Professor Jeemol Unni has been appointed as the new director of Institute of Rural Management, Anand, (IRMA). Prof Unni has become the first female regular director of the institute since its inception in 1979. She is currently Reserve Bank of India (RBI) chair professor in IRMA.She has taken over the coveted post from acting director professor Rakesh Saxena. Since May, the institute was being managed by an acting director after its former director professor Vivek Bhandari stepped down.
Speaking on her future plans as institute’s director, Unni said, "With our earlier director, we had made a plan for IRMA's future which included expanding our current programme in rural management and also to strengthen our research activities. The plan which was also considered by the board was to have centres of excellences."
Prof. Unni has been selected by a three-member search committee that included chairman of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Dr Amrita Patel, director of IIM-A Samir Barua and ITC's S Sivakumar.
Prof Unni is a professor in rural economics, holds a PhD and MPhil in economics. She has held visiting fellow positions at the Economic Growth Center, Yale University, Institute of Social Studies, The Hague and International Center for Research on Women, Washington DC.
Unni is a director (member of the governing board) of Women in Informal Employment, Globalizing and Organising (WIEGO), a company with charity status, registered in UK.
[Source: Times of India]
