Prabhat Patnaik to head Kerala planning board

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Noted economist Prabhat Patnaik, a professor with the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi, has been appointed the vice-chairman of the Kerala State Planning Board.

His name was cleared at the Cabinet meeting held here on Wednesday and announced by Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan.

"Patnaik will hold full-time charge and get the status of a cabinet minister," said the chief minister.

Patnaik's had headed the State Finance Commission under the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in the state.

The economist was also associated with the People's Plan campaign at the time, which is considered the brainchild of present Finance Minister Thomas Isaac.

The LDF government of 1996-2001 had appointed veteran economist IS Gulati as head of the Planning Board.