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It is generally said and believed that ones achievement is always the virtual culmination of ones dreams. Dr. R.C. Tiwari, the Chairman cum Managing Director of The Jute Corporation of India Limited, who had dreamt that consistency in the performance of the Public Sector is necessary to meet future global challenges, eventually emerged as a great philanthropist. He joined the Corporation in April 2005 on accomplishment of quite a brilliant Academic career of M.Sc., LLB (Hons), MBA and Ph.D. His thesis on "Impact of Globalization on Productivity in Public Sector Enterprises and its Future Implications" had received nation-wide accolade. His study on Public Sector Enterprises suggests that their restructuring is necessary to face future challenges and to discharge a number of socio-economic obligations with internal resource generation for finance plan, contribution to public exchequer foreign exchange earning and to generate surplus with improved technology.

In an exclusive interview to <whispersinthecorridors.com>
Dr. Tiwari has spoken in broad details how he proposes to go about the job of implementing Functional and Financial Restructuring of JCI to make it a financially sound organization.

1/ How do you think your study could help in resurrecting a unit from a state of decline?

A. You see, what had started as a study of sorts, became a conviction eventually. We have implemented a revival plan for the revival of the textile mills of NTC (MP) and now with the additional charge as MD, NTC (WBABO), we are well in the process of modernizing Aarti Cotton Mills, Kolkata with a financial budget layout of Rs. 40 crore.

2/ What are the short term and long term strategies that you are planning for JCI?

A. It really had been a challenge for us and we have turned a fresh leaf in the working ethics of JCI by implementing Functional and Financial Restructuring Plan of JCI approved by the Government of India to make it a financially sound Corporation to play a proactive role by conducting Commercial Operations to ensure fair remunerative price to jute growers. JCI is also working as a Nodal Agency to conduct Minimum Support Price operation, i.e., purchase raw jute in the MSP price declared by the Government of India every year. Whenever there is a downward trend in raw jute prices and it falls below MSP, JCI undertakes MSP operations through its 171 purchase centres along with 80 purchase centres of state level Co-operative Societies to provide MSP to jute growers. The Commercial Operations thus undertaken by the Corporation has also helped in arresting the downward trend in jute prices, especially in jute harvesting months, and in the process jute growers are able to realize good price for their raw jute.

3/ How long has JCI been in existence?

A. The Jute Corporation of India Ltd., was established and christened in the year 1971 under the Company Law by the Government of India. The Corporation today commands 171 Departmental Purchase Centres and 16 Regional Offices in all the 7 Jute Growing States viz, West Bengal,Assam, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh,Orissa,Meghalaya,and Tripura.
The Head Quarter is in Kolkata.

4/ How did you arrange your order of priority?

A. Prior to the Financial Year 2005-2006, JCI had been conducting MSP operations in cycle of 3 to 4 years, based on demand-supply situations. However, from 2005-2006 onwards we have started the Commercial Operations of the Corporation to gainfully utilize its infrastructure maintained for MSP operations. Through dedicated efforts JCI has generated about Rs. 12 crore towards its overhead cost. The Corporation has, therefore, become financially sound and able to generate profit

5/ What are the spasmodic plans for the Corporation in the immediate future?

A. Yes, indeed! The Corporation has further plans to go "Contract Farming" wherein, jute growers will be extended finance by the Nationalized Banks under buy back guarantee to be provided by JCI. This will help the jute growers in a big way to avoid exploitation by unscrupulous middlemen. As a part of the future plan, JCI will also play an important role as Nodal Agency in implementing the scheme of Mini Mission - III of the Jute Technology Mission for development of marketing infrastructure in jute growing states

6/ Could you please throw some light on the very concept of the Jute Technology Mission ?

A. Under Mini Mission - III of the Jute Technology Mission and with a budget layout of Rs. 38 crore, JCI will develop 10 Marketing Yards, 20 Departmental Purchase Centres, 50 Retting Tanks and other facilities. The objective of the scheme is to conjure up improved marketing infrastructure of raw jute. JCI today is conducting demonstrations of new techniques of jute retting to improve the quality of raw jute and thereby helping the jute growers to increase their income with better quality of jute. The Corporation further supplements in distribution of certified jute seeds for the benefit of jute growers

7/Q. What is the present scenario of raw jute and how do you plan to promote its use?

A. Raw jute is a natural fibre which is extremely eco-friendly. Jute plant is grown mainly in the eastern part of the country with West Bengal alone accounting for 65%of the total followed by Bihar contributing 13%, Assam with 12%, Andhra Pradesh with 5%, Orissa with 3% and the balance 2% contribution coming from Meghalaya and Tripura. The Government of India has enacted Jute Packaging Materials Act to make use of jute bags compulsory for packaging of food grain and sugar. This has been done with the objective to promote the use of jute as packaging material as jute is a natural fibre and environment friendly. By virtue of the different measures taken by Govt. of India, interest of more than 40 million jute growers and 2 lakh workers of the country is protected.

8/ What are the initiatives being taken by the Ministry of Textiles?

A. I am, indeed, grateful to the Ministry of Textiles for having taken new initiative towards the jute sector for approval of functional and financial restructuring of JCI to make it a financially sound organisation to work more effectively for the interest of jute growers. The Government has approved a Jute Technology Mission with a budget layout of Rs. 355 crore and JCI has been given the responsibility to implement the same in the next 5 years in its capacity as a Nodal Agency. The Technology Mission again gestates the following 4 mini missions:1. Towards R&D on Agriculture.2. Towards Improvement in the Quantity ofProduction.3. Towards Up-gradation of market linkageof Raw Jute.4. Towards Modernization and Up-gradation of Jute Technology, to augment Diversification of Jute Products.

9/ At the Jute Corporation of India (JCI) how the mechanism of Minimum Support Price functions?

A. The GoI declares Minimum Support Price(MSP) for raw jute every year. JCI has been appointed as the Nodal Agency to conduct MSP Operation as and when raw jute prices fall below the Minimum Support Prices. It is necessary to provide support to the jute growers during such period when there is no other takers of raw jute in the market. JCI through its 171 Departmental Purchase Centres (DPC) and 16 Regional Offices in 7 jute growing States, viz., West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh Tripura and Meghalay, with headquarters at Kolkata undertakes MSP Operation. 80 State Co-operative Societies also work as agent of JCI to conduct MSP Operation so that maximum quantity of raw jute can be purchased from the jute growers.

10/ Is JCI going to extend any market support to the farmers other than procurement centres?

A. 171 DPCs of JCI are in the villages and they provide all the necessary support to the jute growers at the centres. JCI also conducts demonstration camps to demonstrate new retting techniques of raw jute to improve its quality and in turn add income to the jute growers. JCI also provides necessary information regarding ruling market prices to the jute growers and also maintains BIS standard of different grades of raw jute which helps in marketing of raw jute.

11/.What steps have been taken to augment jute yield and adding value to jute?

A. JCI has also started distribution of certified jute seed from the year 2005-06 through its DPCs which helps jute growers in getting certified jute seed at a reasonable price as also in increasing yield and quality of raw jute. JCI also disseminates knowledge to jute growers in respect of jute quality and improvement in yield through better techniques which are being developed by various institutes working in the field.

12/ What will be the share of jute from India in the global market by the year 2010?

A. Raw Jute is mainly grown in India and Bangladesh. The consumption of raw jute is more in India as compared to Bangladesh because of concentration of most of the jute mills in and around Kolkata. As far as quality of raw jute is concerned, Bangladesh produces better quality compared to that of India owing to availability of more floating water for retting of raw jute. Therefore, India is importer of good quality raw jute. Therefore the Govt. of India has announced National Jute Policy 2005 and also approved Jute Technology Mission with lay out of Rs.355 crore wherein various measures have been suggested to increase productivity of good quality of raw jute and modernization of jute mills. Modern jute mills are producing diversified raw jute products which are being mainly exported in addition to other jute products. The Govt. of India has kept a target for increase in export from the existing Rs.1000 crore to Rs.5,000 crore by 2010. Our present share in export market is only about 10% which is gradually increasing by taking various measures stated above.

13/Do you think that the JCI has been established as quality leader in raw jute?

A. JCI maintains the BIS quality standard during purchase and grading of raw jute. It is normally expected in the market that the quality of raw jute being supplied by JCI is one grade higher than that of the private trader raw jute. JCI started its commercial purchase Operation from the year 2005-06 and maintained quality standard which has established that it is the leader in supplying quality raw jute to the jute mills.

Q. The Govt. of India has given you an additional charge of CMD, NJMC in October, 2006. What are your achievements and plans for NJMC?

A. NJMC has six jute mills - 5 in West Bengal and 1 in Bihar. Production of these jute mills have been stopped since 2003. Since then idle wages were being paid to the workers. The Cabinet had approved a proposal of Rs. 978 crore in March 2005 to provide VRS to all the workers of NJMC and also revival of two jute mills. Implementation of the same was since then pending. The undersigned after taking over the charge has taken up the matter on priority and resolved all the issued. NJMC relieved about 15,000 workers under VRS in the month of January, 2007. With implementation of this, NJMC has saved about Rs.8 crore p.m. towards idle wages and salary and at the same time the workers are now getting their all dues including pending gratuity, PF, ESI and VRS benefit. This has improved the image of NJMC in Bihar and West Bengal who have taken care of the workers and paid their dues. Other issues regarding revival of jute mills will now be taken up.

US zeros on 3 potential PMs in India

Authorities in the US are learnt to have zeroed down on three incumbents as probable Prime Ministers of India. They are Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Indian Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav and leftist leader Prakash Karat. This has even been communicated to corporate houses of America for their reference.

Priyanka Gandhi Wadhera not to join active politics

Mrs. Priyanka Gandhi Wadhera has no plans to enter active politics in near future. Ensuing polls to Uttar Pradesh Assembly would show that she has almost no interest in joining active politics.

Buta Singh to be Chairman

Former Bihar Governor Buta Singh is likely to be appointed Chairman of the SC&ST Commission.The post has fallen vacant following the demise of Suraj Bhan.

Lavish bash by Ms.Renuka Chowdhury

A lavish party was thrown by Ms.Renuka Chowdhury Indian Minister for Women & Child Development on Women,s day with choicest of liquor.at her official bungalow.Who is who of the top brass attended the party.Will other Indian Ministers like to learn a lesson from her?Also,it is being debated that who had foot in the bill? .

Will Vishwa Ranjan be DGP of Chhattisgarh ?

There is a serious thinking in the Chhattisgarh Government to recall 1973 batch IPS officer Vishwa Ranjan to post him DGP. Vishwa Ranjan is currently on deputation to the IB.

Cold war is on

Cold war is going on between Ministry of Agro and Rural Industries and Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) since its dissolution and reconstitution?.

Naveen Saxena to move Panama

Naveen Saxena US (Admn) in MEA is likely to move to Indian Embassy in Panama by the end of March. He will be replaced by Satender Kumar from Colombo.

Minister asks for repatriation of IAS officer

A senior Union Minister has asked for the repatriation of Joint Secretary Child and Women Welfare Chaman Kumar. Chaman Kumar is 1978 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre.

Law Minister's plea

Indian Law Minister Hans Raj Bhardwaj is for a greater transparency in the national judicial system. In a recent communiqué to top brass of the judiciary he has urged that trials in suits pertaining to public interest including PILs should be telecast live.

IT officials' zeal

Sleuths o Income Tax (IT) in their zeal to achieve targets, have started writing to banks particularly in, metros to freeze accounts of corporates. As it is a fortnight is left for the current financial year's closing.

IT Tribunal handicapped for a long time

The four members Income Tax tribunal has remained handicapped because file relating to proposal for appointments has been gathering dust in the Law Ministry for the last one year. Why such a delay despite vacancies being there for the last two years? Only authorities in the Law Ministry can answer this question.

Jain is back to Rajasthan

IG BSF Ganganagar Sector S N Jain is back to the parent Rajasthan cadre after completion of deputation tenure. He is 1980 batch IPS officer. K R Meena of the West Bengal cadre is likely to succeed him.

Jaya Kumar to return Kerala

Joint Secretary Culture K Jaya Kumar is returning to the parent Kerala cadre next month after completion of central deputation tenure. He is 1978 batch IAS officer.

Book of Aruna Sharma a big hit

The book 'Resource Convergence Mantra' written by Ms Aruna Sharma, IAS, MP 1982 batch has completely sold out and has trigerred the need of convergence of planning. The book focused on need for paradigm shift at district level planning from Planning for Schemes to Planning for activities. The model is now widely acclaimed at all quarters.

The authour is now working to bring out another revised edition. This edition will have specific chapters which NGOs can get it translated in local regional languages for wider use amoung field level workers as well.

This book is landmark to work out methodology that the resources of government and private sector; targeted to enable the disadvantaged to catchup with the fast growing and developing India work in synergy for optimum results.

ADRM,s changes

About half a dozen ADRM,s have been transferred. Anil Kumar has been moved from Asansol to Kapurthala Rail Coach Factory.Rajnish Arora has been shifted from Sambhalpur to East Coast Railway.Shubharansha will go from Nagpur to Southern Railway.D Govind Kumar has been transferred from Mysore to South West Railway and Manoj Joshi will move from Nagpur to Diesel Modernisation Workshop Patiala.

IT sleuths further baffled

Sleuteths of the Income Tax department(IT) are further baffled in the Hasan Ali Khan case.In his first statement to IT sleuths registered in Mumbai located Scindia House on Thursday before Deputy Commissioner(Investigation)has claimed that the accounts and transactions in Swiss bank accounts do not belong to him.

DD to cover Rahul Gandhi's road show

With the announcement of Rahul Gandhi leading Congress campaign in Uttar Pradesh becoming official,there are many in the party who are more than happy.The Doordarshan is positioning an OB van to cover Rahul Gandhi's road show in Western UP for forthcoming Assembly polls.

Is NCP distancing from Congress?

Indian Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar led Nationalist Congress Party(NCP) and Shiv Sena had joined for polls to the post of Mayor in Pune.This is the maiden pointer to NCP distancing itself from the Congress.As it is the NCP has been quiTe perturbed over suicides by more than 1000 farmers in Vidarbha region.It becomes more worrying factor because NCP Supremo is the Agriculture Minister in Delhi.

Twenty five officers to be transferred in UP

The Election Commission(EC) has prepared a list of more than 25 senior officers who will be shifted soon in Uttar Pradesh.The list has been drawn keeping in mind ensuing UP Assembly polls.

At last Khajuraho temples saved

It is a good news for all art and archaeology lovers,as Airports Authority of India(AAI) has decided that flights of Indian Airlines will not fly over world famous temples in Khajuraho(Madhya Pradesh).Threat to life of temples in Khajuraho was for the first time taken up actively by the Archaeological Survey of India(ASI)in 1990s'.Khajuraho temples are globally famous for erotica.

New post of Principal Commissioner (Commonwealth Games)

With the Indian Government having given green signal to create a temporary post of Principal Commissioner (Commonwealth Games) in DDA,hunt has begun for a suitable candidate.The incumbent will be there on the temporary post for a maximum period of five years, but not extending beyond three months after completion of the Games.The decision stems from the fact that Commonwealth Games in New Delhi will be held in year 2010.

IAS changes in Punjab

A R Talwar will be new Principal Secretary Health.Arun Goyal has been appointed Secretary Housing and Urban Development.Som Prakash has been made Administrator of the PUDA.

Resignation of Bua Singh accepted

Resignation of UP DGP Bua Singh has been accepted.1973 batch IPS officer Bua Singh had sought retirement.
( We said this on March 14)

G L Sharma is new DGP of UP

G L Sharma has been appointed new DGP of Uttar Pradesh. He is 1972 batch IPS officer.
( We said this on March 14)

Retirement age of University teachers raised

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for enhancing the age of superannuation for teaching positions in Centrally Funded Educational Institutions under the Ministry of Human Resource Development from 62 to 65 years of age, with provision for re-employment beyond 65 years and upto 70 years of age against sanctioned vacancies if they are not filled up by regular candidates, after screening under the UGC Guidelines at the age of 65 years.
( We said this in January )

IAS changes in Uttar Pradesh

K. Chandramauli has been appointed Principal Secretary, Home. J.S. Deepak has been appointed Divisional Commissioner, Meerut. Chandrabhanu and Madhukar Dwivedi have been made District Magistrates of Etah and Saharanpur districts.

IPS changes in UP

Atul has been appointed new Additional Director-General (Law and Order), Javeed Ahmad will be the new IGP of Kanpur zone. Rajeev Krishan, SSP, Lucknow, has been sent to Meerut in the same capacity.

Bhadoria is Member Chhattisgarh PSC

Retired Engineer-in-Chief N S Bhadoria has been appointed Member of the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission.

FORUM

(The views expressed in this column are necessarily of their respective contributors. We do not own any responsibility, whatsoever, about these contributions).

Retirement age should not be fixed

The retirement should never be fixed for anyone for any profession. A person should be let to work till he/she is capable to carryon their work efficiently without any hinderence.
R Vijayraghavan

Raise in retirement age is foolish decision

This is a very foolish decision. This will mar chances of young ones.
Balbir Singh

It will be counter productive

It will be counter productive if the age of retirement at least of the top level functionaries in the government is increased under a blanket cover. The experience indicates that the officers who are on the verge of retirement are only interested in last minute promotion, if any; assignments (irrespective of any level)at home and abroad. They just switch off and put in negative contribution without any ownership which becomes difficult to defend by the juniors.
P Gupta

This is not viable proposal

In view of the increasing unemployment scenario in India amongst the well qualified youths, increasing the retirement age is not at all a viable proposal.
P S John

Aaj Ki Aawaz

Nandigram brings out how for the Public Commies cares two hoots,
If Public does not toe their line then they get bullets after being kicked by boots!!!

Eleven people have lost their lives in Nandigram,
For protesting against the proposed SEZ Nandigram people are paying the daam (price)!!

Communism's Tinnamen Square in India….. what a shame!!!
And in posterity for this even Centre will share the blame!!!

Centre has been a mute spectator…. not risked even saying a word,
Lest the Commies against UPA got stirred!!!

Because if the Commies are stirred this Sarkar could be shaken,
Centre just pretends to be asleep and despite noises does not awaken!!!

For elections Mayawathi projects SP, Congress and BJP as Kans…the Mahabharat one,
And herself she calls Maya roopi Krishna…… these elections are going to be real fun!!!

Mayawathi , Mulayam and Amar sure can use metaphors that will make the other squirm,
For each other they've coined some hilarious term!!!

But I'm sure Kans and Krishan Maharaj would object to Maya's Maya,
They're going to object ' humm ko beech mein kyon Maya ne hai laaya'????

EC has made an attempt to make elections free and fair,
Mulayam's Bureaucratic muscle EC ne karr diya pare!!!

My psephology is Maya will form the next Sarkar in UP but may need some aid,
And this time by the electorate Mulayam is going to be waylaid!!!

Jaane kaha gaya hai Chahal….. Court is wondering,
Fact is he's gone AWOL after the alleged plundering!!!

He's going to use the medical route to get reprieve….. he's got a rare form of piles,
And this he got because all the time he was sitting on files!!!

Amrinder nowadays cooks and eats…… soon he'll be tasting what he cooked as CM,
And so will Chahal who was his GM!!!

PSEB is a real bleeder and the bleeding has to be reduced…. cannot be stopped,
As the leaks in Punjab's Treasury PSEB topped!!

They have to reduce the huge leaks in PSEB to stop the bleeding,
Within in PSEB they have to do extensive weeding!!!

Like PSEB has its Office in Patiala but is run from Chandigarh!!!
Whereas Patiala is supposed to be PSEB's 'garh' (fort)!!!

T&D losses and salaries make PSEB bleed,
This is what they have to weed!!!

Inflation can be controlled if Government declares MRP for Rice and Wheat,
Via this mode speculation in these two Saarkar can beat!!!

Multinationals and middlemen play the markets to make prices rise,
And to put a spanner in speculation MRP will suffice!!

Idea is fair profits should accrue to Farmers and fair price to Users,
Curtail the profits of the speculators and middlemen who to fair price are the real abusers!!!

There's news that Pawar is chumming up to Raj Thackrey… Project Woo,
Wasn't it Pawar jisne Raj's style of politicking ko kiya tha boo!!!

But like they say in politics boos and pats are temporary,
One has always to be wary!!!

Reliance plans to buy Carrefour or Tesco….. but should Reliance do so???
Because where Retailing is Reliance is on the learning curve and either way things can go!!!

And then again it'll be small eat big…… and in this case also inexperienced,
In Retial Carrefour and Tesco are more experienced!!!

Seems PC wants P Notes to be given a 3 year reprieve,
FIIs and Indian P Notes users relief ka sigh karre ge heave!!!

But then PMO has already indicated that this rout is being misused,
India's enemies this rout is being used!!!

Also used by FEMA flouters so it contravenes the law too,
Extension of 3 years would be the wrong thing to do!!!

In recent times Stock Punters got up and switched on their TVs to see overseas indices,
And then according to these indices made investments without studying domestic prices!!

Things are going to change…..Dow, Nasdaq and Nikkei will go up Sensex will go down,
Confucius says, ' With technical aspects of the Markets one should not clown'!!!

EMs are now considered risky…… ulti ginthi of reverse fund flow has started,
Majority of FIIs could very soon from India be 'Dearly Departed'!!!

So please be careful lest you could loose your shirt , pant and chaddhi,
Prior to this it'll be your house and your gaddi (Punjabi for car)!!!

Bharat Kumar

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CORPORATE

Appointment orders of ED Banks soon

Appointment order of 15 Executive Directors of nationalised banks are expected to be issued in a couple of weeks.

Sai is CMD of Tehri Hydro

R S T Sai has taken over as new CMD of the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation.
( We said this last month )

KBC to be off air temporarily

The famous TV game show "Kaun Banega Crorepati(KBC)" being aired by Star Plus television is likely to go off the air by March end,for a month.The "KBC" is being hoted by noted Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan.The decision to put the KBC off the air has understandably been taken ,so that its TRPs were not affected due to Cricket World Cup matches.

Concor CMD Rakesh Mehrotra gets award

Rakesh Mehrotra, Managing Director, Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR) receiving MOU Excellence Award from Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for two consecutive years.

Sameer Nair to join NDTV

Star Entertainment India CEO Sameer Nair is set to join NDTV .Nair whose notice period with Star gets over on March 26 will join NDTV as CEO & Director.

Half a dozen contenders for the post of Member

Half a dozen names including three retired IAS officers is doing the round for the post of Member Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal

Dr Mukherjee joins Ranbaxy

Former Pfizer's man Dr Shoibal Mukherjee has joined Ranbaxy as Vice-President (Medical Affairs and Clinical Research).