New faces in Ministry of Tourism
Dr. Mahesh Sharma has taken over as the Minister of State Tourism & Culture (Independent Charge) and MoS Civil Aviation. Dr Sharma has replaced Shripad Yesso Naik, who will now be handling AAYUSH (I/C) and Health & Family Welfare. A doctor by profession, Dr Sharma holds an MBBS degree and is also the Chairman and Managing Director of Kailash Healthcare Limited.
Dr. Lalit K Panwar is the Secretary, MOT, Government of India. He has replaced Parvez Dewan. Panwar has served earlier as the Chairman and Managing Director ( CMD) of Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC). An IAS officer of the 1979 batch Rajasthan cadre, Panwar was also Director, Tourism, with the Rajasthan Govt. He is one of the pioneers in modernising the ‘Palace on Wheels’. Panwar also holds a doctorate degree in tourism.
Suman Billa has been appointed as the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism (MOT), Government of India. Billa is currently Secretary of Tourism, Government of Kerala. He is a 1996 batch IAS officer and has studied at the Madras Christian College, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi and has been a British Chevening Gurukul Scholar at the London School of Economics.