Ramakant Khalap

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Ramakant Dattaram Khalap, born July 5, 1946, in Mandrem, Goa, is an Indian advocate and long-time politician. He began as a school teacher and college lecturer before earning a law degree.

Political life in Goa and India:
- A prominent leader of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Khalap helped the party rise in Goa and served as Mandrem’s MLA for many years. He was Goa’s Deputy Chief Minister in 1990 and later represented North Goa in the Lok Sabha from 1996 to 1998.
- He also served as India’s Law Minister and introduced the Women’s Reservation Bill. In Parliament, he worked on amendments to key civil and criminal procedure codes.
- In Goa, he held several portfolios, including Finance, Water Resources, Social Welfare, and Information Technology, and he was the Leader of Opposition in the Goa Assembly. He also led the MGP as its president.

Key achievements:
- Advocated for the Konkan Railway and helped move the project forward, boosting rail connectivity for Goa.
- Created Goa’s Information Technology Department and promoted IT development in the state.
- Drove water projects, including river linking and the Tillari irrigation project, addressing Goa’s water needs.
- Played a key role in securing an international airport for Goa (Mopa).
- Promoted Marathi and Konkani languages in Goa, supporting education in the mother tongue and official language recognition.
- Launched the Dayanand Social Security Scheme for old-age pensions.

Other roles and honors:
- Chairman of the Goa Law Commission and founder chairman of the International Arbitration Centre Goa.
- President of the Goa Cricket Association; involved with cultural groups and trust organizations.
- Associated with banking and cooperative efforts in Goa; he helped form the Konkan Railway and various cooperative initiatives.

Personal life:
- Khalap is married to Nirmala Khalap and they have three sons: Shriniwas (a lawyer), Nikhilchandra (an engineer), and Ashwin (a hotelier). A school in Mandrem, Ramakant Khalap High School, is named in his honor. He remains an influential figure in Goan politics and public life.