Renowned economist Manu Shroff dies at 77

Vadodara, Jan 30 (UNI) Eminent economist and former member of the 9th finance commission, Prof Manu Shroff died of lung cancer at his Diwalipura residence here. He was 77.

Mr Shroff, who was suffering from the dreaded disease for the last one year, died yesterday. He had earlier undergone an operation at a private hospital here, a few months ago.

He is survived by his retired IAS wife Rashmi and two sons.

The body will be cremated at the Wadi crematorium here late this evening.

Mr Shroff, who played key roles in formulation of India's economic policies and union budgets in 1980s and 1990s, in various capacities, had also served the Gujarat government as the first chairman of the State Finance Commission that recommended abolition of octroi.

A native of Jambusar in Bharuch district of Gujarat, Mr Shroff settled down in Vadodara after he left his job in the Union Finance Ministry as Assistant Finance Secretary (Banking) in early 1982 and became a professor at the IIM-Ahmedabad. He also served the Economic Times as its editor for seven years.

A close friend of former RBI governor I G Patel, Mr Shroff along with Mr Patel founded the Gujarat Economics Association Silver Jubilee Trust to promote research in post-graduate studies with scholarships.

He was assoicated with the World Bank, IMF and a number of financial organisations in India too.

UNI