Jesudasu Seelam

Jesudasu Seelam, a politician from Indian National Congress party, is a Member of the Parliament of India representing Andhra Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament from 2004. He was Minister of State (Revenue) under the Ministry of Finance from 17 June 2013. Prior to entering politics he served as an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from 1984-99 of Karnataka cadre.

Asst. Professor of Chemistry 1977-1980 Member of Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS) 1981-83 Member of Indian Police Service (IPS) 1983 Member of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) 1984-99 Served as Collector & Dist. Magistrate in Mandya District, Karnataka, Deputy Secretary, Forests, Deputy Secretary, PWD & Irrigation and Deputy Resident Commissioner, Karnataka Bhavan, Commissioner, Social Welfare & Commissioner, Minority Welfare, Officer on Special Duty in the State Planning Board till May 2004. Under Government of India - worked as P.S to the Minister for Railways, Social Welfare, G. M. Handloom & Handicrafts Exports Corporation (1992–98).

A social activist right from the student days - organized the youth for their socio-economic and educational advancement. Propagated the ideology of Dr. Ambedkar with focus on core values of self-confidence, self-esteem, and vertical social mobility through hard work & quality education among the marginalized sections. Worked for peace and harmony among the various sections in case of land disputes, communal clashes and atrocities. Associated with the NGOs like SAAS Parivarthana Foundation in AP.

Elected twice as Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha - June 2004 & June 2010 Served as Member, Standing Committee on Energy, Information & Technology, Coal & Steel, Chemicals & Fertilizers, Consultative Committee for Social Justice Ministry, Parliamentary Committee on SC/ST welfare, Committee on Computers to Members of Rajya Sabha, Business Advisory Committee of Rajya Sabha, Parliamentary Forum on Population & Public Health, IPU Global Advisory Group on HIV/AIDS, Animal Welfare Board of India, Khadi & Village Industries Board of India, Secretary, Indian National Congress, Congress Party in charge for the Delimitation Exercise & Indo-US Parliamentarians Forum. Presently, Member, Public Accounts Committee, Standing Committee on Law & Personnel, Standing Committee on Social Justice, Consultative Committee on Road Transport & National Highways, Committee on Subordinate Legislation, India-Bhutan & India-Pakistan Parliamentarians Forum, Secretary General, Forum of SC/ST Parliamentarians, Secretary General, Forum of Parliamentarians on HIV/AIDS.

MPLADS

Taken up special project under MPLADS in Prakasam & Guntur Districts for construction of 350 community halls cum libraries, establishing 250 safe drinking water units & 2 Girls Hostels with the assistance under CSR..

Inter-Parliamentary Union

Served as Vice President of the first Standing Committee (Peace & Int. Security), Attended 112th (Manila), 114th (Nairobi), 116th (Bali), 118th (Cape Town) and 122nd (Panama City) IPU Assemblies, worked as Rapporteur, drafting Committee Member and contributed vastly during the proceedings

PGA International Council

As member of the International Council of Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), participated in number of International Seminars and workshops on International Peace and Security, Sustainable Development, Democracy and other related issues and contributed qualitatively..

HIV/AIDS work

As Secretary General of the Parliamentarians Forum on HIV/AIDS, assisted in organizing Legislators Fora in various States, conducted National Seminar of elected representative in 2003, Youth Parliament on HIV/AIDS in 2004, North East Zonal Convention of MLAs in Guwahati in 2005, National Convention of ZP Presidents & Mayors in 2006, Youth Parliament on HIV/AIDS in 2008, National Workshop for elected representative in 2011. Participated in the World AIDS Congress in Bangkok in 2004, International Congress on AIDS in Asia-Pacific (ICAAP), Japan in 2005, World AIDS Congress in Toronto in 2006, Vienna in 2010, ICAAP, Colombo in 2007, SAARC regional seminars in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Dhaka during 2005-07. Participated in the Euro Asia Leadership Workshop on AIDS in Moscow in Oct 07, First Global parliamentarians Meeting on HIV/AIDS in Manila in Nov 2007. Member of the IPU Advisory Group on HIV/AIDS.,

Social Empowerment

As Secretary General of the Forum of SC/ST Parliamentarians, relentlessly working for mobilizing the MPs/MLAs belonging the marginalized sections to work with the Govt. in implementation of the programmes and in bringing the required legislations for closing the gap between the SCs/STs and rest in the development process & also for capacity building among the weaker sections.