Ravindra is K'taka Planning Board deputy chairman

Former chief secretary of Karnataka, A Ravindra, on Thursday took over the charges of the deputy chairman of the state planning board.

Last week, the state cabinet had approved the appointment of Ravindra to the coveted post. He had retired from government service in 2002.

Ravindra said in a statement: "The role of state planning board assumes importance as the 11th Five Year Plan is set to start in 2007-08. In the next few months, we have to finalise plans and complete them. We have to identify priorities, thrust areas, resource mobilisation, and do fresh thinking, particularly in the context of globalisation."