New Delhi: Former cricketer and two-time Bharatiya Janata Party MP, Chetan Chauhan, has now taken over as the chairman of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).
Chetan, who also runs a cricket academy and owns a news print business, said that he will “have time for all my roles”.
“I will spend 60 per cent of the time in DDCA, 20 per cent at NIFT and 20 per cent in my business,” he said.
“This is a Government of India appointment. The names (for the post of chairman) are sent by the ministry of textile. Preference is given to people in the party (BJP),” he added.
Excited for the new innings, Chauhan extended his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah for his appointment. He informed a leading daily that he had already begin his term as he held a "few informal meetings" at the new office.
Chetan who was Sunil Gavaskar’s long time partner and played40 Tests and has 11,000-plus first-class runs said he got the job in NIFT because of his experience in cricketing and banking.
“They examined many names and ultimately chose me because I am an international sportsman and have experience in banking. I worked with the Bank of Baroda as a Scale-4 officer based in Delhi. For 23 years, I spent quality time in banking,” he was quoted as saying.
With this, Chauhan has added yet another role to his already existing long-list of responsibilities as he is the vice-president of Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), a senior BCCI official, runs a cricket academy and owns a printing press.
On being asked how he will manage all his tasks, he said, "Will have time for all my roles."
The chairperson of the Board of Governors (BoG), as per the NIFT Act 2006, can be “an eminent academician, scientist or technologist or professional, to be nominated by the Visitor” of the institute, which is the President.
The Union textiles minister proposes the appointment of the chairman and non-official members of the (BoG) of the NIFT, while the stamp of approval is given by the President.
The term of the appointment is three years.
The previous chairperson of the NIFT Board of Governors was a retired IAS officer, Kiran Dhingra.
