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Whisper's Debate

Seven Prime Ministerial candidates in NDA
As the political climate in the country turns murky, observers feel a general election to the Lok Sabha in the near future will benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). A debate run by whipsersinthecorridors.com to judge the mood of the nation has thrown open a positive mandate in favour of the NDA. However, who will head the NDA combine if it returns to power is what most observers are still confused about. For there are as many as seven aspirants or Prime Ministerial candidates from the NDA combine.

The leaders of NDA who are eyeing at the top include Lal Krishna Advani - the senior BJP leader who missed out in 1999-2004 term when the NDA was calling the shots. During the entire five year period he had to live under the shadow of Atal Bihari Vajpayee - elder statesman - and he remained relegated to the number 2 position in the government. For Advani this is perhaps his last opportunity for a look at prime ministership. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj is also hoping that things will go in her favour. Being a women gives Sushama that added advantage. Like Sushma Swaraj, BJP's second rung leaders namely Narendra Modi, Venkaiah Naidu and Arun Jaitley are also eyeing their chances. With a little luck anyone one of these leaders can make it to the top. Modi, by his effective handling of the Gujarat is harbouring ambitions for a national role.

Fresh from his electoral win, Nitish Kumar has been tansformed overnight from a regional leader to a national leader having a pan India appeal. He is also eyeing on the Prime Minister's post as he feels he would emerge as a consensus candidate in an NDA formation. On the other hand there is Sharad Yadav, a politician who has mastered the art of survival and cannot be written off. Being the NDA convenor, he is a potential candidate. Going by his past, it won't be a surprise if the champion of the Mandal movement pulls off to lead a non-Congress, non-BJP combine in a fractured Lok Sabha.

(Read details in the Dec issue of WHIPSERS IN THE CORRIDORS, Magazine)

TOP CORPORATE POWER HOUSES IN INDIA
1. Mukesh Ambani & Anil Ambani
Reliance Group
Apart from heading one of India's biggest and diverse business conglomerates, Mukesh Ambani is the man keenly watched globally. For the record sake Mukesh's worth is over US $27 Billion as per Forbes list and he may be the richest man in the World by 2014. So, it is hard to believe that his footprints are not behind any major policy initiatives, especially that relating finance, taxation or trade and commerce. Mukesh's Man Friday in Delhi, Bala Subramaniam, takes care of the group's networking. He has unhindered access to all power centres in Delhi be it Congress party's Pranab Mukherjee or Motilal Vora, BJP's L.K. Advani or Nitin Gadkari, Communist party's Sitaram Yachuri or D. Raja, RJD's Laloo Yadav or other smaller parties. His aim is to get a Bharat Ratna award for the late Dhirubhai Ambani - his father and founder of Reliance Group - besides, total allegiance of the country's bureaucrats and politicians. His team is feverishly working along with the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi. However, the row over lobbyist Neera Radia tapes and her conversations that became public have tarnished the image of the company still, he is not the one who can just be stopped over by such minor irritants.
His younger brother, Anil Ambani had already enjoyed unhindered access to the -corridors of power and ever since the patch up with the elder brother is trying to consolidate his gains. His team is active round the clock keeping a tab on critical issues in governance.

2. Shashi Ruia and Ravi Ruia
Essar Group
They are number four in Forbes list of richest Indians with assets worth nearly US$ 15 billion, but maintain an extremely low profile. The government is said to have supported them in the attempt to restructure their group in recent years and they enjoy the most unhindered access to all political parties. The fact that they have no political ambition has stood them in good light with all political parties. Their man in Delhi is Sunil Bajaj, who enjoys an easy access to all political bigwigs and bureaucratic strongholds. They only travel to Delhi when work calls for their presence and their coming and going go unnoticed as they travel unobtrusively with the minimum noise. Of late, the Group's networking too has acquired a higher crescendo, what with all the expansion plans, and acquisitions in foreign countries.

3. Gautam Adani
Adani Group
Forbes has placed him at number 7 in the richest Indians list with a worth of more than US $ 10 billion in kitty. Adani's is the fastest growing group in the country's Corporate landscape forcing observers to say that he is the Dhirubhai Ambani in the making. His political connections are fantastic. His claim to fame is for having been caught on the wrong side of the law more than any other business man in the country. However, he sails out of trouble every time and moves ahead with greater conviction. His strong political connections with BJP patriarch L.K. Advani, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Congress' Ahmed Patel is the talk among observers and the envy of his competitors. His key aide Puneet Sharan presides over the Public Relations activities of the group in Delhi.

4. Ratan Tata
Tata Group
From salt to heavy vehicles to the most high tech IT set ups, Tata's is one of the oldest Indian conglomerates, having touched the lives of every Indian. People have learnt to live with Tata, for Tata's stood for quality, conviction and growth with humility. Though the contents of the Radia Tapes have done great damage to the reputation of Ratan Tata, still his is the most revered business house in the country. For the record, Forbes does not have him on their rich list. Is he a billionaire? No, Ratan Tata is not a billionaire. Of course he is the Chairman of Tata Group having 96 businesses out of which 28 are publicly listed and are worth more than US $ 70 billion. Well, to be a billionaire, on your financial statement, your assets must be worth billions of dollars. The main bulk of the shares of its 96 Businesses are not on Ratan Tata's personal financial statement. Tata Group's Key holding Company, Tata Sons has 65 per cent ownership to various Tata group charitable organizations out of which Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Sir J.R.D. Tata Trust are the main holders. About 18 per cent of the holdings in Tata Son's are with Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry who maintains low profile and is known as "Phantom of Bombay House". Ratan Tata himself holds less than 1% of TATA Sons, the key holding Company of Tata Group. This is the reason why he is not a billionaire.
Ratan Tata given his respect among common man should have been number one in this list but his public spat with TMC leader Mamata Banerjee over the Nano project and land acquisition in Singur, West Bengal have left his image tarred. Moreover, the shifting of his pet Nano small car project to Narendra Modi's Gujarat has marred his chances of getting a Bharat Ratna, as long as the Congress is in power at the Centre. His personal office general manager, who happens to be son of a senior lady journalist in Delhi, is RNT's networking man.

5. Lakshmi N. Mittal
ArcelorMittal
Steel tycoon and the chairman of ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaking company is placed by Forbes at the number two position with a net worth of US $ 26.1 billion. His journey to become one of the richest man in the world, has been very controversial from his association with former
Indonesian President Suharto to British Prime Minister Tony Blair who allegedly helped him in his business ventures. In India his association started with for Union Minister N.K.P. Salve and this helped him move closer to power centres in India. He enjoys personal rapport with the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress' Political Secretary Ahmed Patel and enjoyed equally close relationship with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's family.

6. Sunil Mittal
Bharti Enterprises
With a worth of US $ 8.6 billion the telecom czar, Sunil Mittal is placed at number 9 in the Forbes list. Son of a father who was MP from Ludhiana of the Congress Party, he started business with manufacturing cycle parts at the age of 18. He is a risk taker and known to have best networking with political masters in Delhi. His office door conference room) near Qutub Minar says it all SULTANAT. His aim is to be Emperor of telecom world and he has already taken steps in that direction looking for joint ventures, acquisitions and mergers in Africa and elsewhere in Asia.

7. K.P. Singh
DLF Limited
Forbes pitches him shade ahead of Sunil Mittal at number 8 in the India rich list with a worth of US $ 9.2 billion. His chance meeting on the road with late Rajiv Gandhi turned him from a small time builder of south Delhi to the biggest builder in India. His controversial tie up with Dubai World company Emaar Group has tarnished his image and probably made him loose a few billions. He is regarded as the Ambassador of Good times by the political glitterati in Delhi. He is said to be richest person in the national capital.

8. Venugopal N. Dhoot
Videocon Industries Limited
Videocon Industries limited being headed by its Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) Venugopal N Dhoot, is the flagship company of US $ 5 billion Videocon Group having diversified business interests in white and brown goods, power generation (both conventional and renewable energy). Exploration and Prospecting Oil and Gas, Providing GSM Mobile Telephone Services, last mile retail, and Direct to Home Delivery of Television Contents. Its activities are well spread out in India, China, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and Mozambique, with employee strength of more than 15,000. Venugopal N Dhoot, a second-generation entrepreneur and an engineer by training, transformed Videocon from a conference room-sized assembly line in 1979 into a conglomerate across the verticals of consumer electronics and home appliances, office automation, telecom, power, crude oil and natural gas. Dhoot has a vision to led Videocon and make it a Fortune 500 company in the next five years. Dhoot is an environmental enthusiast having successfully completed a project of planting 2,00,000 teak saplings across India.

9. Subrata Roy Sahara
Sahara Group
Chairman of the Group having India's biggest - land bank, NBFC, Media & Entertainment Company, Service & product company, exclusive Aamby Valley City along with Major housing & commercial building projects including Malls, Premium Apartments, Hotels and Hospitals, Life Insurance Company, Mutual Fund House, Housing Finance Co., Consumer products & Retail Chain, Integrated travel & tourism services. Subrata Roy Sahara's worth is about US $ 3.3 billion and as Chief Guardian of world's largest family, providing livelihood to millions, directly touching the life of one out of every fifteen Indian, believing in collective sharing & caring for collective growth, proved over decades through CSR projects and activities carried out all over India and particularly in UP & Bihar, one of world's poorest regions, up to the assistance to families of Martyr's of Kargil war and 26/11 Mumbai attack.
Biggest supporter of Sports, being a character builder of nation, more than 60 % medal winning Indian athletes in CWG 2010 sponsored by Sahara India Pariwar. Extended critical support which made the event wonderful for India. Exploring overseas value adding acquisitions like England's legendry soccer club Liverpool, one the oldest Hollywood Studios MGM, iconic London Hotel Grosvenor House. A visionary par excellence, one of the all time great entrepreneur, dedicated to nation building.

10. Kumar Mangalam Birla
The Aditya Birla Group
Like Tata, the name Birla is synonymous with Indian Industry and has been among I the country's oldest business houses. Kumar Mangalam Birla, the Chairman of the US$ 29 billion Aditya Birla Group, a global conglomerate with operations spanning 27 countries. An iconic figure, Birla holds several key positions on various regulatory and professional boards. He is a Director of the Central Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of India and Chairman of the Staff Sub-Committee of the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India. He serves on the Prime Minister of India's Advisory Council on Trade and Industry. Birla group has however,not changed like other business groups. They still believe in traditional business style and instead of expanding their empire are trying to consolidate their present business establishments. They do not want to walk on the waves of the time.

11. Anil Agrawal
Vedanta Group
Vedanta Group is an LSE-listed diversified FTSE 100 metals and mining company, and India's largest non-ferrous metals and mining company. Anil Agrawal, the NRI Chairman of the Vedanta Group has a worth of US $ 7.9 billion. Agrawal's ambition is to become the richest businessman in India. If things would have gone as he had planned out with the IPO and the expansion of mining activity in Orissa, Agrawal would have overtaken Mukesh Ambani as the richest Indian businessmen. He is said to have a direct access in the Ten Janpath.

12. G.M. Rao
GMR Group
Founder Chairman of GMR Group-global Infrastructure major the Group is well
diversified and professionally managed with focus on business verticals of Airports, Energy, Highways and Urban Infrastructure including SEZs, apart from interests in Agri-business. Born on July 14, 1950 in a small town of Rajam in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, G M Rao established the GMR business empire starting from a single jute mill in Rajam in 1978.G M Rao expanded the group's presence in the infrastructure sector by leading the group's foray into Highways. The group bagged its first global project by winning the bid to modernise the Sabiha Gokcen International (SGA) airport at Istanbul, Turkey and also ventured into the new business sector of Urban Infrastructure. The group will set up a 3300 acre multi-product SEZ in Krishnagiri District of Tamil Nadu. It is marching ahead on lines of the Adani group. With a strong desire to serve the needs of the marginalised sections and the rural society, Rao set up the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, to raise their living standards. The Foundation is active in the areas of education, health and hygiene, community development and empowerment.

13. Gopichand Hinduja
Hinduja Group
Hinduja is worth billions of dollars, but he still shares a kitchen with his three brothers. He co-chairs the Indian multinational corporation Hinduja Group with his eldest brother Srichand. Srichand, 75, and Gopichand, 70, are based in the exclusive district of Mayfair in London. The third brother, Prakash, 65, is in Geneva, while the fourth, and the youngest, Ashok, 60, remains in Mumbai. In each country, there is a house with a joint kitchen for all four of the brothers and their families to use. They are estimated to be worth a total of about US$9.5 billion (Dh34.89bn), according to The Sunday Times 2008 Rich List. At one stage they had fast emerged as a force to reckon with in the corridors of power, but now seem to have preferred lying low.

BUREAUCRACY

Will Nair go as DGP of Jharkhand ?
Presently on deputation to the CRPF, P.M. Nair, an IPS officer of the 1978 batch who hails from Bihar cadre, is the personal choice of the Chief Minister Arjun Munda who is hoping that the centre would relieve Nair for Jharkhand state.

Sanjay Kumar in fray for Jt. Secretary's post in MHA
Sanjay Kumar Director (Vigilance) had appeared before Home Minister P. Chidambaram to face an interview for the post of Joint Secretary, Naxal Management, in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). He is an IPS officer of the 1985 batch who belongs to the Himachal Pradesh cadre.

Will Anshu Prakash be PS Urban Development in Delhi ?
Name of Anshu Prakash is now doing the round for the post of PS Urban Development in the Government of Delhi.He is 1986 batch IAS officer.

Selvaraj to be PS Home in Delhi ?
Grapevine has it that B V Selvaraj is being appointed Principal Secretary Home and Cooperatives in the Delhi Government. He is 1981 batch IAS officer.Name of D M Spolia is also in circulation.

S P Tyagi nominated to National Security Advisory Board
S P Tyagi, former Air Force chief, has been nominated to National Security Advisory Board reconstituted by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

Sharma is new Ambassador to Kazakhstan
Ashok Kumar Sharma, Joint Secretary at MEA headquarters, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Kazakhstan.

Aaradhna Johri is now AS NACO
Aaradhna Johri has been elevated to the rank of Additional Secretary in NACO. She is 1980 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.

Anil Mukim is now CVO HUDCL
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation for appointment of Anil Mukim, IAS (GJ-85), presently working as Joint secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, as Chief Vigilance Officer in the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited, New Delhi.

Pande to be Director in HSCC
Gyanesh Pande is being tipped to be Director (Engineering) Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation .

Shubra Singh promoted to JS rank
Director Census Operations in Rajasthan Ms Shubra Singh has been promoted to the rank of Joint Secretary. She is 1989 batch IAS officer.

Verma to go on training
Registrar Cooperative Socities in Delhi Government A C Verma is going on training.He is 1994 batch IAS officer of UT cadre.

Shukla to be relieved today
A B Shukla is being relieved from Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday to join the Delhi Government.

Rajagopal to succeed Nair in Abu Dhabi
Director (WA) in the Ministry of External Affairs B Rajagopal will succeed R C Nair as Councillor in Abu Dhabi. Nair is retiring on March 11.

Neeraj Sinha elevated in IB
Neeraj Sinha, Deputy Director, Intelligence Bureau, SIB Tripura, has been promoted as Joint Director, I.B. at same place. He is an IPS officer of the 1990 batch who belongs to the Bihar cadre.

Pawan Singh is no.2 in panel for DF, POWERGRID
As the grapevine has it they are: Pawan Singh (from Railways) is number two in the panel for the post of Director Finance (DF) in POWERGRID interviews for which were held on January 13, 2011. Presently he is Director(Finance) in Delhi Transco

Dr. S. Karuna Raju is doing 5th district now
Dr. S. Karuna Raju (IAS 1998 batch) of the Punjab cadre is doing 5th district as Collector. He joined as Deputy Commissioner(DC)/ Collector Bhatinda. Earlier he was serving in the same capacity in Faridkot. Dr. Karuna Raju has, had the rare distinction of having served in three districts of Chhattisgarh. They are: Surguja, North Bastar and Raigarh. His strong forte is development oriented approach towards issues with a focus on emotional quotient (EQ).

Post of Special DG, CRPF HQ to fall vacant
One post of Additional Director General will be vacant in CRPF HQ, New Delhi due to transfer of Rakesh Jaruhar IPS at Kolkata in this month.

Creation of a DIG's post in CISF on the anvil
A proposal is under active consideration in the Ministry of Home Affairs for creation of a post of DIG in CISF for West Zone, Mumbai. It will be approved shortly.

Railways transfers and postings
Param Shiv, Sr. SC, Jabalpur has been transferred from WCR to look after the duties of the post of Sr. DSC/HWH-I/ER, in addition to his own, until further orders, Alok Nath Mathur of SAG/IRSEE has been on return from deputation posted in the cadre on ECOR and Kishan Pal of SAG/IRSEE has been transferred from ECOR to RWF in the same capacity and posted as CEE.

Booker awardee releases Dr. Jaganmohan's novel
Booker Prize winner & the member of the House of Lords, U.K. Lord Meghnad Desai, on January 8, 2011, released English Novel 'THE GREAT INDIAN INFERNO' authored by Dr. P.V. Jaganmohan, IAS and published by Ocean Books Private Limited at Press Club of India, New Delhi. The first copy of the book was received by S. M. Khan, Director General, Information & Broad Casting, Govt. of India. The author briefed about his book and thanked everyone associated with the production of the book and his family and friends and said he was waiting for reactions with his fingers crossed. The programme was compered by Dr. Varsha Gupta, English Department, Rajdhani College, University of Delhi, New Delhi.A vote of thanks was given by Pawan Agrawal, Publisher & CEO, Ocean Books Private Limited.A person with varied interests, Dr. P.V. Jaganmohan had obtained Master's Degree in Economics and Tamil Literature, as well as degrees in Law and Management. A comparative study of Hindi and Tamil linguistics had also earned him a Ph.D. He joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1987 in UP Cadre. A prominent educationist and thought leader, Dr. Jaganmohan had served as District Collector in five districts, Special Secretary, Higher Education and worked as the Vice-Chancellor of Jhansi University.An author of repute, his novels, short stories and collections of poems in Tamil, Hindi and English are widely read across the country.

Rakesh Garg to be AS Culture
Rakesh Garg will be new Additional Secretary Culture.He is 1980 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.Formal orders are expected in a day or two.

Sudhir Mittal to be AS Corporate Affairs
Sudhir Mittal will be new Additional Secretary Corporate Affairs .He is 1978 batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre. Formal orders are expected in a day or two.

World Bank President for Rs.4500 crore loan to Bihar
World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick has promised to give a loan to the tune of Rs.4500 crore for victims of Kosi floods. He praised the commitment and sincerity of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in rebuilding the flood devastated Kosi region in Bihar during a meeting with Kumar in Patna on January 12, 2011. An agreement for Rs. 1000 crore loan was signed in presence of the World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick.

World Bank chief thrilled on seeing Gangetic dolphins
World Bank President Robert Zoellick during his brief tour to Patna on January 12, 2011 was thrilled on seeing Gangetic dolphins. He saw this aboard a floating restaurant of the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC).He was accompanied by Indian Minister for Forests and Environment (MoEF) Jairam Ramesh.

Bureaucratic changes take place in Maharashtra

In a bureaucratic reshuffle the Maharashtra government has appointed Satish Gawai as Vice President & MD of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).Other IAS officers who were transferred are:Dinesh Waghmare Secretary Social Justice, Rajiv Jalota as Additional Commissioner Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and Vijay Kumar Gautam as Commissioner Employment & Self Employment.

NIRD Executive Council and General Council reconstituted

The Government has reconstituted the Executive and General Council of National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) Hyderabad with immediate effect for a period of three years. A Notification to this effect has been issued by the Ministry of Rural Development. The members of Executive Council are: Prof. M.G.K. Menon, Scientist; Dr.Y.K. Alagh, Ex-Member Planning Commission; Dr. B.A. Prakash; S.S. Acharya and Dr. I.V. Trivedi, VC. MLS University, Udaipur and Padmashree Anil Joshi, HESCO Dehradun. The members of the Executive Council are also member of the General Council. The other members of the General Council include : Rajaiah Sircilla (MP Lok Sabha); Prof. M.S. Swaminathan (MP Rajya Sabha); A.R. Khan, Presiden PMSC Society, Rajasthan; Dr.P.Sekhar, Mumbai.; Rameshwar Dudi, Zila Pramukh, Bikaner (Rajasthan); . Vijay Shankar Vyas, Rajasthan; Anna Hazare, Ahmednagar; (Maharashtra); Ajit Grewal, Delhi; V.N.Rajasekharan Pillai Vice Chancellor, IGNOU, New Delhi and Dr. C.Swaminathan, Vice Chancellor, Bharatiar University, Coimbatore. These are eminent persons who have made noteworthy contribution in the field of rural development. In addition, the Secretary Rural Development from the States of Assam, Kerala , West Bengal, Maharashtra and Bihar who are also In charge of Rural Development / Reconstruction or Development Commissioner have been nominated as the member of the General Council.

RTI

Are Employee Associations covered under the definiton of Public Authority?

Information about the election for Executive Committee proposed to be conducted by All India SC/ST Railway Employees Association (AISCSTREA) was refused by the Zonal President, claiming that the Association is not a Public Authority. The Commission noted that AISCSTREA is indirectly controlled and substantially financed by the Railway Board, Ministry of Railways. The office premises have been granted by the Railways and substantial financing in the form of receipts under the head Central Share are received from the Railways. Even the letterhead of the Association clearly states that it owes it's recognition and registration to the Railway Board. The CIC observed that a regime of transparency is in the interest of the Association. The CIC declared the Association a Public Authority under the RTI Act 2005 and directed the General Secretary to appoint the CPIO in the organization and comply with the other provisions of the RTI Act.

Comments

There are thousands of organisations claiming to represent the interests of employees of the Public Authority out of which many receive grants from the government. Some of these unions appear to be accountable to no one. Will this order turn out to be a milestone for the transparent working of the associations ?

[Mr. Kumar Shrawan Bhivgade v. Western Railway and the All India SC/ST Railway Employees Association [CEC] in File No: CIC/AD/C/2009/001263]

- Weekly article by Dr. (Mrs.) Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in), RTI Consultant to IIM, Indore and Co-author of the book: RIGHT TO INFORMATION - LAW AND PRACTICE by Taxmann. (The views are Personal)

CORPORATE
Bhargava no longer on Board of DCM Shriram Consolidated
S.C. Bhargava Nominee Director of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), has ceased to be Director on the Board of DCM Shriram Consolidated Ltd w.e.f. January 3, 2011, due to his resignation.

Thapar is Director, Shipping Corporation
Capt. S Thapar has been appointed as Director (Bulk Carriers & Tankers) of The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd., by the Ministry of Shipping (Government
of India) and has taken over charge w.e.f. January 11, 2011.

Tripathi appointed Chairman, Indraprastha Gas
B. C. Tripathi as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Indraprastha Gas Ltd w.e.f. January 14, 2011.

Rauka is Addl. Director, Money Matters Financial
Money Matters Financial Services Limited has appointed Beni Prasad Rauka as an Additional Director (Independent), of the Company with
effect from January 12, 2011.

Sanger is Addl. Director, Money Matters Financial
Money Matters Financial Services Ltd has appointed Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Sanger as Additional Director (Independent) of the Company with effect from January
12, 2011.

IFCI appoints new Director on Nagarjuna Fertilizer Board
IFCI Limited has withdrawn the nomination of B B Tandon as their Nominee Director on the Board of Nagarjuna Fertilizer & Chemicals Ltd and appointed S P Arora, as their Nominee Director on the Board of the company with effect from January 10, 2011.

Berry appointed Director (Sales & Mktg) Park Plaza, New Delhi
Vikram Berry has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing for Park Plaza, New Delhi.

Chandnani promoted by Obopay
Deepak Chandnani has been peomoted as the global Chief Executive Officer By Mobile banking and payments provider Obopay.

Liam Lambert quits Oberoi Hotels
Liam Lambert, President of Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, has quit the company citing personal reasons.

Chawla promoted
Pankaj Chawla has been promoted as the President of its India, Middle East, APAC & Africa markets by ICICI Bank-promoted 3i Infotech.

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)


Focussing on malaise only will not help

I have been reading contributions made by various netizens in the FORUM which primarily highlights and at times discusses at length the malaise afflicting the Indian bureaucracy, be it systemic or attitudinal. There is hardly anything mentioned about the solution or cure. It will, in my humble opinion, be more productive if we focus on possible reforms and restructuring of the civil service and post our inputs /comments/views accordingly instead of cursing one service or the other for right or wrong reasons.

Rajendra

Quality of Forum declining - Verdict by IAS officer

Hope the Editor of Whispers is not running the website for credibility.

Atleast ML Gupta had the guts to let his name known before posting his comments.

If Gupta's comments are absurd, the IAS officer, who has proudly announced his position in the Forum and trying to sit over judgement as to who should post & what in an open forum, is equally absurd.

May be the "IAS Officer" should come on deputation to Whispers to cut out comments unpalatable to him and satisfy his whims and fancies.

"If you have nothing to post, then don't include the forum column. It is getting really boring".

Hope running the country is not boring to you that you have to feel bored of Forum comments.

Ram

A welcome step !

The suspension of Ramanand Tiwari is a welcome step because it is a general perception that IAS officers are above law. But there are a number of such Tiwaris in bureaucracy.

Mohan

The forum is not getting bored.

Ram Singh IAS

Merger of CSS & CSSS?

In these days of dwindling Government activity in plethora of areas due to outsourcing / indulgence of NGOs, the CSSS that derived its existence from colonial days and inheritance of British staffing patterns, feels quite restless. Promising youngsters with lot of energy in CSSS should not be left high and dry. At the same time Merger with their bete noire CSS is only liable to create more problems. In such wholesome view of the problem, Government should think of fresh avenues for redeployment of this super flamboyant category assuaging their reasonable & justified feelings.

R V Nathan

What about Stenographer Cadre ?

I would like to say that what about the Stenographer Cadre other than Central Secretariat in Central Government departments and autonomous bodies! DoPT was supposed to formulate guidelines for this Cadre also after the implementation of 6th CPC.

Vijender Singh Rana

Some ways to check price rise

Prime Minister holds a meeting on the price rise of many essential commodities and the result is zero. None of the wise men in his cabinet could think of any way to control this run-away price rise of essential commodities which is pinching the common man very hard. May I, a common person, help these wise guys by apprising them of the two of the main causes. It does not require much intelligence - only a little sensitivity to pinpoint the problems and the solution is always there. Hoarding appears to be one big problem specially for onions and other imperishables. Attack the hoarders. Once raided, seize their stock so that they do not go on the rampage again. Another big problem, as discerned from reports in the financial newspapers appears to be the increasing rentals of trucks. This rental has gone up by 25% to 40% during the last one year. It has not been due to increase in diesel prices which is in the range of 13% during the same period. When 80% cargo is being moved by trucks, transport cost is definitely one of the main reasons for galloping prices. Why not control these. Hold on to diesel prices, tackle the truckers for the higher than justified rentals. The fact is, no one bothers to study the facts and no one, either the bureaucrats incharge or the politicians concerned anticipate problems and keep the solutions ready in time. For example, if onion production fell short of the demand the supply side could have been managed in time by imports etc. to overcome this shortage. But who bothers? Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches and not the ones clad in their perfect shoes nicely wrapped in heated rooms discussing price rise over hot cups of coffee and cashews.

Aarti Khosla

Keep it up

Keep it up Arjun Munda.

Ahmad

Tail=Piece

Dr Manmohan Singh`s father: Sat Sri Akal Puttar. Mubarakaan!

Dr MMS: Sat Sri Akal, Bauji! Even I didn`t expect to

stay that long as PM. My marriage to Gursharan Kaur really helped .

Father: Changaa kitta. But, our family's strength is that submission runs in our genetic code, and we have all gained from it.

Dr MMS: Tussi theek kainday ho.

Father: I met your class teacher in Pakistan recently. He did not believe that you still continue to be India's Prime Minister.

Dr MMS: Did he say anything else ?

Father: Aaho! He said the joke had gone too far.

Created by : A K Saxena (A retired civil servant)