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Congress High Command ?

When talked of the Congress High Command, we often take it to be AICC President, who now a days is Ms. Sonia Gandhi. But going deep one would find that these days it is a conglomeration of six persons. They are Ahmad patel, Oscar Fernandes, Janardan Reddy, Motilal Vora and Pranab Mukerji and of course Ms. Sonia Gandhi. It means number one in the High Command is Ahmad Patel .

Six vacancies in GoI this month

Six Secretary level vacancies are going to take place in the Government of India this month end.

Post of A K Singh to be downgraded ?

Post of Special Secretary Agriculture and Cooperation is likely to be downgraded. Special Secretary Agriculture 1972 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS officer, A K Singh, has taken over as Secretary Textiles.

Bhullar to be JS Expenditure

Balwinder Singh Bhullar is being appointed Joint Secretary Expenditure in the Government of India. He is 1986 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.

Agrawal to go to Afganistan

O P Agrawal is joining the UNIDO in Afganistan this week end to head Capacity Building Project in Public Administration. He is 1979 batch IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre.

Who's spreading rumours about INDIAN CMD ?

Recently there have been reports that the CMD of INDIAN, Vishvapati Trivedi, is going abroad on some foreign assignment whereas it is not a fact. Now the question arises that who's spreading such rumours?.

IAS officer suspended in Chhattisgarh

After being charge-sheeted 1971 batch IAS officer Dr P Raghavan has been suspended by the Chhattisgarh Government.

Tenure of Kharola expires

Central deputation tenure of P S Kharola has expired last week. He is 1985 batch IAS officer of Karnataka cadre.

40 IRS short-listed by CBDT

Altogether 40 IRS officers belonging to 1973 and 1974 batch have been short-listed for the posts of Chief Commissioner of Income Tax .Last in the list is Rangnathan. DPC was held last week. As many as eight officers are reported to have been superseded.

Shrni is Additional Member in Railway Board

U C D Shrni IRSEE will be new Additional Member (Electricals ) in the Railway Board.

Savita Gopal is Addl Member in Railway Board

Savita Gopal IRAS has been appointed Additional Member ( Budget) in the Railway Board.

Move to increase CAT Chairman Age

A serious move to increase the age of CAT Chairman from the present 65 to 67 is underway.

Justice Bedi is CJ of Bombay High Court

Justice H.S. Bedi, who was till recently Acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken took over as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.
( We said this on August 4 )

Vijayaraghavan to be promoted in Bihar

S Vijayaraghavan is being promoted to the rank of ACS in Bihar in a couple of weeks. He is 1973 batch IAS officer.

IAS changes in Madhya Pradesh

M Geeta has been moved to Gwalior as Additional Commissioner.Ashok Shivhare will be new Collector of Datia.

IPS postings in Madhya Pradesh

M K Mudgil will be new SP of Datia.SP Datia Pramod Verma has been shifted to SAF in Indore.

FORUM

Remember one thing -----?

All the officers using this website must remember that one day they are going to retire and a very fortunate few would get post retirement
engagements and that also remains for a very short span. I am happy that Ms Rama Das has raised a very pertinent issue related to Health problems of serving & retired Govt. Employees. Will the entire lot of Civil Servants are aware of the Problems & the Plight of their retired Senior Civil Servants? If not then they should also be prepared to face the future. Medical facility and safety and security of retired Civil Servants is the most important issue that needs to be taken care. Retired MPs & MLAs have lots of privilege but the persons who have put their entire life serving this nation there is no one to care. An ex Chief secretary struggling to get a simple street light
repaired or a retired DG of Police in fighting to get the drain cleaned
in the front of his house, A retired Member CBDT is fighting to get rid of the cheating done to him while purchase of his new car. Are the officers in power aware of it. Be aware of it and help them otherwise ur fuure is same

Kumar

This is what happening in MEA

Just read about the push and pull of posting all same in the IAS OR IFS. Foreign service officers who speak the languages of the country are not being posted but they are posted to some other countries where you will have to learn a new language why because you have no pulls in MEA, Its disgrace the one who deserves to get a posting where the person knows the language ,infact because some one has a push in the ministry some one else get the post who does know some other languages. An Arabic speaking sent to Latin America. A person who speak Spanish sent to Russia or Europe. Its crazy no one bothers why because its government who has more muscles get what they want. No body sees these things and no one bothers as it served their purpose. NO one think to save money for the Government. Its a shame.

Kitri

Best wishes for Pradip Kumar

My best wishes & congratulations for Pardeep kumar, a seasoned, hard-working and honest officer from Haryana Cadre. I am sure that the NHAI will go a long way and achieve its aims under the able Chairmanship's of the new appointment.
Ram Kumar Garg

Aaj Ki Aawaz

Zaroorat hai ek Shirimathi ki joh ho docile and karre gi sewa Patti ki,
'Khoda Pahaad aur nikla chooha' ko zaroorat hai Patni ki ji!!!

On the top of Khoda's 'To Do' list is to get married!!! And he should try to get married as soon as possible because of the instability of his Government!!! And what is it with these people they sacrifice murgahs and goats at the drop of a hat… Meneka needs to go to Jharkhand!!! Here's wishing Khoda that he gets married and his marriage is not like his short lived Chief Ministership!!!

Ads in Punjab call Amrinder The Captain,
Actually they can make a cartoon on him….. Captain Pain!!!

The Captain is unique….. a first….. a Captain being the biggest hole in his Ship!!!! The Captain has spent a fortune , of course at the expense of the Tax Payer, trumpeting his unachieved achievements!!! Punjabis are waiting anxiously for the day when they will pick up the newspapers and not see The Captain's Mug and his one line lies on the front page!!!! Well The Captain's mug is going to continue to appear on the front page of newspapers even after he exits Office….. Akalis are going to expose his one line lies and show the mug that lied so blatantly!!!! And even though The Captain will be in exile in Dubai or London the Akalis will ensure that he receives newspapers in which his one line lies are exposed!!!

Prices are going up and up…….. biggest cause is Pawar,
Its because of him Aam Aadmi ko padh rahi hai maar!!!!

Prices of eight essential commodities have shot up by 19% in one year!!! While prices of pulses, coffee, tea, condiments and spices witnessed a sharp increase, ranging between 33.3 per cent, 33.7 per cent, 24.7 per cent and 24.8 per cent respectively, other essentials like wheat, sugar, milk, eggs, fish and meat saw upward moment in the range of 8.5 per cent, 7.6 per cent, 7.8 per cent and 8.0 per cent respectively. And wheat and daals are expected to shoot up sharply in the future!!! There's a Punjabi adage ' kao daal jedhi nibhe naal (eat Dal as you'll always be able to afford it)……. Pawar has proved this adage wrong!!! Thanks to him now the Aam Aadmi's Dal Roti is moving out of his grasp!!! Hai Pawar ….tehre kaaran padh rahi hia Aam Admi ko maar!!! And Pawar demands that Farmers should get the right price for their land…… he's not worried about the depletion in agriculture land….. Pawar has his solution…. Import!!! He's now not only the poster boy for hoarders and importers but also Developed Countries who want Indian to import it's foodgrain requirements!!!

Its now coming clear how Papa Sharma got the investigation derailed,
Now its clear how and why the investigation failed!!!

At every stage the Police have bungled while investigating the Jessica murder case!!! They had Manu's confession on tape and still they made no use of it!!! Recently Times Of India interviewed Pap Sharma and the interviewer said that Venod exuded confidence ….. well he's done it once and so he has the money and know-how to do it again!!! And remember he was not a Minister for the major part of the investigation…… now he's a Minister and wields tremendous power over a Police Force in which a major chunk comes form Haryana… so he ahs reason to be confident!!!!

Hooda says his SEZ is Social Service….. God save Haryanvis from such Social service,
In fact Hooda is doing to Haryana the biggest disservice!!!

Land worth thousands of crores has been acquired for a few hundred crores!!! Farmers have been made jobless…. this is Hooda's Social service!!! Fact is seems for Hooda Mukesh Ambani is more powerful than Sonia….. that is why Hooda is ignoring Sonia's diktat and trying to ensure that Reliance's SEZ is not affected by Sonia's diktat!!!
Sonia should call Hooda and ask him ," Whoda (pronounced Hooda) you think you are????"
Bharat Kumar
aaj_ki_aawaz@rediffmail.com

WHISPERS .... CORPORATE WORLD

Is a Secretary joining aviation company ?

Grapevine has it that a Secretary in the Government of India is joining a new aviation company after his retirement .

Mid-term review on October 31

Mid-term review of the annual policy statement for 2006-2007 will be made by the RBI Governor Y V Reddy on October 31 in the presence of CMD's of major banks.

Under-performing PSUs to be referred to BRPSE

About 90 under-performing Public Sector Companies including Railtel and Konkan Raiiways are being referred to the Board of Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises (BRPSE).

Garg is Acting CMD of BCCL

D C Garg has taken over as Acting CMD of the BCCL.

Office bearers of Spice Trade Association

ML Parekh and Ajay Aggarwal have been elected president and vice-president respectively of the India Pepper and Spice Trade Association.

Spot Fares, Unchecked Fares get extensions

Good news for the travelling public ! The increasingly popular low fares offered by national carrier Indian will continue to be around for some more time.
Unchecked Fares or "X" class fares presently available for travel on the domestic network till 30th Sept. 2006, have been extended for a whole year, with travel to be completed by 30th Sept. 2007.
Similarly, Spot Fares available for eleventh hour travel have also been extended till 31st December this year. Also, passengers travelling from three more stations -- Khajuraho, Varanasi and Srinagar - will now get the benefit of Spot Fares. With the addition of these three stations, Spot Fares will now available from 25 stations on Indian's network.

TOP BRASS- SPEAK

The National Building Construction Corporation(NBCC) is now venturing out to build power projects in collaboration with foreign companies.and state electricity boards,says its Chairman cum Managing Director Arup Roy Choudhury.In an interview with us he discusses different steps that he took to bring the NBCC out of the red and make it a solid competitor in the building construction sector within five years.

Here is his interview

Questionnaire from 'Whispers'

1. What are your expansion plans?
NBCC is a premier construction company in the country and is one of the largest public sector construction companies. It has grown up from the level of Rs.300 crore to Rs.1300 crore plus company during the last five years and registered a growth rate of approx. 60%. It has set the target of not less than Rs.5,000 crore for the year 2011. This is not going to be easy because of the mushrooming of many construction companies in the market in the private sector and also global companies making foray in India.
Besides expansion in real estate / infrastructure projects, NBCC has been looking up at new avenues and one of such avenue is to diversify into setting up of power projects, keeping in mind that it has already been executing the entire gamut of civil works of various power projects which is approx. 25% of the total cost of setting up of power plant. NBCC is, therefore, is taking lead of setting up of power project in association of State Electricity Boards and to contribute its mite into the country's goal of achieving self-sufficiency in power by generating additional 150,000 MW of power in the next five years.

2. What are the areas NBCC has been able to clinch foreign deals
NBCC entered the overseas market way back in early 1977 in Libya. With its development oriented activities it could secure number of prestigious projects in Libya and during 1980's entered Iraq in a big way. So far NBCC has successfully completed various projects in different countries namely Libya, Iraq, Nepal, Republic of Maldives, Mauritius, Yemen Arab Republic, Turkey, Botswana etc.
· International Airports
· Airport Terminal Buildings
· Hospitals & Health Centres
· Housing Complexes
· University, Schools & Public Social Security Buildings
· Road & Highway Projects
· Sewerage & Water Treatment Plants
· Flyovers
· Hotels
· Railways Project
NBCC has executed these works in foreign countries on contract basis as well as on project management basis. It has received immense appreciation from its esteemed clients where inspite of difficulties and hindrances, it has completed projects with efficiency and contributed effectively in transformation plan of these countries. It is now recognized as a "Leading" and the "Most" Efficient Construction Company" and is commanding a respectable position in this part of the globe.

3. What is the secret of NBCC's success under your leadership?
When I took over reigns of the NBCC Ltd. in the year 2001, the Corporation was collapsing because of its poor performance in all fronts - execution of works, financial management, general management & administration etc. Heavy interest burden on the borrowings, off-the-hook policies and strategies were constantly telling on its financial health. Each and every employee of NBCC had been counting doom for themselves with no salary for months together. The reputation of the company as a construction agency reached an all time low with clients, both existing and potential, turning their face with dissatisfaction and disgust.
My first task after joining the Corporation was to diagnose the ailments of the company, implementation of proactive approach and introduction of short-term & long-term measures for revival of NBCC which I did in quick time. Total transformation was brought about not only in financial terms but in organizational issues like corporate culture, belongingness to organisation, job satisfaction, productivity, industrial harmony to make NBCC a model PSU employer.
Based on the strengths and to get rid of its weaknesses on which the Corporation has fallen prey to, NBCC worked on the following core aspects

i) Re-organising / re-structuring the operation system of the Corporation -
Considering that the Sites & Units which actually execute projects and earn profit for the Corporation. Zones and Head Office provide only administrative, policy and management support, reversed the old working system of Top-Down line concept of Head Office-Zones-Units-Sites To Sites-Units-Zones-Head Office. This reversal brought in encouraging results for the Organisation in the first instance. The engineers and staff members posted at sites and units, for the first time probably, began enjoying their importance that was clearly spelt out. They were given free hand in handling the projects under them with only the commitment of targeted turnover and profit as per the MoU signed by them with their respective zones and so to say, the Head Office

ii) Securing the Govt. of India funded works where the funds are allocated and released in advance and ensuring delivery of these projects within time, cost and maintaining high level of quality and economy
It was a significant and successful initiative by the Corporation to manage securing the huge (around Rs.800 crore to begin with) Govt. of India funded projects in all the North-Eastern States including Sikkim & MPLADS funded Gujarat Earthquake Rehabilitation projects - a strategic move that has largely helped NBCC to come out of the severe resource crisis it had been suffering from since mid- 90s to early 2001.
iii) Selective tender works with certain ceiling value
Because of the high cost of manpower and also because comparative productivity not being the strength, NBCC re-read its strategy and restricted itself in this area. It became selective and started looking at large-value contracts with an assured profits in the initial CTC level. While executing these projects, it effected a strict control on the overheads and bottom lines. This step bore fruits and the Corporation started showing results.
iv) Customer Focus as the Corporation's USP
A clear message was sent across to NBCC Team Members that the Corporation sustainability adopts 'CUSTOMER SATISFACTION' as its USP that only would define success.
v) Bringing about changes with a Human Face
All possible counseling exercise for the employees was done to make them realise that they have to move to locations from where their salaries are earned and an open & transparent transfer policy of "first in first out" was implemented. Employees responded and moved to remote locations where NBCC had works.
The Corporation, on its part, ensured that such moves also carried along a 'Human Face' and adopted abundant Welfare Measures for the employees providing them with ex-gratia, uniform, attractive Corporate Medical Insurance facilities, 'Bachelors' accommodation, mess facilities, enhanced pay, special LTC package etc. apart from other perquisites from time to time "With the paradigm growth of the Organisation, fruits have to be distributed amongst the employees of the Organisation who, in a public sector concept, are the actual owners of the Company".

4. How is your esteemed PSU geared up to counter the escalation in prices of steel?
Normally the contracts secured by NBCC provide the escalation clause whereby NBCC receives the price rise during execution of the project. Further, at the time of tendering some provision is built in the costing towards escalation of steel and other materials during execution of work. Also NBCC goes in for bulk purchase well in advance which averts the financial implication due to subsequent price rise to great extent.
In addition, NBCC is taking following steps to safeguard itself from hike in steel and cement prices:
(a) Yearly rate contracts are signed directly with manufacturers of steel & cement viz. SAIL etc. to supply steel / cement at fixed prices throughout the year.
(b) In the areas, not covered by Annual Rate Contract, the requirement of steel & Cement in nearby projects is clubbed and bulk purchase is ordered, enabling NBCC to get discounted rates offered by vendors / manufacturers on bulk purchase.
It may be observed that last year there has been unprecedented rise in prices of steel & cement specially the prices of steel. Such unprecedented rise cannot be foreseen / forecasted and thus no provision can be done nor the escalation formulas in the contracts can absorb such unprecedented rise. As a result of the unprecedented rise the profitability of the project and thus NBCC during last year eroded considerably.
Due to impact of the unprecedented rise, CPWD has introduced a new clause in the contract which caters to payment of escalation on account of steel & cement on the basis of star price concept. Now, almost all contracts have this star price escalation formula, which will cover the escalation to a great extent on account of rise in prices of steel & cement.

5. Do you think that you face any competition from India/Abroad?
There is stiff competition in securing the projects both in India and abroad. However, with the NBCC's experience over the years, NBCC is able to secure a good number of projects because of its winning edge over the others by way of professional service and economical offer. As a result, NBCC has secured many prestigious projects both in India and abroad. The housing project of Turkey was secured after participating in global and stiff competition from well established European, American and local firms.
Operations in the free market and competition go hand in hand. NBCC is fully geared for competition. Statistics collected in the last five years have indicated that NBCC has been able to save the national exchequer to the extent of Rs.350 crore + on account of works executed by NBCC in which it had been appointed on the basis of lowest competitive bids against the private operators. In the construction sector NBCC has an edge with the private sector players and presence of NBCC itself discourages any cartelisation among private players. NBCC has been able to utilise any kind of artificial inflation, thus creating value addition to the clients which are mostly large PSUs / Government Departments.
As far as infrastructure works against private players is concerned, NBCC does not have much chance because the method of award of contract in the private sector is not transparent and NBCC which is bound by the Govt. rules and under the purview of CVC / CAG guidelines is unable to negotiate on the line of private sector companies.
Regarding projects in overseas countries, NBCC is facing huge competition from the Chinese companies as the Chinese companies are able to generate low cost due to cheap labour and considerable amount of financial leverage support etc. being extended by the Chinese Govt. in terms of special loans etc.

6. Please list Landmark achievements
NBCC, under the aegis of Ministry of Urban Development, Govt. of India, today is one of the Premier Engineering Services and largest Public Sector Organization in the country. It is also ISO 9001 company for Project Management and Consultancy Services and its constant improved working parameters have been reiterated and substantiated by the recognition and accolades it has received from its various clients including Prime Minister's Merit Certificate for its performance.
In Real Estate which is one of the major thrust areas for the Corporation, besides developing commercial complexes, NBCC has recently launched Housing Project "NBCC VIBGYOR TOWERS" at New Township of Rajarhat, Kolkata. This is the first venture of its kind by any Central PSU.
With the implementation of various Chimneys / Cooling Towers & other Infrastructure Development Projects, NBCC has acquired excellence and expertise in the field resulting number of such projects now being awarded on nomination basis. NBCC is now foraying into taking up total construction of power projects in collaboration with foreign companies where NBCC's role will be of entire construction and supply of equipment etc.
Keeping in view its vast experience and strength in Engineering, Consultancy & Execution of works, NBCC entered the large market of Project Management Consultancy (PMC) jobs. PMC projects include preparation of estimates, CPR / DPR, approvals from various authorities, execution of works, handing over the projects etc. Today, NBCC has been working as an extended arm of the Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Urban Employment & Poverty Alleviation, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Textile and various State Governments & other Organisations.
Earlier NBCC executed some projects in the North Eastern States as a contractor for various State Govts. During the year 2001-02 NBCC had been called upon by the Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation and other Central Govt. Departments to work as its extended arm as an "implementing agency" in facilitating development of North Eastern States including Sikkim. NBCC has now been working all over the North Eastern States as an extended arm of the Govt. of India and as an implementing agency for its various developmental projects and has already completed more than Rs.300 crore worth of projects in various North Eastern States. The role of NBCC is that of a consultant for doing design, preparation of detailed project reports, getting the reports sanctioned from the Ministries in the Govt. of India, get allocation of funds to the States against these projects and get the Projects "Implemented".