD. He has played a major role in amendment of Copyright Act as also in promoting partnerships in higher education sector with USA, UK, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Africa. A Physics graduate from prestigious St Stephens's College, Delhi University, Khare finished his school education at Ranchi (Jharkhand). Before joining the IAS he completed Management from IIM Ahmedabad. Nagpur-born Khare has over 27 years of experience in Government including HRD, Revenue, Finance and General Administration.

  The above is from the Pioneer