What people say about us !

If the pen is mightier than the sword, an idea is more dangerous than a bomb. Osama Bin Laden killed very few but his idea has set the world on fire. Osama Bin Mehrotra with a clique of his mouse has shaken more Government's than any revolution that is why Suresh Mehrotra is actually Osama Bin Mehrotra stronger than his namesake Osama Bin Laden.

M N Buch

ONLY SOURCE TO REACH THE OPINION MAKERS

ADVERTISE ON-WHISPERSINTHECORRIDORS.COM
Contact-sureshmehrotra@yahoo.com

S.Hajara ,Chairman & Managing Director of the Shipping Corporation(SCI) while responding to a variety of questions raised by the whispersinthecorridors.com is modest but candid enough to unfold diversification/expansion plans of the SCI. Mr.Hajara said that the SCI's USP and reputation in the market is that of a reliable transportation partner and a logistics solution provider with utmost attention to safety and timely delivery of cargoes.This hallmark has proved the ages old saying true "it is not the lofty sails that move ships,but it is the wind that keeps them going."In the SCI's case ships are not only propelled by fuel but it is dashing stewardsip of Mr.Hajara which has enabled the SCI to withstand test of times.

1. How many vessels do you have and what are your expansion plans?

SCI's present fleet has 80 vessels aggregating to 4.79 million tons deadweight tonnage. We are the premier Indian shipping company with a share of approximately 34 per cent of total Indian tonnage and also have a noticeable global presence. Our expansion plans aim to maintain our 'Numero Uno' position amongst the Indian shipping companies and also enhance our global operations. Our present orderbook has 2 VLCCs and 6 LR I size tankers. We are likely to sign shipbuilding contracts for 2 container carriers very soon. Apart from this, we are pursuing acquisition of another 64 ships during the balance period of 10th Five Year Plan and 11th Five Year Plan i.e. upto 2012. We are also the first Indian company to have established a foothold in the highly capital intensive and technologically sophisticated LNG transportation business and are pursuing more opportunities in this sector. We are also planning to expand our liner services through various consortia arrangements. Additionally, we have established one joint venture recently with Forbes for ordering and operating chemical tankers and are exploring possibility of establishing a few other joint ventures with some of the reputed shipping and non-shipping companies world over as a route to increase the tonnage under our control and to secure more business, and are pursuing the same. As an integrated service provider, we are also keen towards related diversification into the area of terminal operations.

2. Do you think that trained manpower is easily available in India for your increasing activities?

Well, availability of qualified seafarers, particularly in the officers' category is a major issue before, not just SCI or Indian shipping companies, but for the shipping industry the world over. This problem, however, is more acute for the Indian shipping companies due to our tax structure. SCI has taken proactive steps in this regard and at SCI recruitment and training is an on-going process. We have a state-of-the-art and well equipped training institute of our own that caters to our requirement. After completion of their training, the cadets and marine engineers join us with a long term commitment.

3. Where all do you intend to diversify?

As I have mentioned before, presently we have plans to diversify into certain related areas such as container terminal operations and container train operations.

4. How do you meet the global competition to clinch new business while retaining the existing one?

In shipping industry there are hardly any barriers for competition globally. Even for Indian cargoes, we have to face competition from Indian private sector as well as foreign shipping companies. Also, at the same time, nothing prevents us from participating in the international cross trades. Our USP and reputation in the market is that of a reliable transportation partner and a logistics solution provider with utmost attention to safety and timely delivery of cargoes. We deploy our tonnage not only in the Indian overseas trade but also in international cross trades.

5. What role do you see for the SCI in the wake of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) that are going to spring up in India?

Frankly we have not contemplated our possible role in SEZs, but would like to first see what they have to offer. As of now, we have no plans in this regard.

6. Is there any possibility of public private partnership with the SCI?

Well, public private partnership is more relevant for Government projects and that's already happening. Success of the National Maritime Development Programme that envisages a huge investment of approximately Rs.61,000 crore envisaged is largely going to depend on this model. There is certainly huge scope for public private partnership in infrastructure development. As far as SCI is concerned, as a commercial entity we have to depend on external financing for our acquisitions and we have several plans for joint ventures for growth. In that sense, yes, we are following public private partnership.

Review of Power Sector ?

It is review time in the Ministry of Power. Performance of Power Sector is under scrutiny of the PMO as a decision is immediately to be taken on the next Power Secretary. Thetwo years extension to RV Shahi will be over by February next. A section of the Bombay Club wants Shahi to continue beyond 62 years. However, IAS lobby is determined to see that one of their clan is the next Power Secretary.
Power Sector is way behind its 10th capacity addition schedule. Even appointment to key positions has been delayed abnormally. As many as seven proposals for appointment of key officials in power enterprises are pending with the Secretary(Power). Glaringamong them are the CMD, NHPC and Chairman, BBMB. Both these proposals have been gathering dust for months.

Only Mela and Mela and Mela---

There is going to be no work in the Ministry of Child and Women Welfare in the Government of India for the next 20 days. Reason, the Ministry is busy in the welfare of Children and the Women by organizing Rs Five Crore Mela. This is how there will be welfare of Children and Women in the UPA Government. Is it not a waste in this poor country Mr Prime Minister ?. Wait for another project of 15 crores ?.

Bureaucracy in Rajasthan in a mess
After 50 years of independence, Rajasthan reduced to a princely state ! Bureaucracy in Rajasthan is in a mess. They are unable to cope up with the tide of transfers which are effected every now and then not on the administrative requirements but on the whims and fancies of the royal Chief Minister Ms. Vasundhara Raje. If the IPS, mainly the Police Superintendants, are changed on an average every 15 months, IAS are even more vulnerable to transfers. Believe it or not, they are changed every 10 months. Things have reached to such a pass that some districts have seen as many as four to five Collectors, or even more, in just 30 months of present rule. And despite a spate of transfers, there have been occasions when the important posts like that of Collectors and SPs have remained vacant for long with the result that the juniors were made to handle the charge. In all, it will not be an exaggeration to say that Rajasthan, in this age of democracy, has of late been reduced to a princely state when the `heads' used to govern for their convenience and people's welfare had little or no place.

Six 1972 batch officials still to be secr
As many as Six 1972 batch IAS officials are yet to be made Secretary in the Government of India. They are Mssrs Dr D Subba Rao,Ms Sudha Pillai,J P Singh, Subhash Pani, Chandra Pal and C Phonsog

Couple bureaucrats not to have `laddoos' in both hands
In case of couple bureaucrats, higher ups in the corridors of power in the Government of India are learnt to have made up their mind not to give lucrative and prize postings to both - the husband and the wife. It's a top secret that one has to be on a lower ladder.

Sunil Kumar Singh is back to Bihar
FA in the UGC Sunil Kumar Singh has been relieved for the reasons best known to the HRD authorities. He is 1983 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre.

Rao joins CRPF
Dr C K Rao has joined the CRPF as ADG. He is 1972 batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre.

JS and FA in nine ministeries
There is a Joint Secretary and FA in the Government of India looking after nine departments.

Too many Additional Secretaries in MEA
There are too many Additional Secretaries in MEA these days. Traditionally there have been only 3-4. In addition to the 7 now, the MEA has Talmiz Ahmad as DG,ICWA.

ISS Sufferers Association.
If a message from ISS Sufferers is to be believed the latest orders of 2nd November, 2006 for posting of a large number of SAG level officers (DIG) have evoked a sharp reaction from the various ISS officers all over the country.

B M Singh is new Member of CBDT
B M Singh has taken over as new Member of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

DPC of 1986 batch IRS this week
DPC of 1986 batch IRS (IT) for the promotion is going to take place this week.

Neena Garg joins Ministry of Telecom
Neeta Garg is new Joint Secretary Telecom. She is 1975 batch CSS officer.

Neeta Prasad is JS UPSC
Neeta Prasad has joined the UPSC as Joint Secretary. Neeta is 1992 batch IIS officer.

John is Dy Secretary Water Resources
M J John has joined the Ministry of Water Resources as Deputy Secretary. He is 1995 batch CSS officer.

Tenure of Wadhwa expires
Deputation tenure of G R Wadhwa, Director in the MHA, has expired on Sunday. He is 1988 batch Indian Cost Accounts Service officer.

Former Karnataka CM appointed Chairman in Orissa
Former Karnataka Chief Secretary B K Das has been appointed Chairman of the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC). He is retired 1969 batch IAS officer.

IPS reshuffle in Andhra Pradesh
There is IPS reshuffle in Andhra Pradesh. New changes are :Mssrs * K. Lakshmi Reddy SP Nellore N. Surya Narayana AIG Administration, K. Venkateswara Rao SP Vijaywada,: R.B. Naik SP Medak,P.V. Sunil Kumar SP railways, Secunderabad, Mahesh Bhagwat Women Protection Cell,Charu Sinha SP Chittoor, V. Venugopala Krishna SP CID, Anil KumarSPAdilabad.Kripanand Tripathi Ujela: deputy commissioner of police, traffic-1, Hyderabad.A.S. Gurappa SP Ranga Reddy.E. Damodar SP Cyberabad, crimes.
Dr R.S. Praveen Kumar Group commander, Greyhounds.P. Muni Swamy: deputy commissioner of police, traffic, Cyberabad ,Vijay Kumar SP Nalgonda and Bhavana Saxena: joint director, Anti-Corruption Bureau.

IAS changes in Delhi

R Chandra Mohan will be new Transport Commissioner.Vijay Madan has been appointed Principal Secretary Tourism.

IAS changes in Bihar

There is IAS shake-up in Bihar.New postings are Mssrs:- V Jaishankar Welfare Commissioner, Hem Chandra Sirohi Commissioner Planning,A K Sinha Secretary Water Resources,N S Madhavan APC,Anil Kumar Secretary Fisheries,Amir Subhani Secretary Personnel,Andnd Vardhan Sinha Secretary Lokayukta,Rajesh Gupta Secretary Energy,Ravikant Secretary Cooperation,Arun Kumar Singh Secretary Housing,B B Shrivastava Secretary Revenue and Atish Chandra MD CONFED.

Bureaucratic reshuffle in Manipur this week
Bureaucratic reshuffle is expected to take place in Manipur this week.

FORUM

This is the positive point of view

I have been closely watching the performance of probationers of Central Services as well as IAS in LBS Academy. Despite the fact that most of the faculty is either IAS or biased in favour of IAS, the performance of other service probationers ( especially from Engineering Services) is far better in a statistically significant manner. Perhaps, the Civil Services Examination has been fiddled with too many subjects and quotas so that it is unable to select the best or attract right candidates. Something definitely needs to be done at both initial selection as well as later grooming and development. The system of empanlement needs to be broadened and made more transparent, right upto Secretary level selection.

Dinesh Shankar Mathur

Whispers will do a better job !

The current joke doing the rounds in the bureaucracy:
The Civil Services are the bane of society, if you go by media and popular opinion. In that case, let the Services be abolished and let whispers serve the country in their stead! Whispers will do a better job!

Sridharsriram

Another point of view

The posts of Secretary to the Government, barring a few where need dictates so, are not encadred in the IAS or any other Service and never have been. These are selection posts and anyone can be appointed. Non Service Secretaries include Manmohan Singh, Montek Singh, O P Kelkar, Mashelkar, Shahi (Power) etc, non IAS Secretaries include Govind Mishra, T S Krishnamurthy (Company Affairs) of the IRS, Jung of the IAAS (Civil Aviation), Brajesh Mishra (PMO) IFS etc. Till the abolition of the Finance and Commerce Pool in Government of India in 1977, some IRS (Customs Service) officers have also been Secretaries to the Government. Of course, it is a fact that most of the Secretaries, most of the time have been from the IAS in the past thirty years or so, but I do think this situation is fluid and liable to change a bit (not too much, though)!.

A K Singh

What is DTA ?

Indeed. The grabbing of posts by a particular service ,as a matter of Right is a sorry state of affairs indeed. Few years back, a pompous Secretary of a key Ministry, controlling the purse strings of the economy, enquired of his subordinates," DTA? What is DTA?" Who made him Secretary of such a premier Ministry if he was blissfully unaware of the existence of any such concept all through his career, right upto one year before his retirement????

Sailesh

Go to remote areas

Argument and senseless counter argument is doing none any good.A fake namesake Kamala Kant, presumably some non-IAS writes ludicrous statements and the people start show casing their brains. If MB, or others want to see IAS, Indian Forest Service, etc-go to the remote districts of Nagaland, Sikkim, Bihar or Uttranchal to see what is their working condition and how officers from All India Services are performing. Crores of people are still getting on with their lives and administration is working! No cushy posting in Metros...

Ram Prasad

IAS will remain most coveted service

Much has been said and talked about IAS officers of this country. Almost six decades after independence whatever development has been witnessed by this erstwhile colonial country India, a big deal of that has, of course, been contributed by the bureaucracy comprising mainly of the IAS officers and this fact can never be ignored or undermined completely. If a specialist only can deliver goods at the top bureaucratic level then let there be a test of selection for that after abolishing civil services exam and I am more than sure that there too those people would qualify in the selection test who would have otherwise qualified in the civil services to become IAS officers. In a nutshell talent follows natural law of gravity. It would either go where there is more money ( Private sector managerial postas ) or where there is true or false sense of power and privilege ( IAS IN BLOCK LETTER )IAS is and will remain the most coveted service in the country till there is concept of civil services exam and the top rankers keep on opting for it.

B C Brahma

Dipping of SBI's net raises concern
The dipping of net profit by the State Bank of India (SBI) of which the Chairperson is OP Bhat has raised a concern in the official as well as banking sector. It is worth noting that SBI's net profit declined by over 2.50 per cent for the second quarter of current financial year that ended on September 30,2006.

Why TRAI post vacant ?
Heard in the corridors of power. The technical member post in TRAI is under auction. The price will reach its highes when 3G spectrum is allotted and cases filed.

Sachdev is Director in NFL
K B Sachdev has taken over as Director (Marketing) of National Fertilisers Limited (NFL).

FASII office bearers elected
S Rajgopal has been elected President of Federation of Associations of Small Industries of India. T V Hariharan and J K Paul were selected as general secretary and treasurer respectively.