The news shared in advance is really a work of Maverick. Excellent. Keep it up.
Kishore Dudani.

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

Top most priority of ITDC is Common Wealth Games
Dr Lalit K Panwar who had assumed charge as new Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) in middle of April 2010 is according top most priority to preparations for the Common Wealth Games (CWG) to be held in October 2010 and post CWG period. Panwar means business at ITDC. This thing he had made clear from the day one. Earlier, he was Principal Secretary School Education with the Rajasthan government He is IAS officer of the 1979 batch who belongs to the Rajasthan cadre.

Dr. Panwar who has many firsts to his credit in an interview to whispersinthecorridors.com unfolded his plan and vision. He told Sanjeev Majupuria ,Editor & Country Head with whispersinthecorridors.com “During the Games period, ITDC would set the highest standards of service. Post CWG our efforts would be to take this forward and concentrate on the Brand Value of the Group. We would maintain the same standards and ensure that the complete experience of guests should be qualitative in all respects.” He also has many plans for improving ITDC’s image.

He prefers to maintain a low profile, but knows his job very well. Dr. Panwar has, had the distinction of having served the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) as its CMD for five years. Dr.Panwar who had obtained his Ph.D from the Rajasthan University in 1998 was also Director, Tourism with the Rajasthan Government. He had done his PhD in Ecotourism. Besides, Dr. Lalit K Panwar has authored two books. One of them was titled “Ecotourism in Indian Desert” while he was co-author of a book on “Palace on Wheels” with Mrs. Dharmendra Kanwar. It may be recalled here that Dr. Panwar was instrumental of “Palace on Wheels” on broad gauge line.

Here are excerpts from his interview:

Q.1. What are your priorities as C&MD of the ITDC?

Reply. My immediate priority is to ensure good infrastructure at The Ashok, Samrat and Janpath hotels for the Common Wealth Games (CWG). Both Janpath and Samrat are on schedule and almost 70 percent work has been completed. There is some delay at The Ashok as we are not able to hand over the entire complex for renovation due to operational reasons. However the renovation work has been accelerated and should be completed by August. ITDC is managing the 2709 flats at Vasant Kunj and 1168 flats in the Games Village. ITDC has also been entrusted with the furnishing, housekeeping and management of the food court in Vasant Kunj. The task of illuminating 11 monuments in Delhi as well as running the Light & Sound show at Purana Qila, Delhi are also among our priorities. In all, our main priorities, as of now is the management of the preparations for the Common Wealth Games and adhere to the time schedules as set by the Ministry of Tourism.

Q2. Do you think that ITDC will be able to meet challenges of accommodation before Common Wealth Games to be held in October 2010?

Reply. Yes. I am confident that the ITDC will be able to meet challenges of accommodation before CWG to be held in 2010. My teams are working 24X7 to complete all these projects in time.

Q3. What steps have you planned to boost Business & image of ITDC in India & Abroad?

Reply. At present the image of ITDC requires a strong marketing thrust in terms of status positioning in the existing as well as potential markets, both in India & abroad. Aggressive marketing efforts require to be supported by concerted publicity efforts for some of our commercial services wings. Two of our divisions – The Ashok Travel & Tours and Ashok Creatives require to be brought back into the limelight. We are ready to offer ATT all possible infrastructure support to compete with leading tour companies in the market. A broader horizon is envisaged for Ashok Creatives, the communication arm of ITDC, to work on lines of a government – run agency and also source in works from State Government Tourism bodies

Q4. What are challenges that you see as ITDC Chief?

Reply. The major challenges foreseen today are probably going to be post CWG – specially in terms of tourist arrivals/occupancy. Under the circumstances thrust would be on wooing the domestic/international tourist.

During the Games period, ITDC would set the highest standards of service. Post CWG our efforts would be to take this forward and concentrate on the Brand Value of the Group. We would maintain the same standards and ensure that the complete experience of guests should be qualitative in all respects.

Q.5. What steps are you taking for improving ITDC’s image?

Reply. First, we are concentrating on the travel trade to source in maximum arrivals. Simultaneously we are concentrating on (1) the traditional tools of image building. Extensive coverage in the print, electronic, radio and outdoors – both in India & abroad. (2) To build up the media as a “friend” in order to maintain a consistent image based on “Trust” and Performance. (3) To promote goodwill through the word - of -mouth publicity concept.

Q.6. Where do you see India Globally in tourism sector by the year 2030?

Reply. India is set for great growth in the coming years. Considering the average spend of an average tourist today with substantial disposable incomes, coupled with the technological developments and better communication networks, we envisage India’s position globally as high and financially stable. With a product range much. India can hope to be a year round destination and for every one…both in the domestic as well as global tourism sectors.

Dr Gupta to join GoI next month
Dr B C Gupta is expected to join the Government of India as Secretary next month. He is 1975 batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre.
Prof Anantha to be Secretary Statistics and Programme Implementation
Prof T C A Anantha is being appointed as the Secretary Min of Statistics & Programme Implementation and the Chief Statistician of India. Formal orders are expected to be issued in a day or two.
Pronab Sen to return Planning Commission
Present Secretary Min of Statistics & Programme Implementation and the Chief Statistician of India Pronab Sen is expected to return to the Planning Commission as Principal Advisor.
Raju to be Joint Secretary NAC
Kopulla Raju is being appointed Joint Secretary in the National Advisory Council. He is 1981 batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre.
Anup Kumar Thakur to join GOI in a couple of days
Anup Kumar Thakur who on central deputation has been appointed as
Additional Secretary Agriculture will be joining Government of India
(GOI) in a couple of days. He is an IAS officer of the 1979 batch who
belongs to the Assam- Meghalaya (A-M) cadre. He is Principal Secretary
(PS) to Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma.
Mohanty to join Health Ministry
T R Mohanty ,a senior ISS officer has reportedly been specifically picked up by the Min of Health& Family Welfare to serve as DDG in that ministry. He has joined the ministry and started cracking the intractable issues of the ministry.
Lakra is Advisor to Jharkhand Governor
Wilfred Lakra has been appointed for the second time as Advisor to the Jharkhand Governor.He is retired 1973 batch IAS officer of Chhattisgarh cadre.
T. Jacob joins GOI as Joint Secretary Food
T. Jacob has joined the Government of India (GOI) as Joint Secretary in Department of Food Earlier, he was Principal Secretary (PS) Commercial Taxes & Registration with the Tamil Nadu government. He is an IAS officer of the 1984 batch who belongs to the Tamil Nadu cadre.
(We said this mid April 2010)
Prasad is advisor to Jharkhand Governor
Former Jharkhand DGP R. R. Prasad has been appointed as Advisor to Governor M. O. H Farook. He is 1970 batch IPS officer.
Sinha to join CVC
Alok Kumar Sinha is all set to join the CVC as Additional Secretary in Central Vigilance Commission. He is 1979 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre.
Das empanelled in GoI
Dr Har Saran Das is reported to have been empanelled to the rank of Joint Secretary in the Government of India. He is 1986 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.
P D T Achary & D.N. Pandey at logger heads
As the grapevine has it, P. D. T. Achary Secretary General of the Lok
Sabha and D.N.Pandey Principal Secretary (PS) to Lok Sabha Speaker Ms.
Meira Kumar are reportedly at loggerheads.
Vijay Kumar to be ,MD Hindustan Anti-biotics
K K Vijaykumar is being tipped to be new MD of the Hindustan Anti-biotics.He is presently in HOCL.
Selection of CBDT Members under old rules
Selection of new CBDT Members this year is going to take place according to the old rules .
P P Srivastava is out of the race ?
If top sources are to be believed CCIT Mumbai P P Srivastava is out of the race for the post of Member CBDT. He is 1974 batch IRS (IT) officer.
Ahmed Hussain  to join Settlement Commission
Ahmed Hussain  DG Valuation is poised to join Settlement Commission in Mumbai
Baba Ramdeo to field candidates in next LS polls
Sending alarm bells ringing for the political parties, Baba Ramdeo has made up is mind to field candidates from almost all the constituencies in the next LS polls
Mrs. Manjula Subramaniam is Member of Vigilance Advisory Council
Mrs. Manjula Subramaniam, is the Member (Vigilance Commissioner, Gujarat) of the reconstituted Vigilance Advisory Council, first set up by the Commission in the year 2004, with persons of great eminence as its members to advise and guide the Commission from time to time in the discharge of its statutory duties.
Pal moves to MEA Hqs
Debajyoti Pal ,Second Secretary in Moscow has been moved to MEA Headquarters.
Hunt is on CEO of the Rajya Sabha TV
A hunt is on for Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Rajya Sabha’s soon to be launched television channel.
No retrenchments in Air India
As the grapevine has it there will be no retrenchments in the National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) of which CMD is Arvind
Jadhav (IAS, 1978 batch –Karnataka cadre).
Reshuffle in Assam unlikely
As the grapevine has it, there is a very remote likelihood of bureaucratic changes taking place in Assam. There are indications that at least till next year’s assembly polls none of the district collectors (DCs) will be shifted.
Singh joins Settlement Commission in Chennai
K C Singh, has joined as Member of the Settlement Commission, Chennai Bench on 31st May .
Barnwal proceeds on mid-career training programme
Sunil Kumar Barnwal, 1997 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre has proceeded on mid career training programme. Aradhana Patnaik has been given additional charge as the Industries and Managing Director of Ranchi Industrial Area Development Authority.
Tenure of Mukherjee to expire today
Deputation tenure of Joint Secretary and FA Atomic Energy P Mukherjee is coming to an end on Wednesday. He is 1980 batch IA&AS officer.
Tenure of Krishna Kumar expires
Deputation tenure of Krishna Kumar Director Rural Development in the Government of India has expired. He is 1984 batch ISS officer.
Nihal Singh resigns from SAFMA
Veteran Journalist S Nihal Singh is reported to have resigned as Chief of SAFMA. Will some journalist from the Hindustan Times replace him.
MD Mining Corporation Jharkhand suspended
Jharkhand Governor has suspended MD of the Mining Corporation Bhagwan Prasad.
1991 batch IPS gets IG rank in Haryana
Three 1991 batch IPS officers Rajbir Singh,M S Malik and R S Deswal have been promoted to the rank of IG in Haryana.
IAS changes in TamilNadu
V. Palanikumar, IAS, Joint Commissioner of Revenue Administration, has been transferred and posted as Joint Secretary to Government Public Department , Dr. V.K. Shanmugam, Collector, Krishnagiri District has been transferred as Collector, Virudhunagar, V. Arun Roy, Deputy Secretary to Government (Budget), Finance Department, has been transferred as Collector, Krishnagiri while the services of Dr. K. Gopal, Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation has been appointed Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women.
Bureaucratic reshuffle in Mizoram
The Government of Mizoram has effected a minor bureaucratic reshuffle recently. K. Lalthawmmawia, MCS, Joint Director, Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation has been transferred as State Protocol Officer vice H. Lalengmawia, MCS who has been moved as Joint Director, Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation. Florence Zotluangpuii, MCS, SDO(C), Saitual has also been transferred as Protocol Officer vice Lalthangbika who has been repatriated to his parent cadre. Lalsangpuii Hmar, MCS shall take charge of SDO(C), Saitual and BDO, Phullen RD Block.

Anindo Mazumdar’s fate hangs in a balance 

As the grapevine has it fate of Anindo Mazumdar, an IAS of the UT cadre belonging to the 1985 batch has been running from pillar to post as he is without an office. Mazumdar who was posted as Joint Secretary Shipping earlier was posted as Joint Secretary Agriculture, but he was not being relieved because his reliever was critically ill. Mazumdar’s
reliever was Rajeev Dube (49), Deputy Chairman of Kolkata Port Trust, in charge of Haldia dock, a 1987 batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre.  Dubey had died of illness on June 3, 2010. Meanwhile, Anindo Mazumdar was relieved on June 4, 2010 and he reported to the Agriculture Ministry to assume his charge on June 7, 2010. However, he was denied a chance to join despite a clear-cut order of the DoPT.

CORPORATE
SBI Chief Bhat is new IBA Chairman
State Bank of India Chairman O. P. Bhatt has been elected the new Chairman of the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) for 2010-11.He will succeed CMD of Union Bank M V Nair.
New Deputy chairmen of IBA
HDFC Bank Managing Director Aditya Puri, Bank of Baroda Chairman and Managing Director M. D. Mallya and Canara Bank Chairman and Managing Director A. C. Mahajan have been elected deputy chairmen of the IBA.
Rana Kapoor is Honorary Secretary of IBA
Yes Bank Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Rana Kapoor has been elected Honorary Secretary of the IBA.
Aarthi Krishna re-designated as Joint MD of Sundram Fasteners Ltd
The Board of Directors of Sundram Fasteners Ltd  has re-designated Ms. Arathi Krishna, Executive Director, as Joint Managing Director with effect from June 1, 2010.
Pandey is Workmen Employee Director of Oriental Bank of Commerce
Oriental Bank Of Commerce has appointed  K. H. Pandey, as Workmen Employee Director of Oriental Bank of Commerce.
Supratik Chatterjee takes over as MD of State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur
Supratik Chatterjee, has taken over as Managing Director of  State Bank of  Bikaner and Jaipur with effect from June 04, 2010 in place of  T. C. A. Ranganathan who has voluntarily retired from Bank's service on April 07, 2010.
Bata India Directors re-appointed
N Sankar and  J Carbajal, Directors of  Bata India were reappointed as Directors at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on May 27, 2010.  

Aaj Ki Aawaz
Firstly Congress lets Anderson go!!!
To the case this was a huge blow!!
 
And then our Judiciary is to blame!!
For stretching cases it lived up to its fame (infamy)!
 
US now says Bhopal tragedy is India ’s internal matter!!!
Uncle Sam living up to his reputation of being a self centered mad hatter!
 
And now our Moily says Anderson ‘can still be extradited’!!!
Well my on Moily’s statement is please do not get exited!!
 
Moily is just trying to calm things down!!
Or you can say to distract attention he’s being a clown!!
 
Because those in the know will say his statement should be taken with a sack of namak!!
Of no value just a lot of chamak dhamak!
 
Again Indian lives are dirt cheap!!!
See how to save one American live US does leap!!
 
Pawar’s crookedness is now out in the public domain!!!
But sadly in the Cabinet he will remain!!!
 
Seems his gob has again revolted because of the lies it has to speak!!
For the revolt medical advice he had to seek!!
 
Advised to undergo surgery for the swelling in his gob!!!!!
Though they say swelling is not a cancerous blob!!
 
There will come a day when he will realize!!!
That all the money he’s made will not decrease his pain or increase his life size!!
 
It is next to impossible that he will get away with what he’s done!!
Has anyone escaped HIS justice…… no one????
 
Isn’t this selling of Rajya Sabha seats wrong????
Regional Parties in this kind of business are ‘very strong’!!
 
Mallya is a JD (S) nominee for a RS seat!!
The principal behind the election to the Upper House such nominations defeat!!
 
Jethmalani for the sake of a seat returned to BJP!!!
Do you think the reason for his return Public does not see????
 
He lost Manu’s case and Anil’s case also!!
So for all practical purposes his ‘vakeel practice’ is doing just so-so’!!
 
So he’s got a lot of time to kill!!!
And politics in him is very much kicking and alive still!!
 
Now he’s even changed his stance on Azal Guru!!
Now as per BJP’s line of thinking Jethmalani ho gaya shuru!!
 
Though some say Jethu got the nomination also because of Sindhi ‘bhai chara’ (brotherhood)!!
And Advani left Ghadkari on Jethu’s nomination no chaara (excuse)!!
 
Advani told Ghadkari you stand up for Pawar as he is your Marathi brother!!
Advani said ‘Similarly when it comes to a Sindhi bro for me there is no other’!!
 
Confucius says……Jethmalani has what is takes to be a damn good vakeel!!
He has no conscience so guilty for defending the undefendable he never does feel!!

Bharat Kumar

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)

Modi never targetted common Muslim
BJP has been painted as a party which is working against Muslims. Narender Modi Chief Minister of Gujarat is BJP candidate and he raised his voice and took action against Muslims when they were at fault and never targetted common Muslim and for the development of Gujarat he has worked tirelessly. Misgivings created by the political parties particularly Congress in the minds of Muslims that he will work against them have been proved wrong and the apprehension against him earlier stands cleared. He stands to gain the confidence of Muslims in the days to come in large numbers. This will also help the Muslims to understand the other political parties which have so far treated them vote bank only.
Tarun Sharma

We have a wonderful system
Chief Justice of Supreme Court immediately on retirement is made Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission (as if any delay would constitute a break in service )and it takes more than 25 years for victims of greatest human rights violation in the shape of industrial disaster due to criminal negligence which killed 25000 people to get 'justice ' by way of meager punishment of two years in jail with immediate bail to seven persons only while the main person Warren Anderson having been allowed to escape immediately to rule out the possibility of his getting even token punishment . Nothing can be more farcical than this.
Sudhir Chopra

US-India Friendship !
I am just back from an unforgettable trip to Washington, DC -- my first in three years. The opportunity came when I received an invitation from the Secretary of State to attend a reception on June 3 in honor of the visiting Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his delegation which had arrived for talks on US-India Strategic Dialogue. In an unusual goodwill gesture President Obama himself participated and spoke at the State Department reception. 

The feedback I have had from participants at the Strategic Dialogue as well as from knowledgeable observers in Washington is that the talks went off very well. It’s clear that India -- the world’s largest and fastest growing democracy of over 1.1 billion people -- is a nation which seeks constant reassurance and the US administration led by President Obama himself and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pulled all the stops to provide that reassurance in ample measure.

The joint statement issued at the conclusion of the Hillary-Krishna talks is remarkable for its emphasis on action.
Ram Narayanan
US-India Friendship

Govt should act
D Choudhary has shown mirror to all the so called higher ups of our government who are pretending that all is well in the North East. We all know the truth but we are silent. This is high time that the government acts in the interest of nation by going after the militants.
Sunil

This is apropos "Dealing with Internal and External Security".
The suggestion to paramilitarise the CPOs needs to take the Army route. The recruitment can be as at present on All India base and let the reservation rules continue. Let Army take that intake and send them to the their different region based regiments to serve in the Army for minimum five years. Same procedures be applied for the officers. After serving for five years in the Infantry Regiments of the Army, selected ones can be retained and others be shifted to CPOs.
The higher echelons of these CPO under Home Ministry should be initially be the Military officers till the militarised officer cadre of CPOs comes up the ladder. This shift would take place within ten years. That is the only cushion available with the Elephant to deal with the Dragon and thousands of Dragons inside.
This would benefits in Army being kept young, less disgruntled, less pensionary burden for the Country and economy, alternative avenues for miltary officers and the internal security being taken care of by a well trained forces and also availability of vast numbers of manpower as strategic reserves.
If India is looking towards internal and external stability and peace to achieve more than 08 per cent growth, there is no escaping this route. Growth brings internal frictions, rising aspiration, instability and disorders. India needs "Police Force" and not police guards with sticks.

IPS needs to concentrate on Policing, Law and Order, Constabulary, Intelligence, Administration, Criminals and thugs. They are not made and trained to play "Generals" which they are unsuccessfully and unprofessionally doing today.
Let us grow and grow with peace and stability. We can not allow ourselves to be destablised at low cost options being adopted by those who do not want us to grow.
Sunil

CGHS woes
I am a retired Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India residing now at Bangalore. Recently I requested the CGHS dispensary to give a hospital reference for Piles complaint requiring endoscopy. The CGHS Doctor stated that he can only give a reference for consultation in the Bowring Hospital. This is a state run General Hospital and it does not have any arrangement for CGHS. Moreover any one can go that free hospital and CGHS reference has no meaning.
Some time back, some columns appeared in this site about CGHS. While most beneficiaries thought that the CGHS should be shot down, there were a few who had all praise for CGHS. Can any one tell me whether the CGHS doctor was right in saying that he can only refer to the Sate Govt. Hospital? If that is the case, why the hell are they taking contribution when the treatment in that Hiospital is free to everyone ?
Benjamin

Contempt of Court
At Sri Sri Ravishankar’s ashram the Bow Bow incident should remind all about the Supreme Courts orders on how to deal with stray dogs and mongrels. These dogs have Human Rights. A stray dog cannot be shot at randomly or inhumanely exterminated by municipal authorities. At best he\she may be kidnapped and left elsewhere within a 5 kilometer radius. This is necessary in order to avoid disorientation and confusion in the dog or dog person. If there is a railway line cutting across, the dog should be left on the side nearest his \her old territory. A female should not be addressed as a bitch as it is insulting ,but as a dog person. The question of opening fire with a pistol upon a defenseless dog who is far below the poverty line, especially in a rural area, simply does not arise. The method smacks of Nazi programmes and amounts to Contempt of the Supreme Court.
D Choudhury