Shashi Panja


Dr. Shashi Panja is an medical practitioner and politician who currently serves as Minister of State for Women and Child Development and Social Welfare of the Government of West Bengal. She is daughter-in-law of Ajit Kumar Panja.

Early life

P.V. Krishnaih, father of Dr. Shashi Panja, was Chief Industrial Engineer in Hindustan Motors. He lived his entire working life in the Hindmotor colony. Dr. Sashi Panja was brought up there and did her MBBS from R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital at Kolkata, with specialisation in ultrasound and infertility practice. She married Dr. Prasun Kumar Panja, son of the veteran politician Ajit Kumar Panja.

Political career

Dr. Shashi Panja was elected a councillor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation in 2010 and was appointed mayoral council member in charge of education.
She was elected to the West Bengal State Assembly from Shyampukur in 2011.
She was inducted into the Council of Ministers of West Bengal as a minister of state and given independent charge of the women & child welfare ministry in December 2013. In May 2014, she was given additional charge of the social welfare department.