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INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK

The biggest advantage of PLI is that, its low on premiums & high on returns. PLI does not spend much in procurement of business in the form of payment of commission to the agents etc. and in turn pass on the surplus in the form of handsome bonus to the insurants, said Mrs.Anju Dasgupta Member I&FS.
In an interview to <whispersinthecorridors.com> she said "The PLI products are designed in such a way that an employee can pay his premium in monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or in annual installments and get the maturity amount at the end of the term or at the time of his superannuation." Under PLI ,Mrs. Anju Dasgupta said "some rebate is also given for advance payment of premium." Answering another question Mrs.Dasgupta said "RPLI is growing at a rate exceeding 40% in recent years and has created a very good impact on rural population" Moreover she said "not just residents of rural areas but also persons ordinarily resident in a village but temporarily located in an urban area - e.g. labourers and construction workers - or even NRI's abroad - are eligible to take a Rural PLI Risk Coverage upto Rs.3 lakhs is provided under RPLI."

What is Postal Life Insurance (PLI) ?

A-Postal Life Insurance(PLI) is the oldest life insurance scheme in India. This was introduced in the year 1884. PLI is meant for all Central & State Government employees & employees of public sector undertakings,universities, government aided educational institutions, nationalized banks, local self bodies and those who are in the defence services as well as paramilitary forces.Under this the risk coverage is upto Rs.10 lakh .

Is there any advantage in PLI as compared to Life Insurance products of other Life Insurance Service providers in India ?

A-Premiums in PLI schemes are much lower as compared to the premiums charged by other corporations and companies for life coverage. Also the bonus rates are substantially higher in PLI as compared to similar schemes of other Life Insurance Companies. This is possible because operational cost of PLI is much lower and it operates through the infrastructure of nearly 1,56,000 Post Offices spread all over the country. PLI does not spend much in procurement of business in the form of payment of commission to the agents etc. and in turn pass on the surplus in the form of handsome bonus to the insurants.

What are the different products under PLI ?

A-PLI has Endowment Assurance Schemes, Whole Life Assurance Policies, Convertible Whole Life Policies, Anticipated Endowment Assurance Policies, Joint Life Endowment Assurance Policies (Yugal Suraksha) for such couples both of whom are entitled for PLI coverage and Children Policies for such insurants who are already having PLI policies. The PLI products are designed in such a way that an employee can pay his premium in monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or in annual installments and get the maturity amount at the end of the term or at the time of his superannuation. The details of the policies are available on the web site of the Department of Posts: <indiapost.gov.in>

How one pays his premium ? What happens in the case of transfer of an insurant ?

A- Government employees have the option of paying premium by monthly deduction from salary. One can also deposit his premium through any Post Office. Some rebate is also given for advance payment of premium. Payment of premium in PLI schemes is very transparent and convenient. If an insurant is transferred say from one place/State to another, his policy is also transferred to his new place of posting and he can continue to pay his premium in usual way.

What is Rural PLI, in what way is it different from PLI ?

A-Rural PLI was introduced in 1995 as a result of the recommendation of the official committee for reforms in the insurance sector (Malhotra Committee). The prime objective of this scheme is to provide life insurance cover to the rural public in general and to benefit weaker sections and women workers of rural areas in particular and also to spread insurance awareness among the rural population. The schemes under Rural PLI are similar to those under PLI. However, the premium tables and bonus rates are different. RPLI is growing at a rate exceeding 40% in recent years and has created a very good impact on rural population.

Not just residents of rural areas but also persons ordinarily resident in a village but temporarily located in an urban area - e.g. labourers and construction workers - or even NRI's abroad - are eligible to take a Rural PLI Risk Coverage upto Rs.3 lakhs is provided under RPLI.

WE REQUIRE CORRESPONDENTS

As part expansion programme of <whispersinthecorridors.com>
we are going to appoint state correspondents in all State Capitals. Those who are interested may rush their bio data with two references in strictest confidence to
Mr.Sanjeev Majupuria, Editor & Country Head
<whispersinthecorridors.com>
on following E-mail ID maju30@rediffmail.com
Contact nos 094256 00494 & 094250 13232.

Will Laluji be next Prime Minister ?
Indian Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav's stars seem to be shining. In the given circumstances the Left Front (LF) will not support the Congress led government after early polls to Lok Sabha, whenever they are held. In that situation Laluji will have a smooth sail to the "gaddi" of Indian Prime Minister. It is an open secret that in UPA Lalu Prasad Yadav's acceptability has skyrocketed in corridors of power.

Janardan Dwivedi in a soup
Grapevine has it that AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi is in a soup. It is so because he had cleared UPA Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi's speech that she had delivered during the "Bijali (Power) rally" at Jhadli (Haryana) on October 8, 2007.It may be stated that the Left Front (LF) leaders have been seeing red ever since Mrs. Gandhi openly crossed with the Left. Since then Congress has been on a damage control exercise & would like Lok Sabha polls only after a comfortable win in Gujarat as being projected by advisors to the party High Command.

Pay Commission report soon
Pay Commission report is expected to be submitted either in December or January next year.

Its going to be photo finish for Modi in Gujarat

Initial reports pouring in from Gujarat, on the eve of assembly polls slated to be held in December 2007 suggest that it's going to be a photo finish for Chief Minister Narendra Modi, at the hustings.

Mulayam Singh Yadav & Amar Singh soft pedal

Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav & his trusted lieutenant Amar Singh are soft pedaling towards the Congress. Such a quiet attitude of both leaders is quite intriguing, feel political pundits.

Subhramanyam to join World Bank in April
PS to Prime Minister B V R Subhramanyam is all set to go Washington in April to join the World Bank as Advisor. He is 1987 batch IAS officer of Chhattisgarh cadre.

( We said this on May 29 )

Prasad to be CBDT Chairman !
R Prasad is being tipped to be the new Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).He is 1971 batch IRS officer.He will succeed B M Singh who is superannuating by this month end.

Three names cleared for SC ?

The Supreme Court collegium is reported to have approved the names of Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice J.M. Panchal, Andhra Pradesh High Court Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and acting Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Aftab Alam for appointment as judges of the SC.

4 contenders for advisor to the Karnataka Governor

As the grapevine has it,there are four contenders for being appointed as Advisors to Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur.They are S.K.Das(1970 batch)M.B.Prakash & N.Vishwanathan (both from 1966 batch) & V.K.G.Goray(1968 batch).All of them are former IAS officers of the Karnataka cadre.

Nachiketa Kapur goes
Nachiketa Kapur is no longer the PS to Union Child and Women Welfare Minister Renuka Chaudhury. Sikkim cadre 1986 batch IAS officer S C Gupta is the new PS of the Minister.

Rabjana Jha is CVO of BIS
Rabjana Jha is new CVO of the BIS. Rabjana is 1987 batch IRS (C&CE) officer.

Rajeev Kumar is Director Commerce
Rajeev Kumar has joined the Commerce Ministry as Director. He is 1993 batch IRS (C &CE) officer.

Mathur is Director Vigilance Air India
S C Mathur is new Director Vigilance of the Air India. He is 1981 batch IPS officer of Maharashtra cadre.

BHEL's Director Finance having links in 10 Janpath ?
BHEL circles are rife with rumours that CS Verma, Director Finance, is having links to 10 Janpath ? Is it true? If this is true then he can be sure of his appointment as CMD.

Tirumurthi joins MEA
T S Tirumurthi, 1985 IFS, has taken over as Joint Secretary in BSM Division of MEA after his return from Jakarta.

7 IG level vacancies in MoEF
There are seven vacancies at the IG level in the Indian Ministry of Environment Forests, including five posts of Regional Directors. A panel of Indian Forest Service (IFS)officers belonging to batches from 1977 to 1980 is to be considered.

DG Doordarshan selection postponed !

Prasar Bharti Board will only consider names for the post of DG All India Radio on Friday.If insiders are to be believed selection for the post of DG Doordarshan has been postponed.

New method of corruption !
These days, the conduct of a senior para-military officer for misusing police medal for gallantry pass of his subordinates in his own name as well as his wife, to undertake private journeys, is under investigation at higher levels. Top ones are surprised about this new method of corruption by an officer of such senior level, who is presently posted in Delhi.Guess the name of this officer ?.

1991 batch IAS get super-time scale in Jharkhand
1991 batch IAS officers Mssrs Amrendra Pratap Singh, Dr Pradeep Kumar and Shailesh Kumar Singh have been given super-time scale in Jharkhand.

Shake-up in Punjab PR

1976 batch IAS officer D.S. Jaspal will now be secretary, PR, while holding on to his charge as principal secretary, transport. 1994 batch IAS officer Tejveer Singh will be the new DPR while holding on to his existing work of special secretary, planning and special economic package.

Its youngsters vs.seniors

As the Karnataka assembly has been placed under suspended animation following resignation by H D Kumaraswamy from the Chief Minister's post,efforts are still on to salvage the situation by installing Union Minister of State for Planning M V Rajashekharan.However,young turks are not in favour of doing such an experiment any longer.

Advisors to Governor to be decided by Monday

In case a political solution doesn't emerge out of the ensuing power struggle in Karnataka then Advisors to the Governor are expected to finalised by Monday.

Outsider may also be advisor to Rameshwar Thakur

A section in political circles of Karnataka feels that outsiders should be appointed as Advisors to the Governor.Such a feeling is there because it wouldn't be possible to know,as to whom an advisor from Karnataka cadre is supporting.

Amrit Ghoshal joins Rashtriya Sahara

Amrit Ghoshal is Head of marketing with Rashtriya Sahara.He is ex-national sales head, Zee Jagran.

IAS changes in Punjab
B.K. Srivastava has been appointed director-general, Mahatama Gandhi state Institute of Public Administration.T.R. Sarangal will hold additional charge of mission director and project director, AIDS control society. Jagjit Puri will be the new secretary, medical education and research. K.B.S. Sidhu in addition to his existing work will be the commissioner, AYUSH. Khushi Ram will hold additional charge as director, welfare of SCs and BCs and Manisha Trighatia will now be additional secretary School Education.

First Conference of SAARC Countries in SVP NPA

The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy hosted the First Conference of Heads of Police Training Institutions of SAARC Countries on October 8 & 9, 2007. Minister of State for Home Affairs, Sriprakash Jaiswal flagged off the Meet with his inaugural address on October 8, 2007. During the two days, discussions were be held on Core Competencies of Police Training Insitutions, Organising of Joint Training Programmes, Exchange of faculty, feasibility and modalities, Offering of seats other member countries, Sharing of Training Resources amongst member countries. It was Unanimously resolved to continue to share core competencies of member countries from time to time. It was also unanimously resolved to organize training programmes for trainees from other member countries on themes and topics of mutual interest and concern. Further resolved that these training programmes may be of the following types. Joint training programmes will also be organized. It was also decided to nominate a police officer by each member country to act as "Nodal Officer" for further coordination on all matters of common interest; The conference also agreed to implement the resolutions passed by adopting established procedure of respective countries and SAARC Secretariat. The Two-day, HP & Karnataka expressing here happiness and satisfaction over the Conference concluded today evening with the Valedictory address of V S Rama Devi, Former Governor two-day meet of Heads of Police Training Institutions, Director of the Academy Dr G S Rajgopal was the person behind this meet.

3rd Nani A. Palkhivala award for Civil Liberties

Nominations for the 3rd Nani A. Palkhivala award for preservation of civil liberties in India, have been invited. The objective of the award is to honour individuals and organizations who have displayed extraordinary initiative in the preservation and defence of civil liberties in India.It carries a cash prize of Rs.One lakh and a citation in each category.The last date for receipt of nominations is November 10, 2007. It will be presented during a ceremony to be held in Mumbai in January 2008.The jury members are: Mr. Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah former Chief Justice of India (Chairman of the panel of Judges); Mrs. Justice Sujata Manohar (Retd.) and Mr.Justice Sam Variava (Retd.), both former Judges of the Supreme Court of India. Details of the criteria for the award can be had from:Miss S.K. Bharucha, Member-Secretary,Nani A. Palkhivala Memorial Trust,C/o Forum of Free Enterprise, Peninsula House, 2nd floor,235 Dr. D.N. Road, Mumbai 400001.Telefax: 022 - 22614253,Email: ffe@vsnl.net,Website: http://www.forumindia.org.

FORUM

Practice of down-grading ACRs should be stopped
If the allegations of Sri Amit Shah on down drading the ACRs is correct,it is indeed a serious matter. It is learnt that even UPSC is following the practice of down-grading the ACRs.
ACRs are written by the controlling officers after closely reviewing the performance of the officers for one full year. The same is also vetted by the next senior officers after having appropriate modifications, if required. The officers sitting in the DPC do not get the opportunity to work with these officers in any capacity. Hence it is unfair to down-grade the ACRs merely by assessing the wordings in the ACRs. Such a practice would give not only unfair advantage to the mediocore, inefficient and dishonest officers in comparison with bright and sincere and honest officers but also eliminate the bright officers in the DPC. How can members of DPC who handle hudreds of ACRs would be able to properly judge in down grading an officer's ACRs within seconds? Such decisions are highly subjective and may vary widely from one member to the other.
Hence the practice of down-grading ACRs by the DPC should stop at once. The DPC must go strictly as per the gradation recorded by the controlling officers. However only in exceptional cases, after due deliberations, and if required, by consulting the concerned controlling officers such down-grading may be aloowed.
Suresh
Hemant Chauhan wrote
Government should sort out this issue in P & T
In October 2005, the Department of Telecommunications gave options to the officers of the Indian Telecom Service and the Indian P&T, Accounts and Finance Service, Group-'A' to opt the Government or the BSNL or the MTNL. The officers of the P&T, Accounts and Finance Service as an ideal government servant exercised their option and about sixty officers opted BSNL and MTNL. But the ITS officers did not exercise their option. Hardly 1% ITS officers opted the BSNL or MTNL. There are more than 2000 ITS officers are still in government but working in BSNL and MTNL. All these officers are government servant but availing PSU benefits. This is creating frustration among the officers of the Indian P&T, Accounts and Finance Service. Denial of opportunity to these officers to serve in the PSUs of DOT(BSNL/MTNL/TCIL etc.), even on deputation basis is not only violation of the Principle of equity, but is discriminatory and against the Public Policy of the Government of India. Rules must be same for everybody. The ITS officers who have opted BSNL and MTNL are also not happy, they have moved to the High Court, Delhi challenging the terms and conditions of the Option. The frustration among the officers is badly affecting the profits of the BSNL and MTNL. The Government should take final and firm decision in this regards in the interest of the public and the nation.
IP&T FAS officer like Ashwini Sharma are still working as GM Finance in BSNL. Do not paint one sided story with your experience as sole factor.
H P Mishra

Aaj Ki Aawaz

The World is looking at the developments in India ….. must be shocked???
That for petty politics a Deal that is so good for India is being blocked!!!

Now there's news that India may try to get US to give Indian Commies a verbal lollipop,
So that Commie objections to the Deal would stop!!!

US may be requested to give Commies a verbal advisory,
That Hyde Act provisions in the Deal are just 'advisory'!!!

Bush was interested in this Deal for personal glorification and so was accommodating,
And for India to get moving on getting the approvals he's impatiently waiting!

Pawar and Laloo are least bothered about the Nation…midterm boot is on their minds!!!!!
They know if midterm polls are held they both will be booted by voters in their hinds!!

Karat wants the Deal to be dumped ……. and he does want a midterm poll!!!
So in effect he plays a double role!!!

In one breath he threatens to withdraw support and in the other gives more time!!!
The Karat warning cum alarm bell in two tunes karti hai chime!!!

If IBN and NDTV's pre poll surveys are to be believed Congress call elections!!!
But many say both Channels have made the wrong projections!!!

So in the end seems Sonia buckled,
And news is that on hearing that UPA may shelve Deal China chuckled!!

If Deal falls through it'll be khaaya piyaa kuch nahi aur glass thoda 8 aana!!
Future Indian generations will woefully sing this gaana!!

The glass in this song is India 's future and 8 aana is a notional figure denoting loss!!
For politics Commies, Congress and its Allies ne dustbin me kiya India 's future ko toss!!

Cold feet on the Deal will cost India dear!!!
Isolation should be the biggest fear!!!

For example rating Western Agencies will change India 's rating…. rate India as unsafe!!!
This will literally empty out our Foreign Reserve's Safe (vault)!!!

Technology pouring in dream we are dreaming will become a nightmare!!!
As technology exports to India all Western Countries will ban or pare!!!

China will be the ultimate winner,
And in golfing parlance the Indian Commies for their Masters would have hit a pinner!

So Sonia needs to contemplate…… damage if Deal falls or election!!!
If India comes first she'll make the latter selection!!!

Every election is a gamble so why not take a chance!!!
Show conviction and guts and go thru with the Deal and Congress could end up doing the victory dance!!

Today Indians feel UPA is just playing games with the Nation and has no guts or conviction,
And this could end up being one of the causes that in elections UPA could face eviction!

In politics there are no permanent friends or enemies and so Congress and SP are talking!!
Just a few months back each other Congress and SP were abusing and stalking!!

Seems Congress added up its votes and SP's votes in various UP constituencies and jumped up!!!
They got more votes than BSP when their votes were added up!!!

But I still feel Maya will do well be it in a mid term poll or in time General Election!!!
She'll get more than half the seats is my projection!!!

And be it a midterm poll or general election Pawar and Laloo will face a rout!!!
Both NCP and RJD will heavily loose out!!!

No wonders Pawar has haughtily said , " Elections are no more my cup of tea",
Now the reason behind this statement we can see!!

Next time to enter Parliament Pawar intends to use the RS route,
And that's the reason for his ' I will not fight elections' toot!!

So Congress has the golden opportunity to dwarf Commies, Karuna, Laloo and Pawar!!
Today for India these four are the ' Dirty Chaar'!!!

Elections in Gujarat and HP have been announced,
In both States Congress's defeat is going to be very pronounced!!!

Modi baiters in BJP are just looking to strike a deal!!
With Keshubhai and Metha artfully BJP will deal!!

Rahul will stay away from Gujarat as if in Gujarat there's a plague!!!
When questioned whether he'll campaign in Gujarat Rahul gave an answer that was very vague!!!

The vague answer was taken as an affirmative!!!
Or was the Journalist being wickedly creative!!!

In HP Virbhadra might as well pack his bags!!!
Electorally by miles behind BJP Congress lags!!

On UPA's cold feet on the 123 Deal Confucius would like to advice,
' When Sarkaar just politicks the Country ends up paying the price'!!!

Bharat Kumar
Aaj_ki_aawaz@yahoo.com r

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CORPORATE

Air India bags EX-IM LOAN

National Aviation Company of India Limited (Air India)has signed an agreement with Export Import Bank of the United States ("Ex-im Bank") for over US$ 1.23 billion of financing support of the first tranche of 17 Boeing aircraft and 4 spare engines, deliveries of which have already commenced. The agreement was signed by V. Thulasidas Chairman and Managing Director(CMD) on behalf of NACIL & James Lambright Chairman and President of Ex-im Bank. The agreement was signed in the presence of the top officials of Ex-im Bank , Ambassador of India Ronen Sen, Dinesh Keskar Sr. VP of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, John Neblo Executive Director ABN Amro & other commercial lenders viz., State Bank of India and ICICI Bank. Senior officials of NACIL were also present at the signing ceremony.Speaking on the occasion, CMD of NACIL Mr V. Thulasidas stated that the Indian aviation market is growing at a strong pace and the airline is in a major expansion mode to recapture a dominant market share. In this context it is looking forward to additional financing support from Ex-im bank in order to make American products more attractive and competitive . While thanking Ex-im bank for its support in the transaction, he particularly referred to the need to dispense with a GOI guarantee where the aircraft are being offered as collateral.James Lambright, Chairman and President of US EX-IM stated that "EX-IM Bank is delighted to reach this important milestone in our relationship with Air India and the Government of India."Earlier gathering was welcomed by Robert A Morin, VP, Transportation Division, Export Import Bank of United States.The airline recently introduced nonstop service from Mumbai to JFK using the Boeing 777-200 long range aircraft and is proposing to introduce another from Delhi to JFK early next year. The airline has now 31 flights to USA connecting New York, Newark, Chicago and Los Angles and provides convenient timings and connections on domestic and international routes ex-India. The airline has a fleet of nearly 120 aircraft and its projected turnover in 2007-08 is expected to be US$ 4 billion on a consolidated basis.

Phadke is ED (Projects ) NACIL
S Phadke is the Executive Director (Group II Projects) of the National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL), the new company into which Air India and Indian have been merged.

IT conducts search on business family
The Income Tax department has conducted a search on a business family on the basis of information that it is involved in unaccounted draft discounting. The search was conducted at 6 business and residential premises in Delhi. Investments in various properties and bank accounts have come to light, which is being investigated.

Strategic pact by NIIT IFBI & HDFC Bank

The Institute of Finance, Banking and Insurance (IFBI) and HDFC Bank have entered into a partnership to develop and train students in the field of Banking. Selected students of IFBI would join HDFC Bank as 'trainees' immediately upon completion of the institute's 6-month Post-Graduate Diploma in Banking Operations (PGDBO) programme.
Under the terms of the partnership, HDFC Bank would make an offer of employment to identified students of IFBI at the time of their admission to the PGDBO programme. According to Mrs. Mandeep Maitra, Country Head-HR, HDFC Bank, "as a bank we have always believed in investing in the development of young talent."On the other hand Dr. Smarajit Dey President-strategic initiatives NIIT said "we are delighted to have HDFC Bank as IFBI's strategic partner."

Sasakawa India Leprosy Foundation new initiative

The Sasakawa India Leprosy Foundation, an organization focused on helping people affected by leprosy to return to the mainstream, by supporting them through economic and social empowerment has been launched by former Indian President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Present on the occasion were Yohei Sasakawa founder of SILF & Chairperson of the Nippon Foundation & Tarun Das Chairperson SILF Board of Trustees.The Foundation will dedicate itself to the challenging task of socio-economic rehabilitation of the estimated 11 million people in India who have been cured of the disease in the last decade.Through its umbrella organisation, the Nippon Foundation of Japan, the Foundation will infuse USD 10 million into the country for this purpose.

Apparel speciality store by RIL

The apparel, luggage and accessories division of Reliance Retail has launched their first apparel specialty store "Reliance Trends" at Ambi mall, Gurgaon.Reliance Trends is offering a homogeneous mix of private labels and brands across men's, women's and children's categories to fulfill every customer's requirement. Reliance Retail is an offshoot of Reliance Industries Ltd(RIL) being headed by industrial tycoon Mukesh Ambani.

Talreja joins Yes Bank
Naveen Talreja has taken over as chief marketing officer of Yes Bank.

Alok Lall is MD (India) for "iris" operations

Global integrated marketing agency "iris" has appointed Alok Lall as Managing Director in India. Earlier he was branch head of Saatchi & Saatchi in Delhi.

Kenneth Augustine is CD "iris"

Global integrated marketing agency "iris" has appointed Kenneth Augustine as Creative Director.

Kostav Das is MD,Orchard Advertising

Kostav Das has been roped in as Managing Director of Orchard Advertising.

Jain is CGM SBI Bhopal Circle

DK Jain has been appointed the new Chief General Manager of head office Bhopal Circle of the State Bank of India.