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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.

Dr Dua to be Chairman CERC !

Dr A K Dua is now ahead in the race for the post of the Chairman of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.1971 batch Maharashtra cadre IAS officer, Dr Dua, is presently Secretary Industrial Policy and Promotion in the Government of India.

Who will succeed Nirupam Sen in UN ?
Who will succeed Nirupam Sen PR to UN in New York? Names of 1974 batch IFS officer K C Singh, 1974 batch IFS officer Hardeep Puri, 1975 batch IFS officer Sharad Sabharwal and 1973 batch IFS officer Sheel Kant Sharma have started doing the round in the South Block.

Hussain is new Chairman of JNPT
Syed Shahzad Hussain is the new Chairman of the Jawahar Lal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT).He is 1976 batch IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre.
( We said this on January 8)

Dhiman to join IPA

Prem Chand Dhiman is all set to join the Indian Ports Association for a period of two years.1984 batch Himachal Pradesh cadre IAS officer Dhiman is presently Director in the Ministry of Shipping.

Who will be Chairman of Maharashtra PSC ?

Who will be Chairman of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission. Tie is said to be between Chief Secretary D K Shankaran and 1971 batch IAS officer Ms Chitkala Zutshi.

Tharakan unlikely to get assignment
Former RAW Chief P K H Tharakan is now unlikely to get any assignment. Earlier the name of Tharakan was in circulation for the post of Deputy NSA.

Rohit Kansal a professional

Handpicking Rohit Kansal as PS to Finance Minister P Chidambaram has once again amply demonstrated that the latter recognizes professionals around him.Kansal who is at present in the Human Resource Development(HRD) Ministry had studied at London school of Economics(LSE),London.He is a 1995 batch IAS officer of the J & K cadre.

Finance Ministry's gain,HRD's loss

The proverbial saying of "A man is known by the company he keeps"aptly apllies on Finance Minister P.Chidambaram.With Finance P.Chidambaram's decision to have Rohit Kansal as his PS,it's a gain for the Finance Minister.However,it's a loss for Human Resources Development(HRD) Minstry because Kansal is considered to be an ace officer.One can ask the reaction from Sunil Kumar present boss of Kansal in the HRD Ministry.

K. D. Singh OSD to Khandu

K.D.Singh has been appointed as appointed Officer on Special Duty(OSD) to Dorjee Khandu Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.Singh who is of 1976 batch IFS officer will hold this charge along with Additional PCCF Wild Life.

IRS officer withdraws resignation

1975 batch IRS (Income-Tax ) officer Ram Singh has withdrawn his resignation letter. Singh is presently posted in Indore.

Urban development ministry in a quandary

The Urban development ministry is in a quandary over the demand of house by at least 200 persons of the rank Minister and Minister of State in Delhi.

Half of Jharkhand districts looked after by promotee officers

Promotee officers have been posted as police superintendants in 11, of the 22, districts in Jarkhand.

Will they be rehabilitated?

As many as 300 IT officials are said to be living without their families. Will they be rehabilitated?.

Posting in Delhi government delayed

Posting of Rakesh Behari in the Delhi government has been delayed. He is 1977 batch IAS officer of UT cadre.

Maj Gen Nair is head of AEC

Major General S.S. Nair has taken over as head of the Army Educational Corps (AEC) at the Army headquarters in Delhi.

Two new DMs in UP

Niteshwar Kumar will be new DM of Barabanki.Jyoti Singh has been made DM of Sant Kabir Nagar.

FORUM

ACR columns are seriously objectionable

It is highly strange that the new ACR format has been so insensitive to the gender equality. The form seems to mix up the objective of getting annual performance status with that of welfare measure of having or insisting annual medical checkup. There is no point in combining the two in annual assessment formats.
Some of the columns are seriously objectionable and have nothing to do with the job outputs. I think the time has come where the gender discrimination inbuilt is objected by one and all.
In All India Services women officers have had the most challenging postings in the State Government based on their capabilities and the same need to be honoured in center as well.
The annual health check up a welcome and good intentioned measure need to be seperated from the format and treated purely as a welfare measure for the All India Services officers.
The need of the day is to have wider debate on issues of better efficiency across the service to improve as a group for better delivery systems than in the experimentations.
Aruna (Limaye) Sharma

Is the clause recommended by Surendranath Committee
I would like to know if the part on women's appraisal (asking for menstrual history) was recommended by the Lt Gen Surendranath committee report on performance appraisal '07.
Ruchi

Retirement age should be 65 years

Kindly let me know the latest position on the proposal of enhancement of retirement age of bureaucrats. A few days back I had given views for enhancing the retirement age of all government officials to 65 and we had a very fruitful discussion on your forum.

At the cost of repetition I would again say that government must take cognizance of the better health condition of its employees and utilise their rich experience for a longer period upto 65 years of age.
Deepak Singh

Image of Gopalaswami is bright

The image of Gopalaswami is not tarnished as that of Navin Chawla. No body has heard about Gopalaswami amassing property here and there.
Anurag Shrivastava

In praise of WCD

This is the first time I have ever seen a Ministry come out with a fair and undoctored study report putting its own reputation at stake. It is appreciable and we should try and support the good cause taken up by the Minister.
Ravi

Aaj Ki Aawaz

The other day I was travelling by the Metro and the person sitting next to me seemed to be in a stupor and his head kept moving to my shoulder and I kept on pushing it back!!

Me (waking him up): Bhai Sahib!!
He: Sorry……. where are we!!!

Me: At Chandni Chowk….. why where did you want to get off???
He (slyly): I'm just riding the Metro from point to point and enjoying the ac comfort….. its really hot outside……. where else can you get to sit in ac comfort for the entire day for just Rs. 12????
Me: Arre you could have gone to one of the Malls and spent the entire day just loafing about in ac comfort for free!!!

He: Arre Sir but there I'd be uncomfortable seeing families shopping….. father buying stuff for their kids……. husbands for their wives…. and kids enjoying all kinds of goodies!!!
Me: What's the problem???

He: Sir kya kahoo…… ummar daraaz maang ke aaye thaa chaar dinn chaaro ke chaar beeth gaye bhook and waadon ke poore honne ki intizaar mein!!
Me: Are you a jilted aashiq ????

He: Aise hi samjho…… apni biwi se pyaar hai…… apne bachcho se pyaar hia…… ek time apni zindagi se bhi pyaar thaa!!!
Me: Arre stop riddling!!
He: Sir mein hoo is Desh ka Aam Aadmi………izzatdar, bhooka, hairaan!!!!
Me: Do you have a job???

He: I've got a job but can't make both ends meet……. roti, kapda aur makaan …. mehengayee maar gayi…. they used to say Dal Roti khao Prabhoo ke gunn gaao… today its agar Dal Roti khao toh Prabhoo ke gunn gaao!!!

Me: Chalo now Sarkaar is saying that its going to bring down inflation!!
He: Magar machh ke aansoo……..while Sonia tries to comfort us a Minister form her Party has been instrumental in the price rise……. and another Minister in the UPA seems to be more interested in cricket than our condition…… my Baniya has removed the photos of Deities on the wall of his shop and replaced these with photos of Kamalnath and Pawar!!!

Me: Yes prices have really shot up!
He: Sir bhooke pett I left home in the morning…… I threw a fit and ran out as my wife was pestering me for money to pay the Baniya's bills and to buy shoes for my kids!!!

Me: Chalo lets first get off at Rajiv Chowk…… there's a Café there ….. we'll sit there and talk!!!
He: I'm not a mooch and as I have nothing to pay I'll have water and you can enjoy whatever you want…. but we'll talk….. talking ke liye paise nahi lagthe!!!
Me: Not that loudly…….. you know nowadays PC is looking for ways and means to raise taxes….. very soon we may have a talking cess!!!

We get off at Rajiv Chowk and go into a Café in the Station itself.

Me: Now please swallow your pride …. and I know even though you may be famished you'll find pride difficult to swallow….. treat me like your older brother and please have something!!!
He: I'll have a tea!!!

I order Tea, sandwiches and pastries.

He: Sir how can life be so unfair!!! Some people enjoy all the good things in life while others struggle to live!!!

Me: To this question I have no answer……. though some would call this fate!!!
He: Yeah seems when God was distributing Fate after some time he ran out of goodies and we who were standing at the back of the line were sent off into the World truly empty handed !!!
Me: Tell me one thing when these Politicians come to ask you for votes how come you fall prey to their empty promises!!

He: Every time I say to myself that this time I'll see through their game but come elections and I do not know what happens I fall into their trap!!!
Me: This surprises me too!!

He: Sir seems our needs get the better of us and we start daydreaming of our needs being fulfilled!!!
Me: And what about Politicians playing the caste and creed card???

He: Sir they know which buttons to press!!
Me: Yes …. where to press and how to press!!!

Reluctantly he picks up a sandwich and looking guilty he bites into it.

Me: Why the guilty look???
He: Sir here I'm enjoying a sandwich and I don't know if my wife , son and daughter have eaten anything since morning!!!

Me: Daane daane pe likha hai khaane waale ka naam!!!
He: Sir harr daane pe likh doo apne bachcho ka naam!!!

Me: In your opinion what should be done to improve things???
He: Sir if you ask me we should have elections every quarter!!!!
Me: Why???

He: Electioneering period is like a honeymoon period for us and the Politicians ….. with elections ever quarter we'll survive from one honeymoon period to the other!!! In life its important to understand and accept realities…… politicians will make promises and break promises……at least this way we'll get to take some advantage!!

Me: Is the situation that bleak????
He: Problem is that some want India to become a Capitalistic Country…… some want it to be a Socio Capitalist Country and some want it to be a Socialist Country….. and in this tussle India does justice to none!!

We get up to leave the Café.

Me: Harr rishte pe likha hotha hai rishtedaar ka naam…… now that I've called you my brother your family too is related to me. So if you don't mind can I send something for my Bhabi and nephew and niece!!!
He: Sir gairath ( self esteem) bolti hai nahi parr aadmi aur Baap bolta hai yes!!!

Me: Yes I understand your predicament …… let me narrate a small story to you….. a young lad goes to a village elder and tells him that he's getting engaged and the village elder says ' aaj tuh doston se gaya'. Some time later he goes and tells the village elder that he's got married and the village elder says ' aaj tuh apne Maa Baap se gaya'. And a year later he goes and tells the village elder that he's become a Father and the village elder says ' aaj tuh apne aap se gaya'.
He: How true!!!

Me: But do you realize that once a person gets money then its naa biwi na bachcha na Baap badha na Bhaiya the whole thing is that sabh se badha Rupiya.... how ironical!!! And first we loose our health to make money and then we spend money to get back our lost health!!
He: This is Duniya!!!

Me: Duniya jisse kehthe hai jaadoo ka khilona hai, mill jaye toh mitti hai kho jaaye toh sona hai. Barsaat ka baadal toh diwaana hai kyaa jaane kiss raah se bachna hai kiss chatt ko bhigona hai!!

Bharat Kumar

Aaj_ki_aawaz@yahoo.com

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CORPORATE

Who will be ONGC CMD ?

Finally picture is clear.Eight candidates, including Najeeb Jung former IAS officer are in race for the job of Chairman and Managing Director of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation.Acting CMD R S Sharma is the key contender. Other contenders for the post include R S Butola, Managing Director of ONGC Videsh Ltd , ONGC Director (exploration) D K Pandey, Director (onshore) A K Hazarika, Director (HR) A K Balyan and Director (technical services) U N Bose are in the fray and GAIL Director (HR) M R Inglekar.

Shyam Sunder to be INDIAN official in Australia

Shyam Sunder has been appointed Country Manager of INDIAN in Australia.

Mathur is Director of Barclays Capital

Sajnay Mathur has taken over as Director of Barclays Capital.

Retirement age of CPSE employees to be increased

The administrative Ministry /Department concerned have been empowered to enhance the retirement age from 58 to 60 years, with the approval of the Minister-in-charge, in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) under their administrative control. However, it would be applicable only on those enterprises which have made net profits for the last three years in a row and have not availed budgetary support during the period. The proposals will also be required to be approved by the Board of Directors of the CPSE concerned. The Administrative Ministry will have the power to enhance the retirement age of every employee at Board level and below Board level.

Rao goes in AP

S. Suryaprakasa Rao, Secretary, Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) is no longer in service.

Carlin is MD of Tata AIG Insurance

Michael Carlin has been appointed Managing Director of the Tata AIG General Insurance Company.

New Office -bearers of CII (North)

Deep Kapuria and Salil Singhal have been elesscted chairman and deputy chairman, respectively, of the Confederation of Indian Industry (North).