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INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK

The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) Managing Director Tarun Shridhar is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that Himachal Pradesh becomes the hot & much sought after tourist destination all through the year. While talking to <whispersinthecorridors.com> he disclosed "we propose to promote eco-tourism in a big way. In fact the heritage properties managed by HPTDC have been completely restored and can compete with the best in business".

Tarun Shridhar is totally dedicated for the cause of Tourism in Himachal Pradesh. "The expansion efforts are focused on hitherto unexplored areas. We are very aggressively promoting rural / farm / orchard tourism," said Shridhar adding that all steps were being taken to protect Ecological balance & biodiversity in the state. Several rural home stays have been attached with the HPTDC as its franchisees .In his following interview Tarun Shridhar also said "Our USP is budget tourism and it would not be an exaggeration to claim that HPTDC is the best in this business."

1/ What added attractions are there to woo tourists in Himachal Pradesh?

Himachal has emerged as a preferred destination for adventure and leisure tourism. We are continuously striving to give value added services and experience to the tourists. Cultural pageants, food festivals etc. have become a regular feature during the peak tourist seasons. Unique events such as mountain biking, adventure races, Para-gliding, Himalayan run, apple festival etc. are the recently added attractions. With the annual growth above 15%, these multiple strategies seem to be working well. We propose to promote eco-tourism in a big way.

2/ How are you able to sustain inflow of tourists, particularly during summers?

Summer is the peak tourist season for us, and we are fortunate that our state is such a well established tourist destination that we have to make little efforts to sustain inflow of tourist arrivals during summer. Our focus during this period is to provide a pleasant and hassle free stay to the tourists. Our promotion and marketing strategy concentrates on reinforcing the unparalleled scenic beauty of the state coupled with its social stability and the reputation of Himachal as a safe and peaceful state.

3/ Will you please tell us regarding expansion plans of HP Tourism Development Corporation Ltd.?

HP Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) has a network of 60 hotels and resorts and 11 stand alone restaurants and cafes, all located in the most scenic locations of the state. While we are gradual in expanding the number of properties, the emphasis is on proper maintenance and upkeep. We have made substantial investment in repair, renovation and restoration of all our properties. In fact the heritage properties managed by HPTDC have been completely restored and can compete with the best in business. The expansion efforts are focused on hitherto unexplored areas.

4/ Nowadays stress is on village tourism & setting up of budget hotels. What is your esteemed corporation doing in that direction?

We are very aggressively promoting rural / farm / orchard tourism. Several rural home stays have been attached with the HPTDC as its franchisees. We do their entire marketing. The home owners are also given basic training in tourism and hospitality management. The scheme is slowly gaining popularity and besides tourism promotion, it would give tremendous boost to rural economy. We have also attached several private budget hotels with us for increasing our room capacity. Our USP is budget tourism and it would not be an exaggeration to claim that HPTDC is the best in this business.

5/ What type of innovative approach are you adopting to ensure regular flow of inbound tourists to Himachal Pradesh through out the year?

We have been positioning Himachal as a destination for all seasons and for all reasons. Our unique strength is the five distinct seasons, each offering its own experience. We have been offering attractive packages to senior citizens' students, corporates, besides honeymoon couples, herbal trail, devi darshan, adventure packages etc. We have been reasonably successful in breaking the seasonality factor which is a strong influence on tourism industry.

6/ What steps have been taken by your corporation to safeguard Ecology of your state?

We are extremely conscious that ecology and the rich bio-diversity is our core strength. We must guard it zealously to promote sustainable tourism. All our tourism promotion and development strategies underline this belief. Our Tourism Policy advocates development of responsible tourism i.e. tourism that protects and nurtures the rich environment of the state. Eco-tourism is going to be a major thrust area in future.

Why did Brijesh Mishra meet Ahmad Patel ?

Why did Brijesh Mishra meet Political Advisor to Sonia Gandhi,Ahmad Patel?.Only the two can tell about the meeting.

Mishra to retire this month
Secretary Defence Finance B K Mishra is retiring by this month end.

Mishra and Agrawal in US
Secretary Personnel Satyanand Mishra and Secretary Education R P Agrawal are Currently in Harward to attend a training programme. They are expected to return around June 25.

Name of Sharma floated
India has floated the candidature of Kamalesh Sharma, currently Indian High Commissioner to the UK, for the post of Secretary-General of the 53-nation Commonwealth.

Mukherjee to succeed Sharma
Indian Ambassador in Nepal, Shiv Shanker Mukherjee, is in the reckoning for succeeding Sharma in London as Indian High Commissioner.

Attre to be Member of Chhattisgarh PSC ?
S C Attre is likely to be appointed Member of the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission. He is 1981 batch IPS officer.

Chamber takes over as PS Home in UP
Jagan Nath Chamber who is back from central deputation has taken over as Principal Secretary Home in Uttar Pradesh. He is 1980 batch IAS officer.

Ratudi is Intelligence Chief Uttarakhand
Anil Kumar Ratudi is new IG Intelligence Uttarakhand.He is 1987 batch IPS officer.

IAS reshuffle in Himachal Pradesh
There is major IAS reshuffle in Himachal Pradesh.New postings are :-Mssrs albir Tegta, MD principal secretary to the Chief Minister, Subhash Ahluwalia MD Tourism Development Corporation,Parminder Mathur, additional chief secretary, food and supplies and consumer affairs additional charge of Industries and FC (Appeals),Avay Shukla, principal secretary (Transport and Tourism) additional charge of Cooperatives, Prem Kumar principal secretary (Revenue and R and R),Tarun Shridhar secretary (TCP) with additional charge of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries,S.K. Baldi, MD, Himachal Power Corporation,Anil Khachi director, Industries. A.J.V. Prasad, awaiting posting has been appointed as the divisional commissioner, Shimla. R.D. Dhiman member (administration), HPSEB. T.C. Janartha, MD MD, HRTC,B.S. Nainta MD, HP State Civil Supplies Corporation,Kashmir Chand MD, General Industries Corporation,Ajai Bhandari MD, HP Financial Corporation,Rakesh kushal, director, director, Urban Development, T.D. Negi, registrar, Cooperative Societies,Bharat Khera director, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj,Anita Tegta MD, HP State Cooperative Bank,B.K. Verma labour commissioner-cum-director of employment,Rajneesh additional director, Industries, Devesh Kumar commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Shimla, ushpender Rajput DC, Chamba,R. Selvan DC, Hamirpur,Abhishek Jain DC, Kullu,Sudha Devi DC, Kinnaur,Shekhar Gupta, commissioner DC, Una. Mohan Chauhan,DC, Solan,Rajinder Thakur DC, Bilaspur,Amar Singh Rathore DC, Lahaul Spiti and MadanChauhan Additional, Secretary Health.

IRPS appointments
Thirty Four Group B IRPS officers have been appointed to Group A service.

Gudgaon to have Police Commissioner
There is a move to appoint an IG rank officer as Police Commissioner of Gudgaon..

Ganapathy is back from CBI

M A Ganapathy is back to the parent Uttarakhand cadre from CBI after completion of central deputation tenure. He is 1986 batch IPS officer.

Pradip Kumar is Ad hoc Bureau Chief of NBT
Senior journalist Pradip Kumar is believed to have been appointed Ad hoc bureau chief of the Nav Bharat Times in Delhi.

Thind re-instated

Himachal Pradesh Government has re-instated suspended ADG B S Thind. He is 1974 batch IPS officer.

Vinod Sharma to start Good Morning India
Sudhir Saxena is reported to have joined as Editor of the Good Morning India to be launched by Haryana based politician Vinod Sharma.

Who will be SP Traffic Chandigarh ?
Who will be new SP Traffic Chandigarh ?.Names of 1999 batch IPS officer Rajshri Singh,1998 batch IPS officer Sukh Dev Singh ,Rajendra Kumar and 1994 batch IPS officers Sat Prakash Ranga and Rakesh Kumar are doing the round.

Shah Rukh Khan's unending ordeal

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan has been running from pillar to post for permission of a House that was gifted to him in Dubai, more than two years back. The gifted house is located in "Palm Jumerai" (the man made island created on 74 square kilometers).Interestingly there are thousands of Resident Indians who in violation of law own palatial houses, Vilas & flats cost which varies from Rs.20000 per square foot (Sft) to Rs.10 lakh per Sft.He has knocked on doors of Indian Finance Ministry, Home Ministry, Urban Development Ministry & Reserve Bank of India.

Rakesh Kumar is Commissioner Customs
Rakesh Kumar has joined as Customs Commissioner in Visakhapatnam. He is 1975 batch IRS officer Two 2005 batch IRS officers Suja and Mani Maran have been posted as Assistant Commissioners of Customs.

Delhi Okays Rs.225 Crore for Arunachal Pradesh CM
The Indian Government has given its green signal for paying Rs.225 crore as upfront money to Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu who is making all efforts for growth of the State. This amount will be paid by National Hydel Power Corporation (NHPC) in lieu of 12 per cent free power that Arunachal Pradesh would have received against power projects that the NHPC is going to set up in Arunachal Pradesh. The amount was cleared by Indian Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu is going to use this money mainly for resuscitate the Apex Bank which is at present in comatose condition. These project are to supposed be ready by the year 2011.

A commendable achievement of IRS
1970 & 1971 batch CCITs are completing 36/37years of great journey of Income Tax collection from Rs 500 crores (1971) to Rs 228000 crores (2006-07) which is 456times. Really commendable achievement in history of civil services.

Sudhir Kumar to move Madrid
Sudhir Kumar Director (E&SA) is moving to Madrid in place of K J Srinivasa.

Thomas to go to Male
P M Thomas First Secretary in Kuwait has been shifted to Male in place
of Vinod Fonia. He is moving to the MEA Hqs..

Jasbir Singh is back to Punjab
Citco MD Jasbir Singh is back to the Parent Punjab cadre.

FORUM

Clarification of the Administrative Reforms Commission

1. M Veerappa Moily is the Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission and not the Chairman of the Finance Commission.

2. It is a fact that the ARC has circulated a Questionnaire regarding the issues relating to possible service reforms. The Questionnaire is available on the website arc.gov.in

3. In the Questionnaire the ARC, among other issues, has sought views on "Incentives for better performance" and one of the question posed is "Will the existing compensation package suffice if we seek to promote competition, excellence and lateral entry in key positions?"

4. The Commission has also sought views on mechanism for retirement to weed out the non performers.
However, what has been reported in the "whisper in corridors" is not factually correct. It may also be noted that what has been expressed in the Questionnnaire are not necessarily the views of the Chairman or the Commission. The Commission is in the process of deliberations on these issues. The inferences drawn by you need review.

Administrative Reforms Commission

CGHS debate in interesting
The debate on CGHS is interesting. One issue that needs to be look immediately by the health ministry and the CGHS authorities is with regard to reimbursement of medical expenses. The pensioners has first to inquire the expenditure thereafter submit the bills for reimbursement. This takes months. The pensioners has to waste a lot of time and energy with the CGHS staff who are overworked and under staff. The pensioners need reimbursement quickly but the payment is delayed causing them financial and mental hardship.
Further it is strange that institutions like PGI at Chandigarh do not allow the central government officers and pensioners the same facility as it allows to the state government employees of Punjab, Haryana and UT. This is all the more surprising when PGI is being controlled by the Health Ministry of Government of India and funds come from GoI whereas the State Governments are defaulters with regard to their payments. The PGI should be made to accept CGHS cards and claim the money directly from the Government. This will put an end to the wasteful expenditure incurred by the government for reimbursement. This will become a relief to the pensioners of the state government.

Kumar

CGHS should be abolished

I totally agree that CGHS should be abolished and a new insurance scheme should be introduced. However, the CGHS is a strong lobby which does not allow changes. There was one Minister in the NDA government who endeavoured to bring about changes in CGHS by taking a concerted stand to ensure timely and quality medicines in CGHS dispensaries. Unfortunately so much was the opposition that the Minister had to leave ignominiously and his personal staff had to even face trumped up enquiries. Fortunately the enquiries absolved the personal staff.

Quality of service provided by CGHS to Ministers, VIPs is absolutely top grade. Recently, Chief justice of a high court was provided dental chair worth Rs. 10 lakh, for his daily dental work. It is for mere mortals, whose salary is deducted for all these amenities, who are not provided any service by CGHS. The Govt. is from the people and not for the people.

P Kumar

Civilian officer of GREF wearing the stars of a General of the Army on his epaulettes must indeed be crazy but at the same time the DGBR calling it an act of mutiny is no less. The real issue which is being lost sight of is that there is a vexing problem of protocol and equation within almost every civilian organisation under the MoD and ironically even within the hallowed
precincts of the MoD in South block where Services HQs (particularly Army HQs) are often seen devoting lot of time on such issues and the changes to be brought about in the WOP only to upgrade their ranks vis-a-vis the civilian bureaucracy. At one time Army HQs had even objected to the "similarity" between their rank signs and the civil police. Their concerns may be genuine to an extent but using terms such as mutiny is perhaps meant not so much to sensitise the civilians about sanctity of Army ranks as to sensationalise the issue beyond reasonable proportions. While dealing with Er. Lall as per rules MoD must also address itself to the vexed problem of humiliation perceived by other civilian organisations under the MoD, such as the Defence Accounts, Defence Estates, Ordnance Factories etc. as there is massive discontent simmering amongst these cadres against what they consider to be big brotherly and at times even bullying attitude of the Army officers with whom they interact.

N N Ojha

Other service people do the work

I fully agree with Dr.Dr P V Thomas. The people in other service do the work and the IAS by virtue of their position use the work done by others and take credit. Has any IAS officer spent any time with the people in the remote areas understanding their problem and done any work in inaccesible area.
Upasana Mishra

Can you give me name of an IAS officer ?
Kindly give me name and address of IAS officer who works sometimes, for 24hrs a day. I would like to meet him on my own expenditure. I couldn't meet any in my 14 yrs of police career.
Prabhat Kumar

I am available for Rashtrapati Bhawan
If no right candidate to live in Rashtrapati Bhawan, I am ready to offer my services.
Alka Pathak

Aaj Ki Aawaz

Chalo not the bride but at least he's become the bridesmaid,
Karan Singh is trying to placate the Commies on the objections they've made!!!

If they have to accept a UPA candidate Commies would prefer Pranab Da,
To Shivraj they are saying na!!!

They feel Shivraj apart form being a Sonia loyalist has nothing else to show!!
As HM he scored very low!!!

Looking at the political uncertainty Sonia would like her yes man to win,
After all now it's a possibility that in 2009 elections Public may put Congress in the bin!!

And I'm sure all would agree a yes man would be bad for Democracy!!
It'll be more like Congress's autocracy!!!

Also what will happen if UPA's candidate does not win???
Just thinking of this makes NDA grin!!!

Because then mid term polls would be the order of the day!!
And there's every chance that Aam Aadmi Congress ko karr saktha hai waylay!!!

SP and Amma are not prepared for a general election… so what will they do???
May just ask their MPs before voting commences to rush to the loo!!!!

Or maybe their MPs will vote for UPA's candidate… save Party from electoral doom,
Show support for Shekawat and vote for UPA's candidate….. possibility karti hai loom!

Vote for our candidate or you could be facing the voter will be UPA's line!!!
UPA's USP....if UPA's candidate looses then facing the Voter will be the fine!!!

Big B's land matter is getting murkier by the day!!!
Amitabh son of Harivansh is incomplete and in Allahabad he does not stay!!!

Gave incomplete name and wrong address!!!
For registration of FIR UP Government karr rahi hai rightly press!!!

He's now a fallen star…… Icon misused his connections!!!
And now there will be quite a few disconnections!!

He'll be disconnected form Barabanki and Pune land… Jaya too will face the same fate,
Expelled from Rajya Sabha ……she's going to be shown the gate!!!

And now Amar is just a helpless bystander …. Mulayam couldn't care less!!
Fact is because of his own doings Big B is in a real mess!!!

Shouldn't Punjab try to emulate Gujrat on tackling depleting water table!!!
Punjab Government has to do something to make the water table stable!!!

And Centre should accede to Punjab Government's demand….. special package!!!
To stem exit and to attract Industry the incentive package Punjab has to repackage!!

Using MPLAD funds in some other State is wrong… but Pawan Bansal does not feel so,
But to his own constituency why did he say no????

This State cross border sanction of MPLAD funds is akin to misuse,
For his or her own constituency this fund MPs must use!!!

Bansal has to realize that he cannot play the Sonia card and get away!!
If he wants to do charity work in some other State from his own pocket he should pay!!

Gurjar problem is still simmering….short-changed is how they feel!!!
Feel they've got a raw deal!!!

Raje better get into the act,
And try to handle the situation with tact!!!

And there are couple of other places that now caste wars are simmering…. act fast!!!
Or India could literally put by caste wars in a cast!!!

The rising Rupee is leaving broken businesses in its trail,
Because of rising Rupee many bushiness ho rahe hai fail!!!

Why can't RBI keep the level at 43… too much speculative money has come in of late??
Take out the speculative inflows to deduce the factual rate!!!

Profits of FII accruing in India need to be taxed here… on this India needs to think!!!
This tax break to FII's has not started to stink!!!

Countries protect their future generation from the onslaught of vices!!!
And its seen in Countries where this is not done both youth and Country pay the prices!!

In USA shopkeepers ask the younger lot ID proof for selling them booze!!!
Laws are strict and so is enforcement and not like here…. loose!!

In Singapore kids is school uniforms are banned in gaming arcades…to prevent bunking!!!
India in protecting its next generation is flunking!!

In UK unless you are of age you cannot even sit in the Pub with your Dad,
They'll ask for ID proof if they feel you look like a lad!!!

In India like surrogate ads they've found surrogate ways to lure kids into the vice trap!!!
Hookah Cafes …to convert and habituate youngsters to smoking these Cafes entrap!!!

In the garb of fruit flavored Hookahs they make kids into puffers,
Both youth and the Nation suffers!!!

Don't let the Generation Next waste away,
For wasting away ultimately the Nation has to pay!!!

Bharat Kumar
Aaj_ki_aawaz@yahoo.com

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CORPORATE

Batra is Vice President
Mohit Batra has taken over Vice President of Motilal Oswal Financial Services

Anubhav Sinha signed by Moser Baer

Moser Baer of which CEO for Entertainment segment is Harish Dayani has signed with film maker Anubhav Sinha for 12 films. The company which is going to invest a huge amount in next three years has acquired home video rights to 7,000 movies. Anthony D'Souza and Priyadarshan are among other directors with whom it had signed.

Sanjeev Kumar Jt MD PVR

Sanjeev Kumar has been promoted as Joint Managing Director (MD) of PVR Ltd.So far he was Executive Director(ED) in the same company.

Bhandari is GM PNB West Bengal Zone
S S Bhandari has taken over as the General Manager of Punjab National Bank, West Bengal zone.

Malvinder Singh is Chairman

Malvinder Mohan Singh has been appointed Chairman of the Ranbaxy-promoted Fortis Healthcare.

Kapur is Bacardi India head
Jayant Kapur has been appointed as the Chairman of the board of directors of Bacardi-Martini India. Ltd..

SBI to open branch in Israel
The State Bank of India (SBI) is setting up foreign bank Israel's diamond exchange.