PARDHI, SHRI KESHAORAO [Congress (I)—Maharashtra, Bhandara, 1984]  s. of Shri Atmaramji Pardhi; b. at Tumsar, Bhandara District, August 21, 1929; ed. at Lokmanya Tilak Rashtriya Vidyalaya, Tumsar, and Bombay Hindi Vidyapeeth, Bombay; m. Smt. Sulochana Devi Pardhi, 1947; 3 s. and 1 d.; Agriculturist and Agent of Indian Oil; associated with Indian National Congress since 1946; arrested and prosecuted for participating in several processions and demonstrations during 1977-78 for protesting against the expulsion of Smt. Indira Gandhi from Lok Sabha and her arrest; Vice-President, D.C.C. (I), Bhandara District; President, Primary School Teachers Sangh; Chairman, Cooperative Housing Society, Tumsar; Hony. Secretary, Shreeram Religious and Charitable Trust since 1951; Member, (i) Executive Committee Lokmanya Tilak Rashtriya Vidyalaya; and (ii) District, Bharat Sewak Samaj; Vice-President, (i) S. N. Mor College and (ii) Backward Classes Society-Founder, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak Samiti; Member, Tumsar  Municipal Committee, 1958-78 and its President, 1964-73; Member, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, 1967-78; Member, (i) Seventh Lok Sabha, 1980-84 and (ii) Estimates Committee 1982-84.

Social activities:  Made efforts to establish (I) big projects like Ashok Leyland Truck Factory, Ellore and Simplex Paper Mills, Sun Flag Iron Steel Factory, Vengonga Cooperative Sugar Factory in the District; (ii) Industrial Training Institutes at Bhandara and Dewri, (iii) Technical High School at Goregaon, (iv) Mining Polytechnic in Chikhla, (v) Television Centre at Gocha; commenced the construction work of overbridge at Bhandara, Road Railway station; Arranged for the halting of Chhatisgarh Express at Aamgaon, Tirora and Mail at Tumsar and conversion of Gondia-Jabalpur Railway line into broad gauge; worked for, (i) erection of Water Works at Tumsar, (ii) erection of Bawanthadi Dam project, (iii) construction of several tanks, irrigation canals, ponds, roads and bridges in rural areas, (iv) electrification of Housing Societies, rural areas, (v) formation of Sahakari Societies and educational institutions, etc., (vi) construction of roads and drainages in Tumsar town through Shramdan (voluntary labour) by the youth of the town, (vii) implementation of the 20-Point Programme, (viii) organisation of family planning and eye camps and (ix) upliftment of the Harijans, Backward Classes, farmers and the down-trodden.

Sports and clubs:  Kabaddi; started Shriram Vyayamshala in Tilak Ward, Tumsar; established ‘Bajarang Mandal’ to encourage Gymnastics and to train the youth in Indian games particularly Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, etc.

Permanent address:  Indira Nagar, Tumsar, Bhandara District, Maharashtra.