Noted economist Arjun Sengupta dies at 73

Arjun Kumar Sengupta, Rajya Sabha MP and a well-known economist, died here today following a brief illness, his family said.

Sengupta, 73, was rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) this morning where he later died.

He is survived by his wife and a daughter.

Sengupta has had a distinguished and multi-faceted career as an academician, economic policy administrator and Parliamentarian.

Expressing grief over his demise, Vice-President Hamid Ansari said Sengupta would always be remembered for his contributions as a special secretary to the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi; ambassador of India to the European Union; member of the Planning Commission; and chairman of the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised sector.

“Sengupta’s report on the unorganised sector is a guiding force to provide minimum social security for all unorganised workers,” Ansari, the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha, said.

He would be cremated will take place tomorrow at the Lodhi crematorium, family sources said.