Name	:	Sri Raghunath Vishwanath Deshpande
Father	:	Late. Sri. Vishwanath Rao Deshpande
Mother	:	Late. Smt. Vimalabai Deshpande
Address (Res)	:	372, Nilay ,R.T Nagar Main Road, R.T. Nagar Bangalore - 560032 Karnataka, India
Telephone	:	080-23331934/23335988
Date of Birth	:	16th March 1947
Education Qualifications	:	B.A (Hons) Karnataka University L.L.B - Shivaji University

Positions held

• President, Karnataka State Co-operative Agriculture & Rural Development Bank & Chairman KSSIDC
• Elected on 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th Assembly from Haliyal Constituency in Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka State
• Served as Minister of State for Small Scale Industries, Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Housing & Urban Development
• Served as Leader of Opposition in Karnataka State Legislative Assembly
• Served as Minister for Large & Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development
• Served as Minister for Co-operation
• Presently the President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.

Achievements and Highlights

• Completely responsible for streamlining Industrial Policy, Novel Foreign Investment Policy & Information Technology Policy
• Responsible for development and growth of Industries in areas of improving the Economy of the State
• Responsible for development and growth of High-tech Industries
• Responsible to establish programmes, policies and guidelines in respect of various industries including Large, Medium & Small Scale Industries
• Played key role in inspiring and inviting Multinationals in participanting in the industries in Karnataka including the core sector and infrastructure sectors like Power, Steel, Transportation etc.
• Achievement of simultaneous growth in various schemes and programmes including upgradation of Technical Investment programmes etc., has led to the State of the premier position in the country and in the International World.
• Initiated various manufacturing industries for the growth of SSI sectors and collaborations from Multinationals to make the various industries competitive and compatible in the international maket
• Infrastructure Development
• Responsible for programmes and schemes in the areas of Ports and Sea ports for development of Trade and Industry.
• Achievement with the above policies and programmes, the State was able to achieve No. 2 Position in terms of investment approvals in Industry & Infrastructure Schemes.
• Was able to improve and also bring in reforms in the management of Small Scale Industries including the incentives to Industrial Parks. Technical Upgradation and promotion for establishment and proliferation of SSI in Backward Areas.
• Promotion and establishment of various schemes including Training (HRD), collaboration agreement for various products and also assistance in the form of technical inputs including finance and other services.
• Was able to adopt and issue guidelines for improvements in agricultural productivity, water management and irrigation methods.
• Was responsible for sourcing R & D and modern methods of agricultural schemes of rural development and benefits to small farmers.

Leader of Opposition

• Played a constructive role in the Legislative Assembly in guiding the principles and policies regarding the various welfare schemes for the rural masses and also in the agricultural sectors like irrigation, power etc.

General

• Responsible for pioneering effect in raising the industrial economy in the state including hi-tech areas
• Attracting investments from Multi-nationals for improving the economy of state in core-sectors
• Toured extensively abroad including Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, USA, Africa, UK, Canada etc. to initiate programs and policies of state and was able to attract sizable investments in various sectors of Industries including infrastructure like power, roads, airports, sea-ports etc.

Activities

• Associated with number of educational and cultural organisations and cooperative institutions in Uttar-kannada district. Associated with Sri. Tulaja Bhavani Educational and Charitable trust and Canara Medical Center.

Chairman of Shri. V.R. Deshpande Memorial Trust

Shri R.V. Deshpande is the Chairman of Shri. V.R. Deshpande Memorial Trust (Estd. 1998) engaged in integrated rural development through Health, Hygiene, Education, Women Empowerment and Skill Development.

The Trust runs Deshpande Rural Development and Self Employment Training Institute (D-RUDSETI), Deshpande Institute of Vocational Training (DIVT) Smt. Vimalabhai V. Deshpande CBSE School and has sponsored Vishwanatharao Deshpande Rural Institute of Technology (VDRIT) at Haliyal. The Trust covers entire Uttar Kannada District and majority of areas of North Karnataka which require developmental attention.