MARGARET ALVA: CAMPAIGNER AND CHAMPIONING WOMEN'S CAUSE
Date
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24-07-05
Details
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Campaigner, social activist and champion of the women's case, Margaret Alva, is a multi-hued political personality. Born in Mangalore, Karnataka on the 14th April 1942, Alva moved to Bangalore to pursue her studies.
She graduated with a BA, LLb. Doctorate from Mt Carmel College and Government Law College. And chose to start her professional career as an advocate. She married Shri Niranjan Alva on the 24 May 1964, with whom she has one daughter and three sons.
One of her greatest interests lies in foreign affairs and women's development, for which she has been an ardent campaigner. She is the Founder President of "Karuna", a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) for women and children. She is a Congress candidate from the Kanara (Karnataka) constituency.
Key Positions Held
1972-73 Convener, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Women's Front
1983-85 Member, Panel of Vice-Chairmen, Rajya Sabha
1983-88 National Convener, Mahila Congress
1984-85 Minister of State, Parliamentary Affairs;
Member, Committee on Public Undertakings
1985-89 Minister of State, Youth Affairs, Sports, Women and Child
Development in the Ministry of Human Resource Development
1986-92 Member, Rajya Sabha (3rd term)
1990-91 Chairman, Committee on Papers Laid on the Table, Rajya Sabha
1991 Minister of State, Personnel, Public Grievances and
1992-98 Member, Rajya Sabha (4th term)
1993-95 Deputy Chief Whip, Congress Party, Rajya Sabha
1993-96 Minister of State, Personnel, Public Grievances/Pensions
with additional charge of Parliamentary Affairs
1996-97 Member, Committee on External Affairs
1996-98 Member, Committee on Public Accounts
Member, Committee on Ministry of Information/Broadcasting
1999 Elected to 13th Lok Sabha;
Panel of Chairmen
1999-00 Member, Committee on Transport and Tourism;
Member, House Committee;
Member, General Purposes Committee
2000-01 Chairman, Committee on the Empowerment of Women
2000- Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Tourism
2000-2004 Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Tourism
Did you Know?
*Doctorate of Literature by the University of Mysore, 1989
*UN Expert Group meeting on Women in Decision-making, Vienna, 1987
National Committee on Child Labor, 1979
*Commonwealth Observer Group for Elections in Cameroon
Spare Time
Margaret has a wide variety of interests and is well known for her creativity. She has completed a course in oil painting, interior decoration and Ikebana. Much of her spare time is passed painting, listening to music and traveling to destinations all around the world. As well as this Margaret is a member of three clubs: India International Center, Delhi Gymkhana Club, and Bangalore Club.
