Known for his leadership abilities on a diverse range of social, corporate, technical, legal, cultural skills, Saxena began his professional career as an assistant officer in JK Group of Companies in
Rajasthan.[8] After gaining experience through decade-long contributions in development of white cement plant, he was appointed general manager of the group and soon entered into the seaport project in Gujarat.[9][8] Saxena later went on to became the CEO and Director of the 'Dholera Port Project' in Dholera (which is dubbed as "India's Singapore").[8][10]
National Council for Civil Liberties of India
In 1991, he incorporated National Council for Civil Liberties of India (NCCL), an NGO headquartered in
Ahmedabad, which is recognised by the
Ministry of Law and Justice.[2][11] Under his guidance, NCCL began a project "Mission ENDURE" ('Ensuring Dust Reduction') in Ahmedabad in 2004, which later won Dubai International Award, by the
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).[12] Under his leadership, NCCL incepted an opposition to
Medha Patkar and her
Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) in their attempts to stop construction of the
Sardar Sarovar Project in Gujarat.[13][14][15][16][17] As president of NCCL, he moved to the
Gujarat High Court against the then Governor of Gujarat
Kamla Beniwal's decision to appoint retired judge
Rameshchandra Amrut Mehta as
Lokayukta in 2011, citing "breach of constitutional propriety by the governor in not heeding the advice of the state's council of ministers", then headed by Chief Minister
Narendra Modi.[18][19][20][21] Later in 2012, appointment of the Lokyukta was upheld multiple time by the court,[22][23][24][25] while it was noted that "the Governor is bound to act under the advice of the Council of Ministers, but the appointment of Justice Mehta is right as it was done in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court".[26] NCCL, led by Saxena, was also instrumental in various other activities, including Water Resource Planning and Water Shed Management for Gujarat and Rajasthan, studying the impact of
2001 Gujarat earthquake through satellite imageries, Project 'Rainbow Hills' in Sabarkantha district of Gujarat for re-constructions and modernization of
tribal houses,[27] deepening of silted village ponds in
Bhal region, solution to reduce dust pollution in Ahmedabad, improvement in eco-tourism.[14]
Saxena came in worldwide attention in May 2008, after raising an issue on a statue of
Mahatma Gandhi at the
Madame Tussauds in
London.[12] He found out that the statue was placed on the second floor near an ice cream parlour close to a dustbin, instead of the wing where the statues of other illustrious world leaders, exhibited at the museum.[12] He raised the issue by sending a letter to the then British Prime Minister
Gordon Brown on 17 May 2008.[12] On the next day, an apology was offered by the Museum authority and the statue was shifted to the hall named 'World Leaders' Exhibition'.[12]
Later career
Saxena has been serving as a 'Member of University Court' of
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) since his appointment in 2019.[2] In 2020, he was nominated as member of decision-making body of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) at the
Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology.[2] In November 2020, he was nominated as a member of the
Padma Awards selection panel for the year 2021.[28] In March 2021, he was appointed by the
union government as a member of the national committee to commemorate the '75 years of India's independence'.[2][29]
As chairman of Khadi and Village Industries Commission
In 2015, Saxena was appointed the chairman of
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC),[8] an apex organisation under the
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, that holds the exclusive rights to use both the trademarks Khadi and Khadi India.[30][31][32] and played a key role in implementing numerous innovative schemes like 'Honey Mission', 'Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana' and 'Leather Artisans' Empowerment Scheme.[33] During the chairmanship tenure in KVIC, he was instrumental in innovations of both plastic-mixed handmade paper and Khadi prakritik paint, for which he got patent certification.[8] Under his stewardship, since the 2015–16 fiscal year, KVIC emerged as one of the recognisable Indian brands worldwide, alongside the turnover registered a remarkable growth.[8] In 2017–18, KVIC's sales growth witnessed a "moderate" 13% rise, almost twice that of
Hindustan Unilever's.[34] During 2018–19, the company has reported an over 25% jump in sales to a little under ₹75,000 crore.[34] In 2021–22, KVIC became one of the most trusted companies of
Fast-moving consumer goods, that ensured the distribution of a whooping number of 55,000 New Model
Charkhas and 11,000 modern looms.[8][35]
Following the clarion call of
Narendra Modi's 'Sweet Revolution' in India in 2016, Saxena drafted a programme named "Honey Mission".[14] As part of the KVIC's 'Honey Mission', he launched the country's first Mobile Honey Processing Van at Sirora, in
Ghaziabad, on 7 January 2022.[36]
Saxena attended as chief guest and inaugurated the 'Drug Free India Pakhwada campaign' at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi in June 2023, which was part of "Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan" (NMBA), in which 15,000 kilograms of illegal drugs were destroyed as per procedure at the incinerator located at SSI Industrial Area, in Jahangirpuri.[43] He then took part in an official event hosted by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), describing aspects and future developments according to the 'New Master Plan Delhi 2041'.[44] In 2023,
National Green Tribunal appointed Saxena as chairperson of a high-level committee on the Yamuna Rejuvenation Project, which is a part of
Namami Gange Programme, but the appointment was stayed by an order of the
Supreme Court of India in July of the same year.[45][46][47]
In September, Saxena inaugurated an online portal in Delhi, devoted to Vigilance Complaint Information Management System (VCIMS), the first of its kind in India, that aiming the handling of corruption complaints and ensuring transparency and confidentiality.[48] On 23 September, after the conclusion of
G20 New Delhi summit, he approved allotment and transfer of lands in
Bhalswa and
Uttam Nagar, for completion of infrastructural development projects.[49] On 11 November, Saxena inaugurated Rajghat Power Plant Chimney, which became one of the tallest illuminated landmarks in the city.[50] On 9 December, he inaugurated the new annexe building of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Delhi.[51][52] In February 2024, joining with
Police Commissioner of DelhiSanjay Arora, Saxena inaugurated 'All Women Police Post' at Shraddhanand Marg Police Station, setting up a groundbreaking move.[53]
Controversies
He was accused of Khadi Scam and money laundering of ₹1,400 crore while he was the Chairman of
Khadi and Village Industries Commission by the majority MLAs of the ruling party in the
Legislative Assembly of Delhi.[54][55] He sent legal notices against the AAP leaders refuting these claims.[56] The
Delhi High Court ordered
Aam Aadmi Party to take down defamatory posts from social media sites and said that the allegations were without merit.[57] It also remarked that the sum of ₹17 lakhs was converted into 1,400 crores in a fanciful way without proof or merit.[58]
Deputy CM of Delhi
Manish Sisodia accused Saxena for approving the bill regarding Delhi's Excise Policy (2021–22) earlier without any issues of opening outlets even in unauthorised areas, of "changing stand as per requirements".[59][60][61][62][63][64] After assuming office in 2022, Saxena recommended a
Central Bureau of Investigation probe regarding the policy as the
Delhi liquor scam came into spotlight in which multiple arrests made including the incumbent chief minister of Delhi,
Arvind Kejriwal.[65][66][67][68][69]
On 16 March 2023,
Aam Aadmi Party's
Sanjay Singh released a video accusing Saxena of unleashing mob violence against activist
Medha Patkar in 2002 at
Sabarmati Ashram in
Gujarat. Saxena's office did not offer any comments.[70] Saxena is an accused in a case pertaining to the incident alleged in the video.[71]
Awards and accolades
2000 – selected as one of the four referees by the
Third World Network of Scientific Organisation, for evaluation of an important Joint Research Project in
Yemen titled "Characterization an Environmental Prioritisation of the Coastal region in the state of
Yemen".[14][72]
2007 – Dubai International Award constituted by UN-HABITAT, for best practices to improve living environment in the city of Ahmedabad through project 'Mission ENDURE'.[14]
^Upadhaya, Neha (24 May 2022).
"जानिए कितने पढ़े-लिखे हैं दिल्ली के नए एलजी विनय सक्सेना..." [Know how educated and experienced Delhi's new LG Vinay Saxena is...]. navbharattimes.indiatimes.com (in Hindi). New Delhi: The Navbharat Times. Archived from
the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2023.