Deep Joshi appointed as new IRMA chairman
 
Anand (Guj), Oct 27,2012: Magsaysay Award winner and member of the National Advisory Council, Deep Joshi, has been appointed as the chairman of the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA) here. Board of IRMA, who met here under the chairmanship of Prof Y K Alagh appointed Joshi as the chairman, said official press release of IRMA.
 
Three member search committee, comprising Dr Mihir Shah, Member, Planning Commission of India, Hasmukh Shah, former chairman, Gujarat Ecology Commission and Dr Sudarshan Iyengar, Vice Chancellor, Gujarat Vidyapeeth, shortlisted the name of Joshi.
 
Joshi replaced Prof Alagh, who held the coveted post for two consecutive terms from November, 2006 when Dr Amrita Patel relinquished it. The chairman of IRMA has a term of three years, with a maximum of two terms. Joshi co-founded a non-profit organisation, Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN), of which, he was the Executive Director till 2007.
 
He was awarded the 2009 Magsaysay award for Community Leadership for his work for the "development of rural communities". IRMA was established in 1979 at Anand to provide management education, training, research and consultancy support to co-operatives and rural development organisations in India. Dr Verghese Kurien, father of 'white revolution' in India, was the founder-chairman of IRMA from December 14, 1979 to June 8, 2006, followed by Dr Amrita Patel from June 9, 2006 to November 28, 2006.