Former ITBP commando, Nand Lal dons political colours

Bhanu P Lohumi

A former commando of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Congress MLA from the Rampur (Reserve) constituency in Shimla district Nand Lal (65) is a strict disciplinarian, but at the same time he is easily accessible to his electorates and pursues his development agenda with passion. 

Son of Pyare Lal, the three-time MLA was born at Deothi (Rampur Bushahr) on April 16, 1954. He did his post-graduation in political science from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, and was inducted into the ITBP Commando Contingent.

“My priority is infrastructure development, welfare of the people and completion of development projects, for example, in irrigation besides schools, roads, drinking water schemes and the primary health centre started during the previous regime,” says Nand Lal. 

Cold storage at the apple belt, Jangal, is the need of the hour as growers have to go to other places for storage. The Bashan-Kanda ropeway project is also hanging fire and efforts would be made to expedite its construction, he told the Himachal Tribune.  

Nand Lal was actively involved in security arrangements for international events like the Asiad (1982), the Non-Aligned Meet, 1983, and the Commonwealth Conference, 1984. He joined the SPG (for the security of the Prime Minister and former Prime Ministers) in 1985 and remained in the group till 1997. He received letters of appreciation from the former prime ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Chander Shekhar in recognition of his distinguished and outstanding services.

He commanded an ITBP Battalion in the highly militant-presence areas of Jammu and Kashmir (twice) and is the recipient of the President Police Medal for meritorious services and for fighting militancy. He was also felicitated by the Arunachal Pradesh government in appreciation of his contribution to the security and development of the state. 

Nand Lal opted for voluntary retirement in 2007 and entered into electoral politics, was quick to learn the nitty-gritty of politics and retained his seat in 2012 and 2017 Assembly poll. He was nominated as Member, Welfare and Rural Planning Committees. He also remained Member, Subordinate Legislation and Privileges Committees, Chairman, Privileges Committee and was inducted as Chief Parliamentary Secretary in 2013.

Under the Centre’s Village Adoption Scheme, he undertook development works under the Border Area Development Programme. He also worked to inculcate a sense of security amongst the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh. This experience helped him in adopting a development- oriented approach and as a result of his untiring efforts, all panchayats, except one in his constituency, are linked with roads.

Married to Satya, he has one son who is a political and a social worker. Widely travelled, Nand Lal has visited over a dozen countries. Reading, horticulture, sports and cultural activities are his favourite pastimes. He loves interacting with people from the remote and border areas.