Your website is doing a very good job by providing a platform for sharing of important and eye-opening information. Hope concerned authorities will take note.

Jawed Chaudhary

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For hardworking,dedicated and sincere P.D.Vaghela, Managing Director,Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd(TCGL) "tourism has definitely come of age" in the Gujarat state. While, tourists inflow has gone up by 30 per cent in Gujarat, the state Government has allocated an exclusive budget of Rs.100 crore for tourism development in the state,said P.D.Vaghela in an exclusive interview to <whispersinthecorridors.com>

He also disclosed that a slew of incentives for new hotels at select locations had been declared by the Gujarat Government.Besides several policy initiatives had been at the behest of Chief Minister Mr.Narendra Modi,said Vaghela.Event based tourism has been instrumental in promoting tourism and attracting a large number of tourists. Replying to a question TCGL MD ,Vaghela said that a number of innovative steps like improvement in infrastructure at tourist places and involvement of local people ;were taken to give a fillip to tourism in Gujarat.He also said that the TCGL's strategy to promote Gujarat as a leading tourism destination at national and international level,had clicked.

Here goes P.D.Vaghela's interview.

1/What innovations have you done to woo tourists?

The State Government had declared year 2006 as Tourism Year with the following broad objectives:
* To promote development of tourism and in turn put Gujarat as leading tourism destination at national and international level
* To attract domestic and foreign tourists to Gujarat
* To create additional employment opportunities in the State
* To improve tourism infrastructure in the state
* To ensure people's participation and involvement of local bodies in promotion of tourism

2/Can you tell us your three achievements?

Overall Tourists inflow to Gujarat has gone up by 30%.

In the tourism sector, a total of 33 MOUs were signed for 68 projects with expected employment generation of over 40000 direct jobs. The total investment comes to Rs. 10785.50 Crore. In the Aviation sector, MOUs worth Rs 10000 crore signed.

Won the National Tourism Award in 2007 for the Best Tourism Friendly Monument-Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeolgical Park.Won the National Tourism Award in 2007 for Excellence in Publications (collateral)

3/Are you in a position to say that tourism in Gujarat has come of age? Please explain how.

Yes, definitely 100 crores budget has been allocated exclusively for tourism development in the state.Tourists inflow has increased manifold in the State. Events like Navratri Festival and International Kite Festival are being organized on a global scale every year in the State. Gujarat is being recognized all over the country, having won many national level awards this year. Investments in the tourism sector have been pouring in enormous numbers, through the MOU route.

4/What policy initiatives have been taken by your state?

Following policy initiatives have been taken:

Tourism Policy 2003-2010 is in force for promotion of tourism in the state and with overall impressive growth of Gujarat economy, policy initiative in social sector and excellent infrastructure, tourism in Gujarat is expected to grow considerably. Recently, Government has signed 38 MoUs worth Rs. 20,785 crores have been signed.This includes not only tourism related projects but also ventures pertaining to aviation and pilgrimage tourism.

a) Gujarat Tourism Council headed by Chief Minister Mr.Narendra Modi has been set up.

b) Hotel investment incentive scheme has been declared to boost total investment in related destinations.

c) Three policies namely Heritage Hotels Policy, Eco Tourism Policy and Medical Tourism Policy have been declared during the year.

d) Entertainment tax has been reduced from 50% to 25%.

e) Luxury Tax has been significantly reduced along with restructuring in tax slabs & enhanced exemption limit to Rs. 500/-.

f) The Value Added Tax(VAT) on Food & Beverages(F & B)has been reduced from 12.5% to 4%.

Marketing of Gujarat Tourism has been started on consistent basis nationally and internationally. Event based tourism has been instrumental in promoting tourism and attracting large number of tourists. These policy initiatives will certainly help in promoting Gujarat tourism at a faster rate.

5/Which are the key areas where Gujarat scores over other states?

Gujarat has 5000 year old civilization and excellent monuments. Apart from this the state has excellent infrastructure in terms of roads, electricity and air connectivity. It is one of the safest states in India. Gujarat is blessed with a variety of tourism products like wildlife,desert,sea beaches,hill stations,etc. It has unique wildlife like the Asiatic Lion,Wild Ass,BlackBuck and a variety of bird life.

6/What steps have you mooted for promoting budget hotels/tourists?

Gujarat Government has declared incentive scheme for hotels this year. Hotels with a minimum 20 rooms being setup at selected locations in Gujarat will be eligible for five year tax holiday on electricity duty, luxury tax and exemption of payment of stamp duty on land.

Subir Datta to be Chairman of UPSC

Subir Datta will take over as new Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission on July 1. He is retired 1967 batch IAS officer.

Veena Sreeram Rao empanelled

Veena Sreeram Rao is reported to have been empanelled to the rank of Secretary in the Government of India.1972 batch Karnataka cadre IAS officer Veena Rao is presently DG CAPART.

Sanjay Singh and Sujata Singh to go to Europe

Sanjay Singh and Sujata Singh are set to go as Ambassadors in European countries. Both are 1976 batch IFS officers.

Rohit Kansal to be PS to Chidambaram !

It seems Rohit Kansal is being appointed PS to Finance Minister P Chidambaram.He is 1995 batch IAS officer of J & K cadre.

Will Forest Ministry face contempt action ?

Do you know that funds to the tunes of Rs 4000 crores are lying unused with no CEO to look after the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA)under the Ministry of Forest and Environment? The Supreme Court had asked the government to fill the post of CEO and still nothing much has been done. The forest ministry may have to face the contempt action from the SC.
Additional Secretary level post created
13th Finance Commission is to be constituted shortly. Posts for Advance action team to be headed by OSD (Addl. Secretary level post) have been created in the Department of Economic Affairs.

Parimal Rai is new Chairman of NDMC

Parimal Rai has taken over as Chairman of the NDMC. He is 1985 batch IAS officer of UT cadre.
( We said this on March 28)

Transfer list is with LG

Transfer list of the Delhi Government IAS officers is currently lying with the new Lt Governor for approval.

Sheriff to be PS Home Delhi

In all probability Shumsher K Sheriff will succeed O P Kelkar on May 1 as Principal Secretary Home, Delhi Government. He is 1977 batch IAS officer of UT cadre. Kelkar is retiring on April 30.

Naresh Kumar is Add Commissioner MCD

Naresh Kumar has been posted as Additional Commissioner of the MCD. He is 1987 batch IAS officer of UT cadre.
( We said this on March 27 )

Naini not being relieved

Ms Naini Jayaseelan is not being relieved for Pondicherry for the time being. She is 1980 batch IAS officer of UT cadre.

IRS officer resigns

Commissioner Income-Tax in Ahemdabad K P Karunakaran is reported to have resigned. He is 1982 batch IRS officer.

Mandal is State Election Commissioner Jharkhand

M K Mandal has been appointed State Election Commissioner in Jharkhand. He is retired 1971 batch IAS officer.
( We said this on February 3 )

Anil to return to Bihar

Grapevine has it that C K Anil is returning to the parent Bihar cadre.1991 batch IAS officer Anil is on deputation to the Maharashtra Government.

IAS changes in Kerala

There is IAS reshuffle in Kerala.New postings are :-Mssrs K Jayakumar APC and PS GAD,V K Balakrishnan Collector Alappuzha,Sumana Menon Collector Malappuram,Premchandra Kurup ED Jalanidhi,and K Sashidhara Labour Commissioner.

Virk repatriated to Maharashtra

The center has repatriated former Punjab DGP S S Virk to the parent Maharashtra cadre. 1970 batch IPS officer Virk had been suspended by the Punjab Government.

Why to target Navin Chawla ?

Navin Chawla is being targeted on CD issue.Bur who is the boss of the Election Commission ? N Gopalaswami Chief Election Commissioner was the Home Secretary of L K Advani during the NDA regime?. Any significance Raj Nath Singhji ?.

Nalwa is new IG North Bengal

R.J.S. Nalwa has taken over as inspector-general of police (North Bengal) replacing K.L. Meena.

IAS postings in Punjab

D.S.Guru, principal secretary to Chief Minister has been given additional charge of civil aviation. R.L.Mehta will also look after the work of the post of secretary, Punjab state election commission. Gurdev Singh will be Director Rural Development . Iqbal Singh Sidhu has been posted as special secretary, public grievances and pensions. Anurag verma has been made MD of PSIDC. R.K. Ganta has been posted as director, technical education and Raj Kamal chaudhari as ED of Punjab scheduled castes land development and Finance Corporation. Manisha Trighatia has been moved to housing and urban development department as additional chief administrator of PUDA at Mohali and Sukhwinder Pal Singh has become additional deputy commissioner, Jalandhar. Shurti Singh will be SDM at Chamkaur Sahib.

WCD Ministry is concerned about Child Abuse in India

The study on Child Abuse conducted by the Indian Ministry of Women & Child Development(WCD) is the world's largest empirical in-country study of its kind. The report has been authored by Joint Secretary Dr. Loveleen Kacker. Besides,it is the first ever attempt to understand the extent and magnitude of child abuse in India. This shows Ministry's desire to take up legislations, policies and interventions to address the issue of child protection.. The study was conducted by the Ministry of WCD with the support of UNICEF and Save the Children. The full report is available on the Ministry's website and can be downloaded from the following link
http://www.wcd.nic.in/childabuse.pdf

BCCI taking legal help

The Board for control of Cricket in India(BCCI) is taking all possible legal help.Those whom the BCCI led by its chief Sharad Pawar have approached are Harish Salve and son of a veteran journalist.This is aimed at mulling over all aspects over what BCCI contemplates to decide while taking a final view on contentious issues like endorsements by players, at its meeting scheduled to be held on April 20,2007.

FORUM

Is Government anti-CSS ?

The DOP&T's attitude in debarring CSS officers empanelled for appointment to the post of JS is one of its anti-CSS approach. Recently, after a marathon struggle and the delay-tactics exhibited by DOP&T, the CSS officers were appointed as Director - after a delay of nearly 6-7 years. Officers included in the list prepared for 2000 were offered appointment sometime in the last quarter of 2006. These very officers were earlier included in the select list of Selection Grade of CSS for the year 1995 in the year 2005. Financial benefit of their hard-earned promotion was, however, not allowed to them from the year of empanelment, but from a prospective date. Similarly, in the case of their appointment as Director, the benefit of higher pay & allowances was allowed from a prospective date - knowing fully-well that the delay was on the part of the Government. Had the Government come out with its selection process well in time, these individuals would have had no hesitation in taking over higher appointments immediately. They have been, however, penalized for none of their faults.
N Shashank

NE region is stigmatised

What Sudhir Chopra has said about postings to the NE region is right. The region has been stigmatised as a punishment zone. The moment a person gets orders of posting to Assam and beyond he starts getting condolatory messages from his colleagues wanting to know what went wrong between him and the boss. In the Defence Estates Department recently one young South Indian officer was posted from Ooty (Wellington) to Guwahati with the sole aim of 'teaching him a lesson' as he failed to adequately look after his DG's daughter and son-in-law who went to Ooty for a holiday. You can't expect the officer 'to give his best' to the department with the bitterness such background necessarily leads to.

N N Ojha

Backbone of democracy

Separation of judiciary from executive is backbone of democracy. Day in day out judiciary tries cases against executive. Therefore independence of judiciary has to be maintained at all costs.
There is big lacuna in RTI Act. Although CJI and CJs of HCs are given powers to appoint public information officer and its appellate body, surprisingly, there are no powers to appoint commission to deal with the questions arising under RTI in relation to judiciary. Resultant effect is that central commission/state commission gets freehand to requisite presence of dignitaries from judiciary which unwarranted. Such lacuna is required to be corrected immediately.

Madhuri

Aaj Ki Aawaz

What treasures does Navin Chawla have in his ghar???
Why itna darr???

Because of the darr Navin was overzealous about his ghar ka protection,
CAG has made this detection!!

As DVB Chairman he diverted guards to his home,
Whereas outside Power Plants on duty these guards were supposed to roam!!!

And even after relinquishing DVB Office the guards stayed,
And for this security Rs. 44 lakhs DVB paid!!

And mind you for Navin controversy is not navin or new,
In recent times he's been named in quite a few!!

Navin should excuse himself from the CD case as there's interest ka clash,
Himself his name from the EC Panel hearing this case he should slash!!!

There's news that Commies are having a rethink,
Want to move away as they feel UPA se aathi hai stink!!

UPA should use some deodorant and freshen its mooh,
Otherwise Commies could pull out saying UPA smells like a loo!!!

Seems post UP elections there is going to be some rumbling,
As recently amongst Commies there has been lot of grumbling!!!

Congress will now have to give more and expect less,
In the UPA there's now bound to be stress!!!

Did Sonia meet Amrinder….. no confirmation from Sonia's side???
Sonia has reasons to ensure that this meeting her Office should hide!!!

Amrinder calls it an affectionate meeting…… ek haath se thaali,
Some say Diwedi told him that in Sonia's appointments there was no slot that was khali!!!

Amrinder is pressing for being appointed President of PPC… desperate,
Wants this post at any rate!!!

But by the looks of it in Punjab Amrinder is going to be kept at bay,
And after some time in Delhi karre ga Amirnder stay!!!

Punjab's going to turn hotter for him with every passing day,
As Akalis for his past deeds try to make him pay!!!

Rumours abound that Amrinder's Mum accompanied him for some nomination matter,
Between his wife & son and mother he trusts the latter!!

News on Chahal is that he's now looking at the map,
Moving to a Country that does not have extradition treaty with India karr raha hai map!!

Maybe Argentina after Mr. Q will have a Mr. C …… new refuge for the wanted,
Can evade the Indian Law as long in Argentina they remain planted!!!

States that give farmers free bijli and pani are actually contributing in the support price,
And if the Centre recognizes this it sure would be right and nice!!!

After all when MSP is calculated both bijli and pani costs are included,
But as State Governments subsidize these for the Farmers both costs are discluded!!

Because it's the State that is footing the bill for both water and electricity,
And the States are not given any credit and that's a pity!!!

Punjab for instance should raise its backdated and current Invoices,
And many other States will also start raising their voices!!!

Seems 'thaali ka baingan' Ajit Singh's Party is going to be routed this time,
Too much politicking is his crime!!!

People have got sick of his aaya ram gayaa ram ways,
In no alliance for a long time he stays!!!

He usually gets his pound of flesh but his supporters are short-changed,
That's why from RLD this time their support they've changed!!!

Next Phase of election is Maya's phase……with BJP closing in,
Congress is immaterial and SP's in the bin!!!

BJP's ad questions ' Kya inka iraada pak hai'……. pun,
At the so called secular Parties BJP having fun!!!

PC says inflation is a global….. but cause of India 's inflation is not the same,
Lack of vision, wrong polices and faulty management in India share the blame!!!

Why's PC trying to fib and fob???
Fact is some of India 's Ministers just did not do their job!!!

Like Pawar and Kamalnath…. both were found lacking,
And it's rumored that speculators and black marketers had their backing!!!

Confucius says…… When Government says something and does just the ulta,
He continues…. Such a Sarkaar is in peril of itself becoming ulta pulta!!

Bharat Kumar

Aaj_ki_aawaz@yahoo.com

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CORPORATE

Tripathi to be Director (Marketing) GAIL

B C Tripathi is being tipped to be new Director (Marketing) of the GAIL.

Seshadri is MD of Madison Advertising

R Seshadri has joined as Managing Director of Anugrah Madison Advertising Pvt Ltd..

Nath is EP

P J Nath has been appointed as Executive President of Enterprise Solutions Business.

Bhaskar is Head Equity of UTI Asset Management

Anoop Bhaskar has been appointed as the Head Equity of UTI Asset Management Company Private Limited.

Indian delegation heads to Azerbaijan

A powered delegation led by an Indian Minister of State has reached Azerbaijan to hold parleys with the Government of Azerbaijan. It is aimed at securing oilfields in Azerbaijan. It may be stated here that the ONGC Videsh Ltd(OVL) is very close to securing a very large oil well ,which it had been negotiating for the last one year.

Arun Mohan joins INX Mediass

Arun Mohan formerly with Star India has joined "Inx Media" as distribution head.