Mysore/Mysuru: Retired Forest Department Secretary A.C. Lakshman, a resident of Gokulam in the city, has been appointed as a Non-Official Member of  Karnataka State Planning Board.

The State Government on Tuesday appointed 23 Non-Official and 5 Officers to the Board, a key planning body of the State.

The 82-year-old Lakshman had served the Forest Department for over three decades. Reacting to his appointment, Lakshman said that even after retirement, he has been working for the economic empowerment of farmers and actively taking part in various Forest Department activities.

The other members of the Board are: Former IAS Officer and  MYRADA Chairman S.S. Meenakshi Sundaram, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Vice-Chancellor Prof. S. Rajendra Prasad, Davanagere University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sharanappa Halase, Economics Professor from Koppal Dr. B.G. Javali, Karnataka University (Dharwad) faculty Prof. Rudregouda Biradar, S. Madeshwaran of Bengaluru, Dr. Somashekarmurthy, Prof. Hoysala Chanakya, N.R. Asha, Vanaresh, former FICCI President R. Shivakumar, KASSIA President K.B. Arasappa, B.V. Anand of Delhi, Irrigation expert Capt. Rajarao, former Bengaluru Mayor Sathyanarayan, former IAS Officer K. Amarnarayan, Ground Water expert Devaraj Reddy, Dr. Naseer Ahmed of Davanagere, Marseille Maraterio of Mangaluru, Prasanna Kumar of Shivamogga, Devadas Nayak and Priyadarshini of Baindoor in Udupi District.

The list which was submitted by the Board’s Deputy Chairman B.J. Puttaswamy, a former Minister, was approved by Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa.