This site is very useful and informative for all Govt. officials.
A K Verma

Contact-suresh.mehrotra@yahoo.com> & <mehrotra.suresh@gmail.com>

Will Neelam Nath be Secretary Drinking Water?
Secretary Ex-Servicemen Welfare Ms Neelam Nath is likely to move as Secretary Drinking Water in the Government of India.She is 1975 batch IAS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre. Name of 1976 batch UP cadre IAS officer Ms Veena Upadhyay is also in circulation for the post.Present Secretary Rajwant Sandhu is returning to the parent cadre Himachal Pradesh to take over as Chief Secretary on July 1.
Tensions in Congress party, Who is the gainer?
Who is the gainer in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy controversy ?.In political circles people say only gainer is Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.Insiders smell tensions in the Congress Party.
Now 14 years CR to be considered for empanelment in GoI
Under the new rules framed for empanelment in the Government of India, now CRs of 14 years would be considered instead of ten years as is the provision at present.

NDRF commended by Home Secretary to GOI
Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai has sent a letter DG: NDRF (National Disaster Relief Force) for such a quick response made by the force after train blasts that took place in Jhargram (West Bengal). A similar letter has been sent by General Manager (GM) of South Eastern
Railways (SER)
Arvind Deep is Joint Director (Immigration), IB
Arvind Deep who was promoted as Joint Director in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has assumed charge as Joint Director (Immigration) in the same office recently.
Arun Chaudhary is Additional Director (Immigration) in IB (HQ.)
Arun Chaudhary Joint Director (Immigration) in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has been promoted as Additional Director (Immigration).
Post of Deputy Director Intelligence is vacant
The post of Deputy Director (Immigration) in the Intelligence Bureau
(IB) is vacant.
Pankaj Kumar Singh joins CRPF as IG
Pankaj Kumar Singh on Central deputation has joined as IG; CRPF. He is an IPS officer of the 1988 batch who belongs to the Rajsthan cadre.
Post of Director (VIP Security) vacant in MHA
The post of Director (VIP Security) in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) at the Centre has fallen vacant now due to Ms.Vandna Kini having competed her five-year deputation period in GOI.She has again joined GOI in Delhi as Director NEC.
Singh is Principal RC Mizoram
S P Singh has been appointed Principal Resident Commissioner of Mizoram in Delhi. He is a 1984 batch IAS officer of UT cadre.
Prasar Bharti CEO grilled in GoM
Prasar Bharti CEO B S Lalli was grilled by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in the meeting of the Group of Ministers.He asked the CEO as to why the minutes of Prasar Bharti Board meeting were not circulated to the Board members.
Will Narendra Modi break Jyoti Basu's record?
Political circles are rife with speculations that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi may break record of Jyoti Basu who became Chief Minister of West Bengal for the first time in 1977 and continued till 2000 while he (Basu) had quit on health grounds.

File for Chairman, IIFC yet to be cleared
File pertaining to the new Chairman, India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL) is yet to be cleared. Name of S K Goyal is at the top.
Will Venkatraman be Director GAIL?
Will Venkatraman be new Director (Business Development) in the GAIL? The PESB has put his name number one in the panel.
Uncertainty over next BSNL chief prevails
Air of uncertainty prevails over new Chairman cum Managing Director (CMD) of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) as interviews for new BSNL chief that were to be held were cancelled recently. It may be stated that existing CMD of BSNL Kuldeep Goyal is due to retire on July25, 2010.
Ananth to join on July 1
Newly appointed Chief Statistician of India and Secretary T. C. A. Ananth MOSPI will join the Ministry on July 1.
Dipankar Mukhopadhyay to retire
Dipankar Mukhopadhyay, Director General, DFP is retiring on June 30. He is an officer of the Indian Information Service, 1972 batch.
Panicker moves to Paris
Second Secretary in Tashkent S S Panicker has been moved to Paris.
Mathai goes to Rome
Ms. Rebecca Mathai, Pr. Director (Direct Taxes), Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India is joining as Director of External Audit (SAG Level), World Food Programme (WFP), Rome. The tenure of IA&AS officer will be two years.
IA&AS officer is Additional FA in Defence Ministry
Prem Kumar Kataria is joining the Defence Ministry as Additional Financial Adviser (Joint Secretary level). He is a 1985 batch IA&AS officer.
Interviews for BSNL CMD deferred at the behest of PMO
As the grapevine has it the interviews for the post of Chairman cum Managing Director (CMD) of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) that the PESB was to hold earlier, were postponed at the behest of Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). It may be stated that existing CMD of BSNL
Kuldeep Goyal is due to retire on July25, 2010
Govt to reconstitute Coconut Board
Union Minister of State for Agriculture K.V. Thomas has hinted that the Government of India will be reconstituting the Coconut Development Board in line with the Rubber Board. The board will integrate the research activities of CPCRI and also will have its retail outlets besides reaching out to the farmers. The board is presently headed by Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose, IAS.
IPS changes in Uttar Pradesh
Gyan Singh has been appointed SP Hardoi.S P Hardoi Om Prakash Sagar who has been shifted to food cell.Commandant 32nd PAC Jyoti Narain has swapped places with SP Sitapur of Amitabh Yash.Ambedkar Nagar SP R.K. Swarnakar has been moved to Economic Offences Wing (EOW).SP Mainpuri Devendra Kumar Rai will now be SP Ambedkar Nagar andUpendra Kumar Agarwal will be the new SP of Mainpuri district.
IPS reshuffle in J & K
Senior SSP Srinagar Riyaz Bedar has been replaced by Syed Ashiq Bukhari .Uttam Chand SP Kupwara has been appointed SP CI, Kashmir. Vidhi Kumar Birdi has been transferred SP Kupwara. Ghulam Sarwar Chouhan has been made Commandant, JKAP, 13th Bn Showkat Hussain has been posted as SP North, Srinagar . Abdul Rashid will now be Additional SP Kupwara in place of Mohammad Yousuf Mir. Abdul Razak Khan has been posted as SO to IGP Traffic J&K. Rajeshwar Singh, SP City Udhampur has been transferred and posted as SP South Jammu in place of Abdul Razak Khan.
IPS promotions in Chhattisgarh in a day or two
IPS promotions at the level of ADG,IG and DIG are expected to take place in Chhattisgarh in a day or two.
Anand Kumar RC, Kerala appointed Jt.Secretary  Tourism

Anand Kumar Resident Commissioner (RC) to the Kerala Government in Delhi has been appointed as Joint Secretary Tourism in Government of India (GOI). He is an IAS officer of the Kerala cadre who belongs to the 1984 batch. He is expected to join in a week's time.

(We said this on October 25, 2009)
 Appointments in banks delayed

Appointments of CMDs and EDs in public sector banks have been delayed, as Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Secretary Financial Service R. Gopalan are abroad.
Shyam Lal Goyal to join as Joint Secretary Fertilisers very soon

Shyam Lal Goyal who has been appointed as Joint Secretary Fertilisers in the Government of India will be joining in a day or two. He is an IAS officer of the 1985 batch who belongs to the Maharashtra cadre. Presently, he is New Delhi based Principal Resident Commissioner of the Maharashtra government.

(We said this on June 17, 2010)

IAS changes in Andhra Pradesh
On return from central deputation Minni Mathew has been posted as Special Chief Secretary GAD.Shri[ad Bhale has been moved as Special Chief Secretary Animal Husbandry.J Raymond Peter will now be Principal Secretary Social Welfare.

Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana gets a new posting in Tamil Nadu

Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana on his return form training abroad has been postede as Project Director, Tsunami Project Implementation Unit, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department . From the sate of assumption of charge by Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana , Dheeraj Kumar will stand relieved of the above charge which he was holding as additional charge. Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana is an IAS officer of the 1995 batch who belongs to Tamil Nadu cadre, while Dheeraj Kumar is an IAS officer of the 2005 batch from the Tamil Nadu cadre.

L. P. Kothari elevated to Chief Secretary scale in Rajasthan

L.P. Kothari Chairman Rajasthan Housing Board has been promoted to the Chief Secretary's (CS's) scale. L.P. Kothari is an IAS officer of the 1977 batch who belongs to Rajasthan cadre.

C.K. Mathew elevated as ACS Finance & Policy Making in Rajasthan

C.K. Mathew who so far was Principal Secretary (PS) Finance & Policy Making in Rajasthan has been elevated as Additional Secretary (ACS) Finance & Policy Making by the state government. C.K. Mathew is an IAS officer of the 1977 batch who belongs to Rajasthan cadre.

RTI

Follow-up of complaint

Information regarding action taken on complaints submitted by the appellant to the Delhi Jal Board regarding the bad condition of sewer was sought. The CIC noted that PIO has not specifically answered what action has been taken on the appellant’s complaint and directed the PIO to provide this information in a format.

Comments

This decision shows that an individual can file an application on the behalf of an organisation. The CIC has pronounced many decisions in favour of disclosure and has been proactive to the extent of even framing a format for the CPIO to provide a reply to the appellant.

[Youth Unified for Valuable Action through GS Puneesh Garg v. Delhi Jal Board in Decision No. CIC/SG/A/2010/001257/8182]

- A new decision of CIC brought to you every Monday by Mrs. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in), Co-author of the book: RIGHT TO INFORMATION – LAW AND PRACTICE by Taxmann. (The views are Personal)

CORPORATE
Saravdeep Garg is ED Alcatel Lucent
Saravdeep Garg has joined Alcatel Lucent (Alu) as its Executive Director (ED). He will be based at Delhi. It may be stated that last month he had resigned from Huawei India as Services Director following his differences with his Chinese counterpart in the previous company.
Dua is new CEO of Birla Sun Life
Jayant Dua has been appointed chief executive of Birla Sun Life Insurance Company.
Sanjeev Asthana is Director, Ruchi group
Sanjeev Asthana has joined the Ruchi group as Director.
Sanjeevi is CGM A&N Circle
VK Sanjeevi has taken over as the Chief General Manager, A&N Telecom Circle .
UP Hotels appoints Joint MDs and ED
UP Hotels Ltd has appointed Apurv Kumar and Rupak Gupta as Joint Managing Directors and Ms Supriya Gupta Executive Director.
NFL forays into Wind Energy
National Fertilizers Ltd (NFL) has taken an initiative to diversify its business by venturing into generation of green power through Wind Energy. In Pursuance, Company awarded a Contract for 14.7 MW Wind Energy Project in Jaisalmair District of Rajasthan. Project is scheduled to commission in this year itself.
BIG FM appoints Head (Programming) for Delhi operations
Big FM has appointed Paikar Jamal as Head (Programming) for Delhi operations

Aaj ki Aawaz

Payout to Bhopal Gas victims and their families was pittance!!
Law kept from those responsible a ‘respectful (sic) distance’!!
 
Chief protagonist flew in and then flew out!!!
Even the Hospital set up denied them treatment and they were shunted out!!
 
UPA 1 even prevented the payout being increased!!
With only ‘ Indian Government will have to foot the bill’ it was seized!!

25 years have passed and the 'clean up' is still in discussion stage!!
Affects of the contamination rage!!
 
Then you have Congress bringing in the dead to save its face!!
In its ‘desperation’ lost grace!!
 
You had Bhonpu Janaka Natrajan saying ‘ only if Rajiv says he let Anderson off’!!
‘Then only at him you can scoff’!!
 
Then Rao was made the fall guy!!!
But even this story no on did buy!!
 
Earlier Congress had put the blame on Arjun Singh!!
But Arjun said he had no locus standi as he was not the ‘Master of the Ring’!
 
Now GOM wants to change Section under which Anderson’s was charged!!!
Like bolting the gate 25 years after the horse barged!
 
Yes the increased payout will provide some relief!!
But Congress is doing this not on humanitarian grounds is the belief!!
 
Congress is getting this done to save face!!!
Blots on itself it’s trying to erase!!
 
On Bhopal BJP too has been comatose!!
To help out it never rose!!
 
All in all India’s political establishment failed,
And they cupped their ears as Bhopal’s Gas affected wailed!
 
Nitish and BJP may fight!!
But it’s temporary as Bihar election ‘is in sight’!!
 
Both know that alone both cannot make it to rule Bihar State!!
However Laloo seems joyous of late!!
 
Prices and Bhopal will take a toll!
And Congress will lose badly in the Bihar poll!!
 
Had NREGA not leaked so badly at least in Bihar Congress would have gained!!
But on the nefarious lot the money meant for NREGA rained!!!
 
Confucius says…. Congress should be worried as its downslide has commenced!
BJP cannot progress despite Congress's downturn as BJP has got itself fenced!!

Adds.... if I were Sonia I'd be worried!!!!
Avalanches could be small at the start but end up getting everything in the path buried!

Bharat Kumar
<aaj_ki_aawaz@yahoo.com

FORUM
(The views expressed in this column are of the contributors. We do not owe any responsibility, whatsoever, of the views of our surfers as they are their personal opinion. However, we would also request our contributors not to be personal, directly or indirectly, in presenting their views. Instead of countering the views which ‘X’ has already expressed, our contributors are advised to present their own views. Also be brief, say about 200 words at the most since any views longer than that if eliminated at our end would carry the risk of the contrbutor’s item losing its original essence)

Mr. Narayanan should be back in Delhi in National Interest

Its indeed heartening to read the news that Mr. M.K.Narayanan may resign as Governor WB and be back in Delhi. Most of us would agree that Government cannot create substitute for Mr. Narayanan’s acumen and quality experience of handling intelligence mechanism. His presence and experience is much more required in the light of heightened activity of LET in Afghanistan against Indian Government officials and laborers. US deadline for withdrawal of troops in July 2011 is eventually coming nearer and anticipation is that the Pakistanis may create situations wherein they can bargain hard in post US troop withdrawal era in Aghanistan. The Pakistanis fear growing Indian influence in Afghanistan, their contention being that “there are no Indians in Afghanistan then why India is taking so much interest”.

The three major attacks against Indian Government employees and Indian workers in last few months specially the Feb 26 attack on two guest houses is an indicator of shift in strategy of group like Lashkar-e-Taiba at the behest of Pakistan.  A very thin line now separates these terror outfits from serving and few of the retired men of Pakistani Security agency. LET’s potential has grown in recent months and have relocated to Pakistan’s tribal areas.

The recent sharing of political platform by Hafiz Saed, Chief JuD in Lahore with Munawwar Hussain Leader MMEA (alliance of six parties) giving hate speeches against India specifically and government funding of JuD controlled educational institution to the tune of 9.3 crore, is a clear indication of amalgamation of militant outfit in country’s political system. This development is indeed dangerous and India needs to think and act accordingly as the JuD run schools and Medical Colleges are indoctrinating Pakistani youth against India primarily.

The insurgent network run by Siraj Haqqani in Pakistan too has started focusing on Indian targets according to the reports emanating. Although US has pressed for crack down on Haqqani group in the Northern Waziristan tribal area in its recent meetings with Pakistan Army Chief Ashfaq Kayani but signs of any result are not visible. Pakistan apparently sees the group as a strategic asset that will give it influence in any peace settlement in Afghanistan and post US Troop withdrawal situation against India.

In the above grim and fast changing situation, developing against India in neighbouring countries Mr. Narayanan’s experience of handling Islamic countries is more than required by the Government. As a citizen I feel that Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, The PM and HM should bring him back to Delhi in the larger interest of National Security.

Rajesh Srivastava
New Delhi

Curtail powers of Railway Board
The time has come to immediately curtail the powers of Railway Board and recruitment of staff must be brought under SSC. SSC should be strengthened. The power of Railway officers to appoint persons as substitute, casual etc. should be immediately withdrawn as there is no dearth of unemployed in every nook and corner of the country. They may be contacted under NREGA in case of exigencies.
R K

What a fantasy?
A news item, “Cong's new excuse: Anderson could have been murdered by Bhopal mob”. What a fantasy! It is true to Cong culture. Our heads hang in shame for these irresponsible and shameless excuses. Thousands of such widely discussed scandalous deeds have been buried shamelessly in the past recent ones being sugar scandal, wheat scandal, rice scandal, dal scandal, stamp paper scandal, IPL scandal, 2G spectrum scandal, merger & de-merger of Air India and Indian Airlines, shady deals on voting on Cut motion and innumerable more. When Anderson was facilitated to flee then why the high profile drama of his extradition after 26 years and constitution of Committee of EGoMs? Cong has feigned to become active in 1984 sikhs genocide case after long 25 years. What do the people of Bhopal expect of this Cong regime? Are they expecting justice? No way. All along Cong has been working only on the theory that the public memory is too short and instant bucks only pay.
SSR

Bhopal Gas tragedy
The Government's efforts ably chorussed by party funded visual media to extradite an ailing, senile and ninety year old Anderson and talking of belatedly filing a review petition in SC after 26 years of Bhopal tragedy are intended to hoodwink gullible public and also divert the attention from the real culprits like Rajiv Gandhi and Arjun Singh who facilitated Anderson’s escape and also saw to it that prosecution is diluted.Dynasty retainers are now trying their best to save their masters.Government should drop the extradition proceedings, that will serve no purpose,and conduct an enquiry to find out who is responsible for all these omissions and omissions and prosecute them,so that it will be a lesson for the future.The dynasty and the entrenched psychophants will allow it to happen is a big question.
Naveen K

Comparision between IAS and Army officers
Army officers join after +2 or graduation whereas IAS officers typically join after Master's etc. The working span of IAS is typically 35 years at best whereas Army officers, if they do not retire early due to being overlooked for promotion, put in 43 years of service. Can you compare them?
P Kumar

Why army- CSS also
The reasoning is misplaced. Why compere with IAS alone.There are CSS officers also.Lt Cols who are equivalent to Under Secretary only have been given Pay Band 4 whereas even Dy Secy in other services have not been given the same?
Nandan K

North-East affairs
Assam, before its partition into 5 states with its capital in Shillong was often accused of neglecting the tribals in the state. Shillong also served as the capital of Manipur and NEFA as the governor sat there.Thanks to a priest turned anthropologist,Verrier Elwin ,NEFA now known as Arunchal Pradesh, is firmly with India and is mercifully free of the cancer of tribal insurgency.Elwin saw to it that unsavoury outsiders like moneylenders and contractors had minimum access to NEFA, in the name of economic development. The tribals were by and large left alone and treated with respect by the administration and no one went on a rampage trying to civilise them and drag them into the muddy mainstream.This approach bore excellent results and today,China's attempts to wean the tribals of Arunachal have all been in vain. Manipur is like a minuature version of undivided Assam where a majority valley population lords it over a minority hill tribal population.The current standoff is due to this historical reason. The only way ahead is a partition of Manipur immediately so that the tribal districts are absorbed into the neighbouring tribal states of Nagaland and Mizoram. Manipur itself would greatly benefit if the Valley becomes a Union Territory.The gifted and talented population of Manipuris would then shine on the national stage as they deserve to. The tribals ,in turn would feel respected by their own bretheren and the tension caused by Manipuri contempt of tribals would ease.The Manipuris do not want a partition of their old kingdom for purely egotistical reasons. Their howls of protest over the territorial integrity of Manipur is a reactionary sentiment. There is no love lost between the Manipuri and the Tribal.The disgusting corruption in Manipur where nothing gets done even with huge bribes is another reason why its tribals want to merge with neigbouring tribal states. The tribals are more concerned about the doubtful integrity of the Manipuris than the territorial integrity of Manipur. They have been exploited for centuries by the more advanced Manipuris. For the central government the formation of Greater Nagaland would be a useful bargaining counter and also a face saving device for the NSCN to give up its demand for a sovereign Nagaland. Otherwise, with what face can the NSCN face the Naga public after having led it down the road to perdition for the last 60 years? The GOI must seize the opportunity now and effect the partition of Manipur. The party in power in Manipur is also the Congress and so it will be quite easy for the CM to persuade his colleagues to fall in line with the High Commands wishes in the national interest.If this surgical operation is not carried out very soon the whole of the Northeast will come under the umbrella of the Naga Underground NSCN, a group of dedicated murderers known for their efficiency and ruthlessness.China would become their patron saint and the disturbed conditions would revive tribal insurgency all over the Northeast and link it to the Maoists of tribal central India.Now is the time to act! This historic moment has to be seized by the Centre for the sake of Indias future.
D Choudhury

Children of civil servants
I strongly disagree with Mr.Ramesh. Its not that children of civil servants are not talented. The geans are same and many officers take personal care in grooming children. So its not right to say that as they can easily arrange seats in private institution why they would like to join civil services. Status of civil services is always above that of private college products doing some job. The issue here is if the children are talented, given a choice would they like to join civil services. The answer is most cases is no. Because first, these children have already seen the life of a civil servant, and secondly they and their parent know that given the thrill, the high salary and the quality of life in private sector is much better than those in CS. Then a civil servant is always cut from his root. Children have no place to say their home place as his parents are kicked around from from city to another. He has no permanent friends and no permanent home. Today even a small time businessman visits place abroad twice a year, but civil servant rarely gets a chance (except IAS, and sometimes IPS).Offcouse I dont compare IFS as they have their own service problems.
These are the factors which discourage civil servants and their children from joining these services.
P K Mishra

What if Bhopal is repeated?
Unimaginable that toxic waste will lie around the union carbide Bhopal plant for 26 years! There can be no other example anywhere in the world of this scale of criminal and inhuman negligence.It took only 40 tonnes of the killing gas to cause the worst industrial disaster. There is estimated to be more than 425(four hundred twenty five)tonnes of toxic waste lying unattended in the factory premises! The damage it can cause is for scientists to estimate and disclose, but certainly it will cause at least two more Bhopal Gas tragedies, if mishandled. People have been kept in the dark in the most callous fashion.Dow chemicals, the new owners of the Union Carbide Bhopal plant, know the level of risks involved and the scale of the liabilities. That is why they have taken assurances from the government that they shall not be held responsible for the liabilities of the Union Carbide mess or its clean up operations or disposal of toxic waste or finance any remediation efforts. It is because they know precisely what it means to accept any such liability. Since our government has no idea of the cost and risks involved in remediation, they have done nothing in the past 26 years. Compare it with the swiftness with which the US government has moved in tackling the oil leak case. It has made the BP to commit 20 billion US $ towards remediation. In Bhopal more than 15000 died and 500000 suffered various disabilities and the total compensation committed stood below 600 million! The risk from the toxic waste still lying unattended in the factory premises poses several times more danger than the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico and still the owners, Dow Chemicals, refuse to own any responsibility. The government of India keeps mum because it does not want to lose foreign investment! The government of M.P.does not speak, for its Chief Minister has been visiting alongwith his top bureaucrats, foreign countries to invite foreign investment, as MP provides excellent climate for such operations including safe passage to the CEO in case industrial disaster kills a few lakh people!!!If foreign investment dries up or the excuse for long foreign tours at tax payers' expense stops, how will they create opportunities for foreign visits? How much is the amount of expected foreign investment in India? One netizen has quoted an official of the Chemicals ministry at the centre to give the estimate in a question form: do you want 1 billion dollars of foreign investment or pursue clean up operations? That gives away the mind of the mandarins, who alone think they know all.Their worry is 1 billion of foreign investment rather than 100000 or 500000 indian lives, animal lives and plant life.Now you can decide whether you want the American Anderson to be hauled up or the Indian andersons! The terms of the civil nuclear deal will still be tougher. That deal is being thrust upon the aam aadmi, even he/she stands to gain absolutely nothing. Rather he stands to lose everything as in the case of the Bhopal Gas Disaster.
M L Gupta

Bhopal Gas tragedy
Contrast this with the paltry compensation paid by UCL to Bhopal gas victims and how the corrupt politicians and judiciary colluded to let Anderson off the hook and release Dow Chemical from any liability to clean up the mess.Veerappa Moily now talks of bringing Anderson back to justice in India.Whom is he kidding?Even a nursery class student will laugh at his assertion.We know that our politicians are crooks,but there should be  a limit to their crookedness.
Best regards.
Yours,
Sampat