Mr. V. P. Baligar is an Indian Administrative Service officer, presently holding the position of Chairman and Managing Director of Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), a Central Public Sector Undertaking in the rank of Secretary to Government of India. During his tenure as CMD, HUDCO’s rating has improved from ‘Very Good’ to ‘Excellent’ and it remained so for two continuous years. In fact, an Innovation Cell has been set up and many innovative products and processes have been introduced at HUDCO under his able leadership.

During his illustrious career as a civil servant, Mr. Baligar has contributed for the betterment of society in several ways. While working as the Deputy Commissioner, Mysore, he appointed a Scheduled Caste (Dalit) person as the priest of a temple for the first time in the Country. As Chief Secretary of the Zilla Parishath, Dakshina Kannada District, Mr. Baligar led the Total Literacy Campaign and with his efforts, it became the first District in the State to be declared totally literate. During his tenure as CMD, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation, the rating of Karnataka went up from 5th position to 2nd in the Country in implementation of Power Sector Reforms. During his association with the Education Department, Mr. Baligar initiated more than 20 innovative campaigns/ schemes to improve the access, attendance and learning achievements of school children; and successfully universalized and implemented the Mid-day Meal Scheme for 50 lakh school children. As Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, he further initiated steps to implement the 73rd Constitutional amendment resulting in transfer of more functions, funds and functionaries to Panchayat Raj Institutions. Karnataka received Rs. 3 crores award from Government of India for being the Second best State in the Country in strengthening Panchayat Raj Institutions. As a Principal Secretary, Commerce & Industries, he organized a Global Investors Meet in June, 2010 at Bangalore to attract investments into the State which turned out to a grand success. The list of his work is endless!

Mr. Baligar did his Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay in the year 1978 and MBA from the Southern Cross University, Lismore, Australia. “The initial memory I have of IIT Bombay is of my first interaction with the seniors in the ‘Marine Drive’ of’ Lady of the Lake’ (H-7) and doing cart-wheels for them, which ultimately led to my selection in the IIT Gymnastics Team and provided me an opportunity to represent IIT Bombay twice in the Inter IIT Sports Meet. I also remember a day, when thirteen of us (not 3 idiots!!!!) were playing Kiti-Kiti in the class room when Prof. JSR Murthy entered the class and went back saying “Sorry I think I have come to the wrong place!” We had to request him to come back and take the class,” he recalled. The ‘Gali Competition’ between Hostel-7 and Hostel-9 when the power went off; Late night long walks to the IIT Gate to have hot samosas and sugarcane juice to relive the stress of quizzes and tests; Leading IIT Bombay Kabaddi team to victory in the Inter-IIT Sports Meet at Chennai; and Finally, coming back to the campus in 1978, along with parents, sister and brother-in-law, to receive the ‘Institute Silver Medal’ at the graduation ceremony, are the part of Mr. Baligar’s fond memories of his undergrad days at IIT Bombay.

Prior to being appointed as the CMD of HUDCO in April 2011, Mr. Baligar has worked as the Principal Secretary to the Government of Karnataka in Commerce & Industries Department, Infrastructure Development Department; Chief Minister’s Office; and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Department, between 2003 and 2011. During 1998-2003, he held different positions including Commissioner for Public Instructions, Chairman & Managing Director, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation and Commissioner of Industrial Development. He has moreover worked in Government of India for several years during 1991-98, as Deputy Educational Adviser and Director in the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Private Secretary to Minister of Surface Transport and Private Secretary to Minister of Human Resource Development and during 1987-91, worked as Chief Secretary, Zilla Panchayat, Joint Commissioner, Commercial Taxes, Deputy Commissioner & District Magistrate, Mysore and Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore City Corporation. Before joining the IAS, Mr. Baligar has briefly worked for a year in Tata Consulting Engineers.

Mr. Baligar has been bestowed with the ‘Dr. Ambedkar Award’ by the Government of Karnataka in recognition of the service to the weaker sections of society. He has participated as speaker/ panelist in several national and international conferences including UNHABITAT, World Urban Forum, FAO, CITYNET, etc. He also writes in Kannada and has published two books of Poetry and one book of articles on administrative experience.