Very Very excellent information from Govt. & Corporate/Industries sectors.
Ram Saran

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Aaj Ki Aawaz

Million Dollar question…. can reshuffle restore credibility of this Sarkaar????

Today if an election is held UPA ki pucci hai haar!!

Credibility can only be restored if the wrongs are corrected!!!

Then only this Sarkaar's credibility can be resurrected!!

Like for starters can UPA bring Q to justice and get the stolen money back????

Can it make Balakrishna and Thomas go...... 'apne aap ko karre dono sack'????

Can Pawar's chori be investigated and then Pawar taken to task????

Praful's investments in various Airlines and land deals can Sarkaar unmask????

Can Raja and Kalmadi be prosecuted at lightening speed????

And then made to pay for their humongous greed!!!

Can Kamalnath's 15% ghoos fest be looked into and till this is done he be asked to go!

Can Congress tick off Karuna on his demand a day and tell him 'ille po'?????

To cleanse the Judiciary first UPA has to cleanse apne aap ko!!!

Because for favourable judgements to the Judiciary Sarkaar and Netas do go!!!

What is Sonia's and Mohna's primary concern today????
Their primary concern is for its mandated term UPA should stay!!

That is why nothing is going to change…. same-o-same!!

And as usual when in a corner on BJP Congress will try to shift the blame!!

As I see it this Cabinet reshuffle is 'window dressing'!!!!

And fact is no one this reshuffle exercise is impressing!!

The ethos does not change…. same-o-same!!!

Money is, was and remains the name of the game!!

Reshuffle will end in 'same old whines in old and new battles'!!!!!

Seems UPA has a hundred rhino's hides and UPA ko nothing rattles!!

Seems Rahul feels calamities and injustices are opportunities to score brownie points!

This sure dissapoints!!!

Rahul has an OSD who informs him of chances to score such political brownie points!!!

Once informed a advisory panel from amongst his think tank Rahul appoints!

Then armed with the advices Rahul goes to ground zero (of calamity or injustice)!!!!

And tries to portray himself as a people's hero!!!

Rahul does not provide any material relief!!!

He slams Congress's opponents and he just enquires about the affected lots grief!!

And Mama thinks 'what a marvellous job her 'Bambino is doing'!!

The affected lot are in grief and scared/awed of Rahul's security or would indulge in booing!

Like he went to UP to meet this poor raped girls Mom!!

And this visit Congress did tom-tom!!

Did the girl benefit in any way from Rahul's visit…… no?????

The only benefit I see is if Maya aping Rahul to the girl's house does go!!

And Maya cannot leave the family empty handed!!

She'll announce relief ….but do not know if later to this family the relief is actually handed!!!

Rahul needs to realize Public now sees through this drama of his!!!

Why do you think now there are demands 'Sonia needs to get into siyaasat Rahul's sis'?

Rahul may have a heart of gold but what use is his heart to the poor in grief and pain!

From his golden heart what do the poor in grief and pain gain?????

Advani is going neela peela in the face on the Swiss accounts!!!

Well he received 50 lakhs as per Jain's (Hawala) accounts!!

Okay SC let Advani and Jain off on a mere technicality!!

Letting off Jain and Advani off on a technicality also shows SC's duality!

They were let off because there was no proof why the money was paid!!

Payments for jobs done and for keeping Netas in good humor all the time are made!

So Advani Ji before you scream and shout look within!!!

The cardinal rule is ….. one should only throw stones if one did not do the same sin!

And it is my naivety to make that amnesty suggestion!!

Fact is the Netas who have billions cannot take advantage of this concession!!

Because if they repatriate their tax haven funds back!!!

Details will come out and for making such huge sums of money they will be under attack!!

Okay amnesty will save them from being prosecuted!!!

But once the details come out their political careers will be 'executed'!!

Netas deposits in Tax Havens should be 75% of the moneys held by Indians there!!

Held in Trust Funds, Shell Companies and Front Names…… difficult to bare!!

Confucius says….. We have to find a way to get this money back abhi!!!

And not wait for Tax Havens to be forced to do so….. or tabhi or jabhi!!!

Adds…. Out of the box thinking!!!!

Pragmatism and some blinking!!

More….. Mohna Ji if you are interested yours truly has such a mode!!!!

My only worry is will the Indian Economy be able to bear the inflow load!!!!!

Bharat Kumar

Gujarat CM finds a new friend in Darul Uloom chief
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has found a new friend in Maulana Ghulam Mohammed Vastanvi. He is the new Vice-Chancellor of the Deoband (Uttar Pradesh) based Darul Uloom. In an interview to The Times of India, Vastanvi said "all ommunities" are prospering in Narendra Modi's Gujarat and there was "no discrimination against the minorities in the state as far as development was concerned." Political analysts feel that this a clear pointer to growing popularity of Narendra Modi among Muslims. He is quoted by TOI as having said, "Development has undoubtedly taken place in Gujarat and we hope it will continue. I ask Muslims to study well. The government is ready to offer jobs (to them), but for that, they need good education."

BUREAUCRACY

CVOs' tenure to be counted in central deputation ?
As per existing practice those officers who are serving as CVOs in PSUs, their period in central deputation does not count. Now CVC has sent a proposal to DoPT to nclude this period in the central deputation of concerning officers. The proposal is under consideration of the government.

Randhawa to be DG, SAI
T.S. Randhawa is being appointed as the Director General of Sports Authority of India (SAI). He is a 1979 batch IAS officer who belongs to the Gujarat cadre.

Madhav Lal repatriated to J&K State
The Government of India has repatriated IAS officer Madhav Lal to his parent state Jammu and Kashmir, to facilitate his elevation as the Chief Secretary of the state. Lal is an IAS officer of the 1977 batch who belongs to the Jammu and Kashmir cadre.
(We said this on Dec 10, 2010 and Jan 15, 2011)

Amit Kaushish to be Addl. Secy, Defence
K. Amit Kaushish is being appointed as the Additional Secretary, Defence. He is an allied services officer.
(We said this on May 12, 2010)

Sheela Thomas is Chairperson of Rubber Board
Sheela Thomas has been appointed Chairperson of the Rubber Board. She is 1985 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre.

Revamp in RBI on the anvil
There will be re allocation of portfolios in Reserve Bank of India (RBI) since Anand Sinha is being appointed as Deputy Governor (DG) RBI. Sinha who was to retire in February 2011 has been given two year term till February 2013.

Chakrabarty gets additional portfolios
Reserve Bank Deputy Governor K C Chakrabarty has been given important portfolios of the department of banking supervision, besides the departments of currency management, rural planning and credit, human resources development, administration and personnel.He will also continue to handle the portfolios of the departments of customer service and Rajbhasha.

One year tenure to CBDT, CBEC chiefs likely
Uncertainty seems to be getting over regarding one year tenure to chiefs of Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) and Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), as was recommended by the P. Mankad committee. The related note has been approved by the DoPT and Law Ministry. Now, it will go to the Cabinet.

Arun Chowdhury Additional Director IB to be elevated
Arun Chowdhury, Additional Director, Intelligence Bureau (HQ) Delhi, is likely to be promoted as Special Director in IB. He is an IPS officer of the 1977 batch who belongs to the Bihar cadre.

Verma is Director NEPA
R R Verma has been appointed Director, North East Police Academy (NEPA) .He is 1978 batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre.

Hunt is on for new Jt. Secr Agriculture & Cooperation
In the wake of Atanu Purkayastha, Joint Secretary, Agriculture & Cooperation, proceeding on a leave, hunt is on for his successor. The Ministry of Agriculture has asked for a panel of officers for the appointment of new candidate.

IPS officer to join MEA
1981 batch Uttar Pradesh cadre IPS officer Malay Kumar Sinha has been appointed Joint Secretary (Personnel) in the Ministry of External Affairs.

Ms. Renu Sharma likely to go as DCM, Brussels
As the grapevine has it, Ms. Renu Sharma, who on central deputation is Joint Secretary Industrial Policy Promotion in Ministry of Commerce, is likely to be reconsidered for posting as Deputy Commissioner Mission (DCM), Brussels. She is an IAS officer of the 1988 batch who belongs to the AGMU cadre.

Ms. Sreya Guha relieved to join as Director, Financial Service
Ms. Sreya Guha has been relieved by the Rajasthan government.Ms. Guha on central deputation will be joining as Director, Financial Services, Ministry of Finance.She is an IAS officer of the1994 batch who belongs to the Rajasthan cadre.

CBDT constitutes DRP - II Delhi
Central Board Of Direct Taxes has constituted the Dispute Resolution Panel (DRP} comprising of three Commissioners of Income- Tax/Directors of Income-tax as its Members. Accordingly, Delhi, DRP-II includes Virendra Singh, DIT (International Taxation)-II, Delhi, D K Gupta, DIT (Transfer Pricing)-I, Delhi and S G Joshi, CIT-III, Delhi.

Final decision on PS to the LS Speaker after Jan. 21
A final decision on Principal Secretary (PS) to the Lok Sabha Speaker is unlikely before January 22, 2011 because Ms. Meira Kumar who is presently on a tour to the UK will be back to India on January 21, 2011.

Scenario is quite confusing on DGP, Karnataka
A lot of confusion prevails regarding new DGP to the Karnataka government. However, experts feel that powers that will have to select a cautious path in he backdrop of litigations that had ensued last year in neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh on the issue of appointing DGPs.

IA & AS officer Sarit Jafa transferred
Services of Sarit Jafa (IA&AS-1987), Principal Director of Commercial Audit and ex-officio Member Audit Board-II, Mumbai, have been placed at the disposal of the Government of India for appointment to the post of Director of Accounts in the Cabinet Secretariat, New Delhi on deputation basis.

Dr R Mukherjee nominated to National Security Advisory Board
Dr R Mukherjee has been nominated to National Security Advisory Board, reconstituted by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

Fray for Consul General, Jeddah has hot up
As the grapevine has it fray for the slot of Consul General in Jeddah has hot up. Main contenders now will be M.A. Saleem, IPS (Karnataka 1993) and Zahur Zaidi PS to E. Ahmed Ministers of State for External Affairs (MEA) E. Ahmed. Zaidi is an IPS officer 1994 batch from Himachal Pradesh cadre.

Anil Kumar is ACS in Bihar
Anil Kumar has been promoted to the rank of ACS in Bihar .He is 1976 batch IAS officer.

1986 batch IAS get PS rank in Bihar
Three IAS officers Sanjiv K Sinha, KP Ramaiah and Alok Vardhan Chaturvedi have been promoted to the rank of Principal Secretary in Bihar.

Dr Agrawal is Member of Dental Council of India
Dr G D Agrawal has been re-appointed Member of the Dental Council of India. He is well known Doctor in the Central India.

Transfers of three Rly officials cancelled
Transfers of three Railway officials including Prem Kumar K. of SG/IRAS from SR to WR, of NV Shetty of SG/IRAS from CR to NR and transfer of D. Kamilla of SAG/IRSME from SER to SECR as CSO have been cancelled.

Railways transfers and postings
BL Raikwar of SAG/IRSME has been transferred from ICF to SECR and posted as CSO, Onkar Singh of HAG/IRSE has been transferred from NER to temporarily look after the duties of the post of PCE/NER (present in SAG) in addition to his own, JSP Singh of SAG/IRSEE has been transferred from SCR to SR in the same capacity and posted in the cadre by making suitable local adjustments, JP Sindhu of SG/IRSSE has been transferred from ECR to RB and posted as Dir.(E&R)/S&T/RB, Kishore Vaibhav of SS/IRSEE has been transferred from CLW to ECR and Ramesh Maurya of JAG/IRSEE has been transferred from ECR to CLW.

IAS changes in Chhattisgarh
G S Dhanjay,P Anbalagan and Mukesh Kumar will be new Collectors of Sarguja,Bastar and Kawardha respectively.Kamalprit Singh will now be Director Health Services and M S Paraste Commissioner Tribal Development.

Nayak is new CIC Karnataka (UPDATED)
Former Additional Chief Secretary A K M Nayak has taken over as the new Chief Information Commissioner of Karnataka.A K M Nayak Retired IAS officer D Thangaraj, retired IPS officer M R Pujar are new Information Commissioners.

IAS changes take place in Kerala (UPDATED)
In a bureaucratic reshuffle Eight Collectors were changed.Among others
Anand Singh was posted as Collector Kannur

RTI

Filing of RTI application by a Public Authority
The applicant requested for information pertaining to income computation with TDS Challan, Trading Account, Balance Sheet with Schedules, Audit Report, Assessment Order/ self assessment information etc. in respect of 4 persons from the Income Tax department. The applicant stated that they were themselves public authority namely The New India Assurance Company Limited. The information was sought to defend their position in a claim of Rs. 181 crore against the death of individual in a road accident. The CIC directed to provide the information holding that the disclosure would serve the ends of justice and is in larger public interest by causing an unwarranted discharge of public funds.

Comments

Filing of a RTI application by a Public authority against another is indicative of the pattern of evolution of RTI Act. Against the time tested method of using the official channel for securing documents, RTI is being considered as a more potent tool for protecting the commercial interest of the company. Many more applications of the
similar kind are likely to be filed in the times to come.

[Sh. S.S. Hira v. Income Tax Department, Jaipur in Appeal No.
CIC/LS/A/2010/001130DS]

- 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
KLG Systel appoints directors
KLG Systel Limited has appointed Prabir Purkayastha and Vijoy Kumar
as Additional and Non Executive Independent directors of the Company.

Shah resigns as Director, Mastek Ltd
Amit Shah, Independent Director resigned from the Board of Directors of Mastek Ltd with effect from January 18, 2011.

Pande resigns as nominee Director, JK Tyre & Industries
G.B. Pande, Representative of Life Insurance Corporation of India on the Board of Directors of JK Tyre & Industries Ltd has resigned from the directorship of the company consequent upon his appointment as Insurance Ombudsman (UP & Uttarakhand).

Ispat Industries promoters to continue on JSW Ispat Board
Promoters of Ispat Industries Pramod Mittal and Vinod Mittal are to continue on the board of JSW Ispat Ltd even after the Sajjan Jindal-controlled JSW Steel takes majority interest in the company.

Liangjun appointed CEO, ZTE Telecom India
Telecom equipments provider ZTE Telecom India has appointed Cui Liangjun as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Kanth appointed GM, Northeast Frontier Construction Organisation
Ms Vijaya Kanth has taken over as General Manager of Northeast Frontier Construction Organisation. Prior to this, Ms Kanth was Adviser in the Railway Board.

Sankhe resigns as National Creative Director, Publicis Ambience
Publicis Ambience, National Creative Director Prasanna Sankhe has put in his papers.

New Director in TamilNadu
D. Vivekanandan, IAS, Director of Stationery and Printing is transferred and posted to act as Director of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business vice Atul Anand, IAS.

Holden appointed CEO
John Holden has been appointed as the CEO of Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of ommerce Life Insurance Company.

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.

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)


Ways to reduce corruption in Bureaucracy

If honest bureaucrats unite, I am sure, even the politicians would think twice to act in the wrong direction. Question, however, is how to ensure that majority of bureaucrats are honest. I feel the following measures would encourage honesty in bureaucracy to a large extent ?

1) There should be a Search Committee for all Tenure Postings, i.e. those beyond 60 years of age;

2) Government should keep a data bank for eligible officers for these posts;

3) Preference should be given to Serving officers, which would ensure creation of opportunities for officers of lower level; and

4) No such tenure posting should be filled up with officers having less than 2 years of tenure post.

C. Singh

Anomaly in Pay-Scales

Anomaly in the pay of the IAS/IFS and other Central Government Service officers including IPS & IfoS. The recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission came into effect from January 2006 for all the Central Government Service officers. A great anomaly has been created in the pay fixation of the Central Government Officers and their counterparts in the IAS/IFS. In the earlier pay structure there were Pay Scale for each post and the amount of increment to be given to a government servant every year was also fixed. For Example the pay scales for the Central Government Service officers were as - 10000-325-15200, 12000-375-16500, 14300-400-18300, 18400-500-22400 etc. This means that an officer in the pay scale of 10000-325-15200 will get a fixed annual increment of Rs. 325 every year and on next promotion the officer will be promoted to the scale of 12000-375-16500 in which he will get a fixed annual increment of Rs 375. It was a policy of the Government of India that the officers of IAS/IFS will be given two extra increments on each promotion. That means that on promotion to the scale of 10000-325-15200 an IAS/IFS officer will start at Rs 10650 i.e. after giving 2 extra increments of Rs 325. While the other Central Government Service officers will start at Rs 10000. This policy of giving two extra increments on each promotion will continue till the officer reaches Selection Grade i.e. the pay scale of 18400-500-22400. On promotion to this scale all the officers will start at Rs 18400. But the 6th Pay Commission has introduced the concept of running pay band. In this the old pay scales have been merged into four pay bands. Another concept of grade pay has been introduced which will signify the post of a person.

The difference is put in this table:

Junior Time Scale (JTS)

Senior Time Scale (STS)

Junior Administrative Scale (JAG)

Junior Administrative Scale (Non 14300-400-18300

Functional

JAG(NFSG)

Senior Administrative Scale (SAG the annual increment is not fixed as Rs 325 or Rs 375, but kept as 3% of the Basic Pay. On promotion an officer gets an increment of 3% of the Basic Pay and his grade pay also changes.

Old Pay Scale

8000-275-13500

10000-325-15200

12000-375-16500

New Pay Band

PB3: 15600-39100

PB3: 15600-39100

PB3: 15600-39100

PB4: 39200-67000

Grade Pay

5400

6600

7600

8700

Selection

Grade)

18400-500-22400

PB4: 39200-67000

10000

But the government has kept the policy of giving two extra increments to IAS/IFS intact. In the earlier system the two increments given in a pay scale got nullified on the next promotion an IAS/IFS officer had an advantage of only two extra increments.

For example now on promotion from JTS to STS an IAS/IFS will start at Rs 19620 but Central Government Service officers will start at Rs 18240. On promotion from STS to JAG an IAS/IFS will start at Rs 26490 but Central Government Service officers will start at Rs 23140. On promotion from JAG to JAG an IAS/IFS will start at Rs 26490 but Central Government Service officers will start at Rs 23140.

But in the running band system the affect of extra two increments does not nullify on the next promotion and then two more increments are given. This will virtually translate into four increments over a period of 13 years. The difference in basic pay would be initially Rs 1380 and will be Rs 3360 after 13 years.

Considering todays DA rate of 45% the difference would be Rs 2001 per month which will go up to Rs 4872. That means an IAS/IFS officer will get Rs 58,464 more per year than his counterparts in other services. In the earlier system he would have got Rs 13,920 more than his counterparts.

Another anomaly that has been created and which will last for the rest of the service career is as -

On promotion to JAG(NFSG) the pay band will change to PB4. At this stage a because of two extra increments a difference in basic pay would be Rs 2803 per month that means at todays DA rate of 45% the difference in pay would be Rs 4065.This pay band will continue for next 10 years. This difference in basic pay will rise to Rs 4864 per month which means a pay difference of Rs 7053 per month that means a difference of Rs 84634 per year. This is contradictory to the earlier concept that at SAG level all the officers will start at the same pay scale.

The difference in basic pay is also related with House Rent Allowance, hence an IAS/IFS officer will get more HRA than his counterpart in Central Government Service.

AN OFFICER

Better ask DOP&T to cancel guidelines

I fully agree with the views of SAMAALOCHAK about the Government of India's stand in the Supreme Court in the case of P.J. Thomas, CVC. As pointed out, the act of the Government is not expected. If the Government stick to the stand taken in Thomas case, better it should ask the DOP&T to cancel the guidelines issued for selection of CVC/VC. The DOP&T guidelines are being followed while selecting a person on deputation for smaller posts like LDC/UDC/Assistant/ Accountant and Section Officer etc.

Jhansi Lakshmi T

Enhance punishment in rape cases

The newspapers report a couple of rapes everyday. The victims range from infants of a few years to women in their fifties and sixties. I am sure the number reported is actually far less than the actual offences taking place. The cases when registered, take years to investigate and be decided by the courts. The victim meanwhile lives in fear of her life and the families become social outcastes. Govt. should enhance the punishment to death or life imprisonment, provide for fast tracking the investigations and disposal by special courts with atleast one woman judge hearing the case. Support to the victim and affected family during trial and rehabilitation after wards should be institutionalized.

S Swarup

CAT appointments

Supreme Court should keep itself away from such selections. In case of an allegation of some irregularity, what will be the remedy. Let these appointments be handled by UPSC. The present system of selection suffers from adhocism and favoritism. The Rules are twisted to favour individuals. There is no transparency.

Ahmad

This website is useless !

There is no concern or news or comment about indifferent, egoistic, feudal attitude of Indian bureaucrats. This website is being support all the so-called feudals and targetting politicians. What about bureaucrats - slaves of the system.

Sanjay Gupta

Stop all post-retirement appointments to eliminate corruption

To begin with, no post-retirement appointments/ accommodation be done for a period of say five years. The impact of this simple step on reduction of corruption will surprise even the most pessimistic person. This will also enable the public servants considered to be indispensable or who consider themselves so, to devote some of the time of their precious lives to the real public service which they might not have found due to their otherwise busy schedules while in service.

Rajendra