Varaprasad Rao Velagapalli

2021-09-24T18:07:09Z

2401:4900:4FDB:4491:0:0:422:EE8:

{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{one source|date=September 2014}}{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Varaprasad Rao Velagapalli
|image =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|09|18|df=y}}
|birth_place = Kommalmudi, [[Krishna district|Krishna]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]
|residence = [[Gudur]]
| alma_mater = [[Andhra University]]
|constituency = [[Tirupati (Lok Sabha constituency)|Tirupati]]
| office = [[Member of parliament]] <br /> for [[Tirupati (Lok Sabha constituency)|Tirupati]]
| term_start = 16 May 2014
| term_end = 20 June 2018
| predecessor = [[Chinta Mohan]]
| successor = [[Vacant]]
| nationality = [[India]]
| religion =
| party = [[YSR Congress Party]]
| years active = 2014–present
|spouse = Velagapalli Lakshmi
|date of marriage =
|children = 2
|positions held =Biochemist, GH Pondicherry (1978–1980); Assistant Administrative Officer, National Insurance (1980–1982); Reserve Bank of India (1982–1983); and IAS (1983–2009)
|website =
|footnotes =
|date = 7 December
|year = 2016
|source = http://164.100.47.194/Loksabha/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=4920
}}

Dr. '''Velagapalli Varaprasada Rao''' is an Indian politician and a sitting [[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]] to the [[16th Lok Sabha]] from [[Tirupati|Tirupati (Lok Sabha constituency)]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]. He won the [[2014 Indian general election|Indian general election, 2014]] being a [[YSR Congress Party|Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party]] candidate.

Dr. V. V. Rao was born 15 May 1953. He is an [[Indian Administrative Service]] (IAS) officer from the 1983 batch of the Tamilnadu Cadre. During his tenure in the civil services, he held several top positions, including that of Principal Secretary to Government of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Chennai]]. In 2009, he opted for voluntary retirement to join politics and serve the people of his native state, [[Telangana|Andhra Pradesh]].

In 2019 assembly election, Dr. V. Varaprasada Rao elected as an MLA for [[Gudur, Nellore district|Gudur]] Constituency in [[Andhra Pradesh]] (AP). He represents the [[YSR Congress Party|YSRCP]] party. Formerly, he was an [[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|MP]] from the [[Tirupati]] Constituency. He resigned from this post last year as the Central Government denied special category status to AP.

== Education ==
After completing his undergraduate course (B.Sc.) in Botany/Zoology at [[Noble College, Machilipatnam]], Dr. Varaprasada Rao pursued a post-graduate course in Biochemistry from Andhra Pradesh University, [[Visakhapatnam|Vizag]]. He then went on to complete his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the same university.

Dr. Rao has also completed a one year program in administration in the UK.

== Career ==
Before joining the Indian Administrative Services, Dr. Varaprasada Rao, worked in a myriad roles:
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Role
!Company/Place
!
|-
|1978–1980
|Biochemist
|General Hospital, Govt. of Pondicherry
|-
|1980–1982
|Branch Manager
|[[National Insurance Company]]
|-
|1982–1983
|Assistant Currency Officer
|[[Reserve Bank of India]]
|}

During his 24 year stint (1983–2007) in the IAS, Dr. Varaprasada Rao worked in various capacities and held several prominent posts in departments like Information and Tourism, Small Industries, Industries and Education. As Managing Director, he was pivotal in turning around the losses of many companies and putting them back on course. The state owned Co-optex (Textiles) for instance was in a financial crisis and operating at a loss of Rs.80 crores until Mr. Varaprasada Rao took over the reins and turned around the fortunes and generated profits.

Similarly, when he was appointed as the Managing Director of Salt Corporation, he had a challenging role to play. The corporation was in the doldrums and on the brink of closure. Dr. Varaprasada Rao, with his foresight and progressive policies, saved the company from sinking.

== Important posts held in IAS Cadre ==

# Sub Collector and District Collector – Kanchipuram/Tiruvallur & Pudukottai districts<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kancheepuram.nic.in/about-district/list-of-collectors/|title=List of Collectors {{!}} Kancheepuram District,Government of Tamilnadu {{!}} City of Thousand Temples|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-01}}</ref>
# State Protocol Officer, Government of Tamil Nadu
# On deputation to [[Department of Atomic Energy]]
# Commissioner of
## Tourism Department
## Labour Department
## SC/ST Welfare Department
## Land Administration Department (additional)
## Land Reforms Department
# Chairman and/or Managing Director of
## Pumpuhar Shipping Corporation
## Tourism Development Corporation
## Explosives Corporation
## Co-optex (Textiles)
## Tansi (Small Industries)
## [[Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board|Tamilnadu Slum Clearance Board]]

After quitting the IAS, Dr Varaprasada Rao was the CEO of 7 Hills Hospital in Andheri (E), [[Mumbai]]. Here, he played a major role in expanding the facilities to a 1500-bed hospital.

== Personal life ==
Dr. V. Varaprasada Rao, is the son of Mr. V. Chiranjeevulu who served as Village President, [[Pasarlapudi]] Village. Chiranjeevulu was also Member, Panchayat Union and Member, Zilla Parishad, [[Krishna district|Krishna District]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]]. Dr. V.Varaprasada Rao is married to K. Lakshmi M.Sc.(VRS), Ex- Officer, [[Bank of Baroda|Bank Of Baroda]].

They have a son - Mr. Naveen Gupta, MBA, IIM (A) who is self-employed and is running Health Clinics and schools in Chennai. His daughter Dr. Spoorthi, MD(ABIM), FACP returned from USA after 18 years. She is self-employed and runs a hospital.

== Social work ==
Dr Varaprasada Rao was always driven to work for the cause of humanity. After his voluntary retirement from the IAS, Dr Varaprasada Rao dedicated his time to community and social service. He spearheaded and initiated several projects for the welfare of the economically underprivileged.

# In 2012, he donated Rs.15 lakhs for constructing a building in Noble College, Machilipatinam, Andhra Pradesh, his alma mater.
# Constructed an elementary school building at a cost of Rs. 4.00 lakhs at his native place in Kommalamudi Village, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. The school is currently run by the Government.
# Donated Rs. 50,000/- each for the refurbishment of worshipping places/community centers/statues at the following places.
## Gunnanapudi, Krishna District
## Lellapudi, Krishna District
## Golvepalli, Krishna District
## Chintalapudi, Krishna District
## Moturu, Krishna District
## Gudivada Community Centre, Krishna District
## Gudivada Church, Krishna District
## Akiveedu Church, Krishna District
# Conducted and funded 6 marriages in the last two years at a cost of about Rs. 2.00 Lakhs
# Currently he is supporting the education of three poor boys and one poor girl who are pursuing Engineering, B.Com , Plus 2 and 5th standard respectively.
# He also adopted a minor boy who was condemned with life-imprisonment. He reformed him completely and gave him a life of dignity. The boy is now a young man of 30 years who has joined the mainstream of life—married with a family.
# He has helped hundreds of students from different communities coming from various socially and economically weak backgrounds to get a decent education and respectful jobs.

== Political background ==
After taking a voluntary retirement from the IAS, Dr. Varaprasada Rao decided to take a plunge into politics. The [[Praja Rajyam Party|Praja Rajyam Party (PRP)]] headed by [[Chiranjeevi|Mr. Chiranjeevi]] offered him an M.P seat from Tirupati along with a position of Vice-President of the party. He contested the 2009 general elections and lost. The PRP has now merged with the Congress Party.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/praja-rajyam-party-to-merge-with-congress-on-aug-20/articleshow/9593422.cms|title=Praja Rajyam Party to merge with Congress on Aug 20|date=2011-08-13|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-04-01}}</ref>

During his association with PRP as Vice President, he was actively involved with the drafting of the Party Manifesto. Most of his views on the welfare of weaker sections, women and minorities were incorporated into the manifesto.

Dr Varaprasada Rao also undertook a Praja Sankalpa Yatra,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sakshi.com/special/2017/prajasankalpayatra|title=Praja Sankalpa Yatra, Jagan Padayatra, ప్రజా సంకల్ప యాత్ర, Schedule, Route Map, Live|date=2017-11-03|website=Sakshi|language=te|access-date=2019-04-01}}</ref> along with the YSR Congress Party Chief [[Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy|YS Jagan Mohan Reddy]]. This padayatra, a mass outreach program which covered the length and breadth of the state, had an unprecedented public turnout where the leaders interacted with 1.25 crore people.

He also went on an indefinite hunger strike at Andhra Pradesh Bhavan over the demand of special category status to Andhra Pradesh. He fell ill during the fast and was admitted to the hospital, after which the fast was broken.<ref>{{Citation|last=Apr 8|first=ANI {{!}}|title=YSRCP MP Varaprasad Velagapalli hospitalised after he falls ill during indefinite hunger strike|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ysrcp-mp-varaprasad-velagapalli-hospitalised-after-he-falls-ill-during-indefinite-hunger-strike/videoshow/63669907.cms|access-date=2019-04-01|last2=2018|last3=Ist|first3=07 53 Pm}}</ref>

Dr. Rao has raised his concern over several issues in parliamentary sessions and debated strongly in support of dalits and women's causes. He has also been strongly campaigning to set up a port in Dugarajapatnam in Nellore district.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Assembly constituencies of Andhra Pradesh}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Velagapalli, Varaprasad Rao}}
[[Category:16th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from Tirupati]]
[[Category:Telugu politicians]]
[[Category:YSR Congress politicians]]
[[Category:Praja Rajyam Party politicians]]

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