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Nishith Rai

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INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK

The nature's bounty coupled with aggressive interaction with tours & travels operators in India & abroad Meghalaya Tourism department is trying to turn the state into one of the best tourist destinations in the country. This was stated in an exclusive interview by P.W.Ingty Commissioner & Secretary Tourism to Meghalaya Government.

In his interview Ingty told <whispersinthe corridors.com>about plans that the state is embarking on an ambitious programme of developing tourism infrastructure based on joint ventures and P-P-P .Tourism policy of the state "focuses on rural based tourism, by involving the local community as stake holders particularly for security, hospitality services, maintenance and management of infrastructure created in the rural areas. Among other things, the policy seeks to make the State one of the best tourist destinations of the country and to create an environment that will attract outside investment." Here goes his interview:

1/In what way your tourism policy is unique?

A-The tourism policy of Meghalaya is simple and yet it seeks to enable the State to set out on the road of self discovery and sustainable development. With the realization that the strength of the state lies in nature based tourism, the policy endeavors to preserve and enrich our natural and cultural heritage while at the same time creating a suitable environment for development of basic infrastructure facilities and services for tourism. The focus is on rural based tourism, by involving the local community as stake holders particularly for security, hospitality services, maintenance and management of infrastructure created in the rural areas. Among other things, the policy seeks to make the State one of the best tourist destinations of the country and to create an environment that will attract outside investment.

2/What new projects of the MTDC are on the anvil?

A-Some of the new projects of Meghalaya Tourism that are on the anvil are

o A Convention Centre at Umiam(Barapani) on the banks of the Umiam lake.
o Cable Car Ropeway project at Cherrapunjee
o Eco Tourism Resort at Chisobibra.
o Rural Tourism project, Sasatgre
o Rural Tourism project, Ialong
o Rural Tourism project, Siju
o Tourist resort, Jakrem hot springs

3/In what way you are packaging your state's tourism so that inbound tourists cannot resist the temptation of touring Meghalaya?

A-Tourism activities in Meghalaya are loosely linked to the seasons of the year

o During October - November we have the Autumn Festival at Shillong , some of the events that can be experienced by tourists in this season (2007) are - World Record Guitar Ensemble, Golf tournament, Affro Reggae , Vintage car rally, Traditional music & dances , Nongkrem dance, trekking from Mawsynram to Laitkynsew via the Living Root Bridges, traditional archery, the colors of Jaintia Hills, monolith festival, waterfall run, Jowai carnival, fishing festival Shella, Hundred Drums Wangala Asanang, Tourism Expo, AHAR exhibition.
o During December - January , tourists can experience - Ethnic Rythms Winter Festival Tura, Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, Village Gibbon Sanctuary Selbalgre, Caving in Jaintia Hills/South Garo Hills, visit to Balpakram National Park, Pitcher Plant sanctuary Baghmara, Bird watching in Siju Sanctuary, trekking to Chitmang, Christmas festivities at Shillong, Jowai and Tura.
o February - April , a good time for cavers to explore caves located at Lumshnong, Siju and other parts of the State. Food festivals, Spring flower shows, Annual pilgrimage to Lumsohpetbneng organized by Seng Khasi Shad Suk Mynsiem (Dance of the joyful heart) , Shad Rongkhlieh in Jaintia Hills,a good time for trekking, adventure sports and ecotourism. Play golf at Shillong in one of the best golf courses in this part of the country.
o May - August , Apphira archery competition at Polo Shillong, Beh Dein Khlam festival at Jowai and Tuber, best time to experience the heavy showers of rainfall and view gushing waterfalls at Sohra(Cherrapunjee) and other places.

4/Do you think that there is some possibility of group study exchange programme in collaboration with other states & private tour operators?

A-The Meghalaya Tourism Officials and Private Tour Operators, Hoteliers and others have been interacting with counterparts from other states as well as other countries, notably West Bengal, Assam, Bangladesh , Thailand, Andhra Pradesh, etc. Through these interactions we have realised that there is tremendous scope for exchange programmes and interactions relating to tourism, trade, industry, arts & culture, etc. We wish to explore this area extensively.

5/Since the Corporation became operational late, how are you now trying to catch up with the lost time?

A-The State of Meghalaya is blessed with natural resources, beautiful scenery, salubrious climate, inherent hospitality of tribal people and vast scope for development of tourism. However, the State lacks tourism related infrastructure. To make up for this shortfall, the Meghalaya Tourism is embarking on an ambitious programme of developing tourism infrastructure based on joint ventures and P-P-P

69,1988 batch IAS officers empanelled

Altogether 69 IAS officers belonging to 1988 batch are believed to have been empanelled to the rank of Joint Secretary in the Government of India. They are Mssrs:-Satya Gopal, Ms Renu Sharma, Dharmendra Sharma and Narendra Kumar (UT), Aramane Giridhar, Ms Poonam Malakondiah, Ms Yerra SriLakshmi, Ms I Rani Kumudini, M Veerabhadraiah, Praveen Kumar Shrivastava and Jishnu Barua (Assam-Meghalaya), Babu Lal Agrawal (Chhattisgarh), Ms S Aparna, Ms Anita Karwal,Arvind Kumar Sharma (Gujarat), Tarun Bajaj (Haryana), Ali Raza Rizvi, Trilok Chandra Janartha and Ram Dass Dhiman (Himachal Pradesh), Sandeep Kumar Nayak,Arun Kumar Mehta(J & K ), Arun Kumar Singh, Alka Tiwari (Jharkhand), Shambhu Dayal Meena, Dr E V Ramanareddy, P N Sreenivasachari, Dr Rajkumari Khatri (Karnataka), T K Jose and Gyanesh Kumar (Kerala), Sanjay Bandopadhyay, I C P Kesari and Praveen Garg (Madhya Pradesh), Apurva Chandra, Nitin N Kareer, Arvind Singh, Ashish Kumar Singh and Dr Sanjay Ambadass Chanade (Maharashtra), Dr Rakesh Sarwal, Dr Rajesh Kumar, K Rajeshwar Rao, S K D Verman and M H Khan (Manipur-Tripura), Parag Gupta, C J Venugopal, S C Patanaik and Pridipta Kumar Mohapatra (Orissa), Satinder Pal Singh , Ms Ravneet Kaur and Dr Roshan Sunkaria (Punjab), Ms Upma Srivastava (Sikkim), Atulya Mishra, Ms D Sabitha, D Jothi Jagarajan (TamilNadu), Alok Kumar I, Dr Rajneesh Dube, Navneet Kumar Sehgal, T Venketesh, Anil Sant, Manoj Kumar Singh, S Radha Chouhan (Uttar Pradesh), Indevar Pandey, M Venketshwar Rao, H K Dwivedi, Laima Chozah, Sunil Kumar Chaturvedi, Sepuri Suresh Kumar (West Bengal), Rajiv Bansal ( Nagaland) and Manjit Singh (Rajasthan).

Milin Naidu to be Vice -Chief of Army !
In all probability Milin Naidu will be new Vice Chief of the Indian Army. He will succeed Deepak Kapoor who is taking over as Army Chief on September 30.

K P Jain to succeed Mukherjee ?
There are indications that K P Jain will succeed D Mukherjee on September 1 as DGP of Tamil Nadu. He is 1971 batch IPS officer.

M L Sharma says "No"
Special Director CBI M L Sharma is believed to have turned down the proposal to become DGP of Rajasthan. Sharma is 1972 batch IPS officer of Rajasthan cadre.

R S Pandey gets additional charge
Secretary Steel R S Pandey has been given additional charge of the Department of Fertilisers for one month. He is 1972 batch IAS officer of Nagaland cadre.

What is the meaning of DEA Communication ?

Left parties are not the only ones to be upset over the allegedly pronounced tilt of the UPA Government towards the United States.Several ministries are said to be resentful of a recent communication from the DEA asking for an update on their compliance in regard to some recommendations of the Indo-US CEO Forum.Officials are wondering whether they should report compliance to American Business Honchos as they are required to do vis-à-vis Parliamentary Committees ,Courts of Law and other statutary bodies.

Akhil Jain is no longer DG Acquisition
Special Secretary in the Defence Ministry Akhil Jain is no longer DG Acquisition. He is 1973 batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre.

Shashi Kant Sharma gets charge of DG Acquisition
Additional Secretary in the Defence Ministry Shashi Kant Sharma has been given additional charge of DG Acquisition. He is 1976 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre.

Reddy selected as Advisor
B Venugopala Reddy has been selected as Advisor to the UNOPS Programme for working with the Government of Afganistan. He is 1994 batch IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre.

Arvind Manjeet Singh to get US posting !
ADG Doordarshan Arvind Manjeet Singh is being tipped to be Correspondent of the Prasar Bharti in Washington. Name of 1983 batch IIS officer Arvind Manjeet Singh is believed to have been recommended by the CEO of the Prasar Bharti.

Veena Birbal to be Judge of Delhi High Court
Grapevine has it that DJ Veena Birbal is being appointed Judge of the Delhi High Court this week.

Stars favour Congress?
Are stars favourable for Congress? Answer to this question is yes if one goes by astrological predictions. Astrologers feel that Congress will be able to lead next Government at the Centre with help of its coalition partners if Lok Sabha polls were held by early next year. Those who have predicted this are Suresh Maharaj(Bombay), JN Katara (Jaipur) & Bharat Bhushan Padam Dev (Delhi).

Will Mahashtra Herald be revived ?
Rumar mill has it that Maharashtra Herald is being revived in Maharashtra .Details can be obtained from the brother of Union Minister Sharad Pawar, Pratap Govind Pawar who runs the media house.

Srinivas is posted in MEA
G V Srinivas, (IFS 93), has been posted as Director in the Europe West Division of MEA in place of Tanmaya Lal (IFS 91) who is going on posting to Bangkok. Srinivas has returned from Budapest.

Avinash Mishra is Principal RC Arunachal Pradesh
Avinash Mishra on his promotion as PCCF has become Principal Resident Commissioner(RC) Arunachal Pradesh in Delhi. He is an IFS officer of 1979 batch.

Mahapatra Director in DEA
A K Mahapatra has joined the Capital Markets Division as Director in Department of Economic Affairs (DEA). Hitherto he was on a study leave for two years at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi. He is an Indian Economic Service (IES) officer of the 1986 batch.

Vivek Nangia is Dy Secretary in UD & PA
Vivek Nangia on deputation has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in Mission Directorate of Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation (UD & PA). He is an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of the 1995 batch. So far he was posted in Rajasthan.

Manjula Subramaniam is first woman CS of Gujarat

Dr Manjula Subramaniam is going to be the first woman Chief Secretary of Gujarat.1972 batch IAS officer Dr Manjula will succeed Sudhir Mankad who is superannuating on August 31.
( We said this on August 1 )

MP CM to address industrialists in Bangalore

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is going address industrial honchos in Bangalore located Taj West End hotel on Thursday(i.e. August 300,2007).This is going to be a prelude to the mega event of "Global Investors Meet" that MP State Industries Corporation(SIDC)in collaboration with the "Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry"(FICCI),is organising on October 26 & 27,2007 in Indore.The Bangalore event is also expected to see active participation by members of the "Bangalore Chamber of Commerce". It may be stated here that earlier Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Couhan had conducted road shows countries of the US & UK. As it is Madhya Pradesh has a near perfect equidistant connectivity to India's metros, and other markets.

FORUM

There should be no bitterness

It is not correct that CSS man is handling the CS Division and therefore the CSSS are suffering. It is also not correct that CSS is jealous of IAS. The CSS is the custodian of records in the Central Ministries/ Departments and, therefore, the IAS, etc. on central deputation have to depend on their knowledge. CSSS helps the IAS in other ways.

I think the argument has now stretched beyond IAS-CSS to CSSS too, which is quite unhealthy. Let's stop it here and extend a hand of friendship. The way IAS can help in promoting the interests of CSS and CSSS, they should do and on the same lines the CSS and CSSS should also end their bitterness.

P Ratnaparkhi

This debate has brought a few issues

The debate about the potential role which CSS and IAS should play in the Central Secretariat has brought out clearly a few issues:
1.Need for restructuring of Central Secretariat with a clear cut role for different services.
2.Citizen orientation of the work procedures and reforms.
3.Capacity building in CSS to enable it to serve more efficiently at policy making levels, particularly at JS and AS levels.
4.Need for a greater percentage of posts to be filled up through matching of Job description and the officer's CV.
5.Reform in promotional systems, particularly for empanelment of JS and AS levels. Probably a mixed panel from all services with clearly defined composition should be prepared every year by an independent agency like UPSC.
6. Every officer or service should have ample and equal chances and scope to reach the top position by his merits alone. The back door power play must end if India has to progress and become a Super Power by 2020.

Dr Chander Dutta

Every service should have a channel for promotion

CSSS is another important service within the Central Secretariat. There is no doubt that this service too face problem of stagnation. Every service in GoI should have a channel of promotion and on a time bound basis. Performance and seniority should be the basis for promotion and not seniority alone. Hope all my colleagues from different service will come forward on this forum to support this view and make an attempt in convincing the decision makers.

Ravi

The biased attitude is visible

While the fact that CSS & CSSS are the two wheels of the government machinery cannot be denied, the biased attitude of CSS towards their CSSS brethren can't have been better summed up 'As you sow, so shall you reap'. This bias can be clearly seen in the website of Personnel Ministry under the head CS Division where the Seniority Lists, Select Lists, Addition to Seniority Lists etc. for CSS cadre from LDCs onwards to Section Officers is up-to-date the same zeal and enthusiasm is lacking towards the officers of CSSS cadre - particularly Private Secretaries. Also when CSS officers compare themselves to an IAS officer by way of intelligence, efficiency and know-all attitude how can they deny the same qualities do not exist in their CSSS counterparts when CSSS officers seek promotions to the posts of US grade or higher on interpolation basis.

Mukesh

CSS and CSSS should be treated in the same way

I agree with the views of Ravi that except that of AIS, there is no time bound promotion in case of other services. The CSS/CSSS officers are supposed to be back-bone of Central Secretariat, so they should also be treated in the same way.

Sunil

UP experiment should be repeated in every state

The experiment of UP of appointing a Cabinet Secretary should be repeated in every state so that all persons can get a chance to preside over the bureaucracy.
Particularly brightest of clerk level or section officer level can be given more weightage.
I think if so many persons are against IAS then they cannot work under an IAS efficiently. So one among themselves should be chosen to man the post of Cabinet Secretary.
This suggestion should be forwarded to the VI Pay commission and Administrative Reforms commission.
I seriously think that it will reform IAS like any thing and it will reform the bureaucracy to a large extent.

Dhruv Sharma

India should have an identical deal with China also

As for the nuclear deal with America India should insist on an identical deal that the US has struck with China . In the China deal there is none of the Hyde Act nonsense. Why doesn't the great national security adviser and his cohorts in the MEA read out the US-China nuclear deal to the press and the electronic media? We have to have an identical deal with America or else we would be placed below China in the American caste system. In fact America right now would be calculating its gains and losses in replacing Congress at the centre by the BJP which is after all, a right wing pro-capitalist party, which is closer to the American Right. The American president will decide when the mid-term polls will be held in india ,not our dear comrades. Condolizza Rice will conduct her dance classes as usual 1,2,3, cha-chacha,1,2,3, cha cha cha. The sardarji proved to be a clumsy dancer and has stepped on his female partners toes. Now she wants to teach him the Tango but he is not agile enough for her. When he does 123 she is already doing 456.Being a sardarji he might do better in 121212 bhangra -style, beychara Manmohan .

D Choudhury

Aaj Ki Aawaz

Kapil Sibal says Humpty Dumpty will not fall!!!
All the Queen's horsemen are working to keep Humpty Dumpty perched on the wall!!

But ultimately Humpty Dumpty will fall and crown will roll!!!
Return of Crown on Humpty Dumpty's head will depend on outcome of next Poll!!

Humpty Dumpty has to fall because he's threatening to count 1,2,3 sitting precariously!!
And one of his pal's who put him on the wall has warned him that he's behaving dangerously!!

This friend wants to sit on the wall himself and feels arithmetic is the basis of capitalism!!
He feels 1,2,3 is Capitalist mathematical opportunism!!!

Writing is on the wall….. Humpty Dumpty has to fall and crown has to roll!!!
For wanting to count 1,2,3 his perch on the wall will be the toll!!

Humpty Dumpty can only delay counting but ultimately will count!!!
Though Humpty Dumpty could try to show the fall was actually a dismount!!!

So in the end in simple words Congress will in due course take next step in 123 Deal!!!
And with withdrawal of support this step Commies will deal!!

What kind of ideology is this???
That the progress Bus India should miss!!

Basically Commie ideology is to keep all except the Politburo in the same rubbish dump!
And for this any attempts to get people out of the dump they have to stump!!!

And Humpty Dumpty should realize that if there is 'no Deal',
All the investments coming to India China will steal!!

So Commies would inflict a dual blow!!!
Cut out progress and capital flow!!!

Right trying to shake hands with Left is not right!!!
Ideology wise they are opposites and this is in black and white!!!

Won't Hyde Act be superseded by the 123 Agreement India and US sign????
India is only bound where agrees where India signs on the dotted line!!

Hyderabad blasts are another reminder that terrorism cannot be wished away!!
And till it's firmly tackled India and Indians will continue to pay!!

Prevention and the stick have to be used!!!
Otherwise not keeping India and Indians as its priority this Sarkaar could be accused!!

Appease Muslims …. educate and improve quality of life!!!
But deal firmly with those who cause in India strife!!

Wanted blotless Congressman to lead Punjab Congress!!!
This ad will appear in newspapers…. and blotless does not mean abs white dress!!

Amrinder has got his whitest of white togs out to stake his claim!!!
Till someone was reminded him of his blots of ill fame!!

But Amrinder says till he's convicted he's blotless and eligible to stake claim!!!
His detractors say that VB's charged him and he's not blotless till he clears his name!!!

Maya's ordered the closing down of Retail Chains!!!
Why is she putting big time retailing in chains????

Is she taking precautions in case there is a snap poll???
When big time retailing comes heads of small retailers are bound to roll!!

Maybe she's been told about the number of heads that have rolled and ready to roll!!
And she feels these heads could affect her prospects if there is a snap poll!!!

Big time retailers create big time displacement...do some retail engineering!!
The worst small time retailers are fearing!!!

As Salman cools his heels in jail his Dad is penning the script back home!!
His pen like his mouth with anger karr raha hai foam!!

As per his analogy Salmaan has not been arrested!!!
Seems as per Papa Salim cops alertness Salmaan tested!!!

He's in Jail because all Hotels in Jodhpur were full!!!
And so to get a decent room with the Judge Salmaan used his pull!!

And Salim says people run over people and go scot-free!!!
His son being drunk at the time of the accident he refuses to see!!

Seems Papa Salim cannot see his son's sins!!!
And on his being a Star the blame he pins!!!

Salmaan should be transferred to Yerwada Jail!!!
And very soon Sanju Baba will join him after cancellation of his interim bail!!

Both can start a gym in jail for their fellow inmates!!
For the rest of their time in jail they can get gyming mates!!

And don't think Salmaan does not have political clout!!!
As he's Ash's ex who is now bahoo of Congress's dushman No. 1 Congress will definitely help him out!!!

Bharat Kumar

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CORPORATE

Powergrid CMD Singh gives final dividend to Sushil Shinde
Dr R P Singh, Chairman cum Managing Director(CMD), "Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd"(PGCIL), is handing over final dividend of Rs.253.82 crore for the year 2006-07 to Indian Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in the presence of Anil Razdan, Secretary(Power). With this the total dividend paid by POWERGRID for the year 2006-07 is Rs.368.82 crore.

Two BHEL Directors to retire
Two Directors of the BHEL S K Jain and A K Mathur are retiring on August 31.

Kamath in Planning Commission
K V Kamath, Chairman, ICICI Bank, has been appointed Member of a 12 member high- level committee on financial sector reforms set up by the Planning Commission.

Ramraj to join Sequoia Capital India
Sify co-founder and CEO R Ramaraj is set to join the Sequoia Capital India of which Managing Director is K P Balaraj. The former will be joining as Senior Advisor. He is already on the board of several Sequoia Capital India partner companies including Minglebox, DSN, Apnaloan and Guruji.

Chatterjee is VP
Nikshil Chatterjee has been appointed as vice president, product development and customer relations, for Pest Control of India (PCI).