Rohan Khaunte
Rohan Ashok Khaunte (born 25 February 1974) is an Indian Businessman and Politician from Goa. He is the MLA from Porvorim constituency from the North Goa district. Rohan first contested the Goa assembly elections in 2012 as an independent candidate from the newly formed Porvorim Constituency and won by a majority of votes.[1] He created history in 2017, by becoming the first Independent MLA to be re-elected in Goa. He currently represents the constituency of Porvorim as MLA and had been appointed as Minister of Revenue, Information Technology and Labour & Employment, Govt of Goa, India.
Early life
Born in Panjim city of the state of Goa, Rohan has a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. He is a former Basketball and Cricket player having represented the state of Goa. Rohan is actively involved in the family business which was founded by his late father. He was awarded the Young Entrepreneur Award by the then Governor of Goa, Late Shri Kidar Nath Sahani in the Year 2003.
Political Life
Rohan Khaunte is the founding Chairman of the Porvorim Yuva Welfare Trust that has been engaged in various activities since the year 2010.
Rohan has played the role of an active opposition member pulling up the government on several issues such as Traffic due to construction of third Mandovi bridge,[2] Beach Cleaning Scam,[3] Special status for Coconut Tree,[4] etc.
In May 2016, he submitted a complaint to the Goa Lokayukta in the multi crore Beach Cleaning Scam and has alleged that the tourism minister has received kickbacks in awarding the contracts.[5]
Rohan has worked actively in Porvorim and undertaken initiatives such as LiveFree – free Wi-Fi internet services,[6] sewerage works, door to door garbage collection and segregation, street cleaning programs and hot mixing of roads. He has been lauded for setting up synchronized traffic signals along the National Highway that passes through the constituency. Despite no financial assistance from the government, Rohan has been successful in implementing this project in record time, bringing relief to the residents.[7]
Rohan has been instrumental in forming Farmer’s clubs in Porvorim with the main objective to revive and encourage farming. He strongly believes in our Culture and Tradition and has formed 16 Bhajani Mandalsin his Constituency. Rohan has also been ably supporting Tiatr and Goan Art & Folk Dance.
In 2013 Rohan was selected among 16 Young MLAs, picked from various states in India, for their exemplary contribution to Indian democracy and conferred the "AdarshYuva Award" by the Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad Foundation, headed by former Chief Election Commissioner of India Shri T.N. Seshan.
References
- "32 panchayat secretaries posts to be filled - Times of India".
- "Who will be accountable for traffic snarls for 18 months?".
- http://www.navhindtimes.in/khaunte-alleges-scam-in-beach-cleaning-works/
- "House declassifies coconut tree - Times of India".
- "Khaunte wants Lokayukta to probe Parulekar 'scam' - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
- "Free WiFi service launched in Porvorim".
- "Traffic signals bring no relief to pedestrians near Holy Family church, O'Coqueiro junction". The Navhind Times. Retrieved 28 May 2016.