What people say about us !

It goes without saying that your site has really matured into a forum which GoI too has now started taking serious cognizance of it.

R Srivastava

Who will lead Maharashtra Youth congress?
Maharashtra Youth Congress is going to elect its president very soon. The contest is between Vishwajit Kadam son of Minister Patangrao Kadam, and Satyajit Tambe. Though Kadam is already 34 years of age and this is his last chance, Tambe is younger and has the support of Amit Deshmukh, son of Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Pakistan : Public debt touches 11 trillion rupees with rollover risks
According to Asian Development Bank Pakistan's public debt during the current fiscal has touched a record figure of US $ 85.5 billion or Rs 11 trillion. Of this Rs 6 trillion equalling 33% of GDP is the domestic public debt and Rs 4.8 trillion equalling over 26% of GDP is the external debt. According to Manila based multilateral agency Asian Development Outlook Update the average maturity for domestic debt has fallen to 18 months and with 12% interest rate the costs were equivalent to nearly 35% of the total federal tax collected during 2011 fiscal. The situation raises 'both rollover and interest rates risk' the agency has stated.

BUREAUCRACY

Empanelment of 1978 batch IAS officers this week ?
Meeting for empanelment of 1978 batch IAS officers to the rank of Secretary in the Government of India is expected to take place this week .

PMO will have no Secretary
After the departure of M N Prasad, there will be no Secretary in the PMO. Now there is a policy decision not to appoint any Secretary.

Prasad to join World Bank on September 30
Secretary in the PMO M N Prasad is joining the World Bank as ED on September 30.He is former 1972 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre.

Anup Gulati to be JS Justice
IRPS officer Anup Gulati is all set to join Department of Justice on a newly created post in the Government of India in a couple of weeks.

Vinoo Gopal to be Director (Projects) EPIL
Vinod Gopal is being tipped to be new Director (Projects) of the Engineering Projects India Ltd (EPIL).He is presently GM in IRCON.

Bhagat is new High Commissioner to Ghana
Rajinder Bhagat, presently Joint Secretary at Headquarters has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to Ghana.

Wadhwa is new Ambassador to Thailand
Anil Wadhwa, presently Ambassador of India to Oman has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Thailand.

Maj. Gen B.C. Khanduri as CM means business
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Maj. Gen B.C. Khanduri means business. This was amply reflected by the manner in which he allocated portfolios. Not only this much, but he went a step further by creating a new department. It has been named as Department of Good Governance, Anti Corruption & Public Service and its portfolio will remain with the Chief Minister. This is for the first time in India that such a department has been created by any of the Indian state governments. This pioneering initiative of Maj. Gen Khanduri stems from the bedrock of what led to his induction as the Chief Minister of Uttarkhand.

1985 batch of IRS to be empanelled as Joint Secretary
Indian Revenue Service (IRS)-IT officers of the 1985 batch are going to be empanelled as Joint Secretaries in the Government of India (GoI).

Two in contention for DGIT Vigilance, Delhi
There are two CCIT rank officers of Indian Revenue Service(IRS) who are in fray for the post of DGIT Vigilance, Delhi.

Elevation of Ms. Sudha Sharma uncertain
Ms. Sudha Sharma who presently is DGIT Vigilance, Delhi faces a hurdle as far as her becoming a Member of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) was concerned. A vacancy of a Member in CBDT arisen in the wake of M C Joshi being appointed as Chairman, CBDT. However, Laxmandas CCIT- (CCA) Delhi has won a case in the CAT for a post of Member CBDT. It is to be seen that what view does the GOI take in his case.

Planning Commission recruiting
Currently the Planning Commission of India (PC) is recruiting young consultants (in the age group of 20-30Years) under the leadership of its Deputy Chairman Dr. M.S.Ahluwalia and Indian Minister of State for Planning Ashwini Kumar .

Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana is PS to Shipping Minister
Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana has joined as private Secretary (PS) to Indian Minister for Shipping G.K. Vasan, at Director level in the Ministry of Shipping for a period of five years. He is an IAS officer of 1995 batch who belongs to Tamil Nadu cadre.

One decade tenure cap for PAs to Ministers
Those staff members in the Government are unhappy with a decision of the Government of India (GoI) whereby a cap of 10 years was put on an incumbent to serve as private assistant (PA) to any of the Central Ministers. Thus, Ministers at the Centre will have to look for new faces as their PAs in place of those who have serves as PAs for 10 years. His decision was taken while K.M. Chandrasekhar was the Cabinet Secretary.

Subhra Banerjee poised to be next Director (Personnel), HECL
Subhra Banerjee, SGM, ECL, is being tipped to be the next Director (Personnel), Heavy Engineering Corporation Ltd (HECL). His name has been cleared by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) after the interviews held for the same recently. There were a total of four contenders for the post.

T M Manoharan is Chairman KSEB
T M Manoharan who had been appointed as Chairman of the Kerala Sate Electricity Board (KSEB) will take charge on September 19, 2011.This he will be holding as additional charge till his successor as PCCF-HOW was decided. Presently he is, PCCF, HOF to the Kerala Government. He is an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of 1976 batch who belongs to the Kerala cadre. This will be his second stint as the KSEB Chairman. He had a phenomenally successful stint in KSEB as Chairman His earlier stint in KSEB was marked by a remarkable turn around in the fortunes of KSEB. The public sector enterprise was an ailing baby when he took over with a whopping Rs 3000 crores losses every year. However, when he left, the KSEB had a surplus of Rs 1000 crores.
(We said this on September 12, 2011)

Will Ms. Malini Shankar get Industries in Maharashtra?
It is heard that Malini Shankar who is the Principal Secretary (PS)Water Resources is a strong contender for the post of PS Industries in Maharashtra. It is heard that Narayan Rane Industries Minister is backing her candidacy.

A.K. Rana's services returned to Manipur
The Government of India (GOI) at the request of Manipur Government has returned services of A.K. Rana who on central deputation is Bhopal based Regional Director in the GOI's Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF). He is an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of 1979 batch who belongs to the Manipur -Tripura (M-T) cadre. There in the Manipur State he will be elevated from the rank of Additional PCCF & made PCCF-HOF.

Post of Adviser in Embassy of India, Brussels, vacant
The post of Adviser (Industry & Engineering) is vacant in the Embassy of India, Brussels, under the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Those willing to be considered for the said post may apply to the Personnel department (Services Branch - II) at the earliest.

Names of 3 Sikkim State police officials cleared for IPS
The names of three Sikkim State Police officers have been cleared by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for filling up 3 substantive vacancies during the year 2011 in the IPS of Sikkim Cadre. The officers are S. T. Bhutia, Sarda Rani Lepcha and D. B. Giri.

Name of Mizoram State police official cleared for IPS
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has cleared the name of Mizoram State Police Service Officer John Neihlaia for filling up one substantive vacancy during the year 2011 in the IPS of Sikkim Cadre in the IPS of Mizoram Segment of Joint AGMUT Cadre.

CBDT constitutes Dispute Resolution Panel
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has constituted the Dispute Resolution Panel (DRP) comprising of three Commissioners/Directors of Income Tax as members of DRP-I, Mumbai. The members are P Raghu - CIT-I, Mumbai, L N Pant , DIT ((International Taxation) - I, Mumbai and Anuradha Bhatia, ,DIT (Transfer Pricing) - I, Mumbai.

J.K. Tiwari to hold additional charge
J.K. Tiwari who is Bhubaneshwar based Regional Director in the GOI's Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) will hold additional charge of Bhopal based Regional Director in the GoI's Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF). He is an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of 1979 batch who belongs to the Kerala cadre.

R.R. Shukla to be MD, AUSHADHI in Kerala
R.R. Shukla has been posted as Manasging Director (MD) of he AUSHADHI in Kerala. Presently, he Is Additional PCCF Kollam. He is an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of 1981 batch who belongs to the Kerala cadre.

S.S. Dodhe empanelled for Jt.Secretary's post in GOI
S.S. Dodhe (IA&AS-1988) officers has is poised to join the Government been empanelled in the Government of India(GoI).

IA & AS officer Murty transferred
V Suryanarayana Murty, Assistant Accountant General, in the office of the Accountant General (C&RA), Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, on completion of orientation training course at NAAA, Shimla, is transferred and posted as Deputy Accountant General (LB: Adhoc) in the office of the Accountant General (LBA & A/cs), Maharashtra, Mumbai, Branch Nagpur.

Justice Kalifiulla is new CJ of J & K High Court
Justice F. M. Ibrahim Kalifulla, has been sworn in as Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court .

Former R&AW Chief Ashok Chaturvedi is no more (UPDATED)
Former R&AW Chief Ashok Chaturvedi passed away in Delhi this morning. He was 65. He was the elder brother of Madhya Pradesh cadre 1971 batch retired IAS officer Sudhir Chaturvedi.

CWC achieves yet another record turnover (UPDATED)
The Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) achieved yet another record turnover of Rs.1029.55 crore during 2010-11 as against Rs.987.95 crore achieved during the preceding year. This could be possible due to addition of constructed storage capacity by 1.45 lakh MT and increase in overall capacity utilization (occupancy) to 88% as against 85% achieved during previous year. Keeping in view the national priority for safe and preservation of food grains procured for Central Pool, utilization of capacity for storage of food grains was given adequate attention which increased from 48% during 2009-10 to 54% in 2010-11. CWC registered 10% growth in handling of 12.32 lakh TEUs during 2010-11 as against 11.21 lakh TEUs handled during 2009-10 and 6.4% increase in revenue earned out of container rail transport operations and income under pest control activities also registered 12.66% growth. CWC also achieved highest ever Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs.203.73 crore as against Rs.163.88 crore during 2010-11, registering a growth of 24.32%. Keeping in view the excellent financial results, CWC in its 49th AGM held at New Delhi on September 17,2011 has declared highest ever dividend for the year 2010-11 @ 40%.During the current financial year,
CWC plans to construct storage capacity of about 2.09 lakh MT with a financial outlay of Rs.78 crore in 11 States mainly for storage of foodgrains and construct multi-storied warehouses in the Metro cities. CWC also plans to commence operations of Private Freight Terminals at its rail- based facilities at Bamanheri (UP) and Nabha (Punjab) besides setting up of Land Custom Station at Ghojadanga (West Bengal). In the photograph CWC's Managing Director (MD) B.B. Pattanaik is seen addressing the AGM.

Transfer of Rly official cancelled (UPDATED)
Transfer of HL Luwang of SS (Looking after in JAG)/IRTS from ECOR to SER has been cancelled.

Railways transfers and postings (UPDATED)
Kamalzom of SS/IRAS has been transferred from CR to ER and posted in the cadre, Ramesh Kumar of SS/IRAS has been transferred from CR to ER and posted in the cadre and Rakesh Kr. Bhargava of S/IRAS has been transferred from WR to RCF/Kapurthala and posted in the cadre.

IRS (IT) officer Mao posted as OSD (UPDATED)
IRS (IT) officer O A Mao, Additional CIT, awaiting posting on return from deputation, has been posted as OSD in the CCIT (CCA) Mumbai region till further orders.

R.K.Verma is PS Transport & PWD in Goa (UPDATED)
R.K. Verma who was earlier Principal Secretary (PS) Transport with the Delhi government has become PS Transport & PWD with the Goa government.He is an IAS officer of 1985 batch who belongs to the UT cadre.

Dinesh Singh is Joint Secretary MSME (UPDATED)
Dinesh Singh on central deputation has joined as Joint Secretary MSME. He is an IAS officer of 1982 batch who belongs to the Uttar Pradesh (UP) cadre.

Neeraj Semwal moves to Goa (UPDATED)
Neeraj Semwal who so far on deputation was with the Uttarakhand government has joined the Goa government on September 19,2011. He is an IAS officer of 2003 batch who belongs to the UT cadre.

(DEBATE)
LOKPAL BILL AND BUREAUCRACY
The debate on Lokpal Bill and the subsequent anger and protests across the country led by veteran Gandhian Anna Hazare has instilled a fear of accountability among the bureaucracy. How should the bureaucrats react to the situation?
Mail your views to suresh.mehrotra@yahoo.com or mehrotra.suresh@gmail.com

CORPORATE

Why Maharashtra's ban on exports of onion ?
Onions are grown more in Karnataka and the state exports the same as well but the ban is on Maharashtra. Agriculturists and exporters argue on why the ban of onion exports should not be lifted from the state. "We produce far less onion in this state but the rewards of exports are going to Karnataka" they say.

A total lull on IT front in Chandigarh
There is a total lull on the IT front of Chandigarh Administration. Thanks to series of controversies that had surfaced while the Chandigarh IT Park was being marketed as one of the key destinations for IT sector companies.

Nirula appointed Addl. Director, Mcleod Russel India Ltd
Ms. Ramni Nirula has been appointed as an Additional Director of Mcleod Russel India Ltd with effect from September 15, 2011.

Sarraf resigns as Director, MRPL
D. K. Sarraf has tendered his resignation as Director of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd consequent upon his appointment as Managing Director of ONGC Videsh Ltd.

Chandrahas appointed Addl. Director, CCL Products (India) Ltd
CCL Products (India) Limited has appointed Kata Chandrahas IRS (Retd.) as an Additional Director of the Company.

Sarraf resigns as Director (Finance), ONGC
D K Sarraf has resigned from the post of Director (Finance), Oil And Natural Gas Corporation Limited with effect from September 16, 2011.

Batra appointed Manager (Mktg.), Malaysia Airlines (South Asia)
Malaysia Airlines has appointed Neetu Batra as the Manager (Marketing) for South Asia Region based in New Delhi.

Das resigns as Director, Walchandnagar Industries Ltd
Shashi Bhusan Das has resigned as a Director of Walchandnagar Industries Ltd w.e.f. August 23, 2011.

Sardana appointed CFO, R Systems International Ltd
R Systems International Ltd has appointed Nand Sardana as the Chief Financial Officer of the company effective from September 16, 2011.

Kapoor resigns as Company Secy. R Systems International Ltd
Ms. Sheetal Kapoor has resigned as Company Secretary of R Systems International Ltd w.e.f September 19, 2011

Tiwari appointed Company Secy. R Systems International Ltd
Vikash Kumar Tiwari has been appointed as the Company Secretary of R Systems International Ltd effective from September 20, 2011.

Ranina resigns as Director, Zenith Computers Ltd
Homi Phiroze Ranina has resigned as a Director of Zenith Computers Ltd with effect from August 20, 2011.

Two directors cease to be on Board of Sun Granite Exports Ltd
Tushar Parekh and Satyajit Mishra who are independent Directors of Sun Granite Exports Ltd have resigned from the Board w.e.f. August 26, 2011 due to personal reasons.

DEBATE (1)

"Vinash Kaale Vipreet Budhhi"!

It is amusing to read government servants consider themselves so exalted that even after retirement they deem themselves so useful to the country and the government. The fact is that India has lost its place in the comity of nations due to the misdeeds of the governing class. The only purpose that the government servants aim for while in service is to maintain status quo and preserve themselves. I am a civil servant and am distressed to see how useful my fellow officers consider them selves to the people of the country. Perhaps this is why it is said "Vinash Kaale Vipreet Budhhi"!

Vijay Singh

Debate (2)

Who's responsible for mundane image of the government?

Amazing thing is that with the kind of talent that is present in the Government, things are still allowed to run adrift. This government has a galaxy of outstanding leaders, Dr Manmohan Singh, A K Antony, Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal etc. Is it the allies or is it the bureaucracy or is it the bad publicity which is responsible for the mundane image of the government?

Vijay Kumar

Yes, pensioners are an asset to nation

I fully agree with the views expressed that the seniors, especially the pensioners are an asset to the nation. Experienced and groomed in almost all the spheres of work, the seniors can be put on any job irrespective of the remuneration. Govt. can pick up such hardworking, healthy and honest pensioners who can look after some work at the grass root level for the benefit of the public. However, first of all they need their safety and welfare first under normal circumstances. Unfortunately the seniors are facing problems at the hands of relatives, neighbours and other anti-social elements. Local police and MLA's offices must spot such vulnerable senior citizens and act preemptively to watch their safety. Every day untoward incidents involving the seniors are reported in the media. I retired in 2008 and still have the capacity to work for 12 to 14 hours a day. I am sure there will be many like me to help voluntarily

Political parties must choose such seniors to be their candidates in elections at all levels. A balance between the youth and the seniors is a must in a balanced society.

Government must work in this direction.

Harish Kumar

He was most honest bureaucrat

Tewari, Srivastava was one of the most reasonable and honest bureaucrats. In spite of being a Class I officer for 35 years he was not able to purchase a car. During the period he deal with sensitive subjects and not even a whisper of doubt was raised against him. After retirement, in spite of transport background officer, he opted to do social work and took up the job of Executive Director General-National Society for Prevention of Blindness non-remuneration and use to go to his office in AIIMS in a Bus from Vasant Kunj for 5 years. Tiil today he travels in the city of Delhi in Metro & Buses for his personal work. The anger had to come, if an alumni of one institution feels that his institution is the best and he has acquired the greatest wisdom of the world. Iyer has always thought he is the greatest as is obvious from the TV news. Srivastava's son is an alumini of Hans Raj College, where discipline prevails and people are spritual.

Satya Prakash

Not impressed with your website, Sorry

I am a retired officer of Government of India, whose attention was drawn to the views of Shrivastav about Aiyar. You did not exercise your editorial skill in curbing a controversy. I regret to say that in your zeal to enhance your viewerage, you have destroyed the quality of the Forum column. It has been rubbished by your business-cum-political agenda. Stop this Aaj ki avaaz. It is neither an editorial nor a piece of sensible literature. Your credibility is fast declining. Postings/transfers have reduced your website to a notice board. You are not concerned with fighting the evil of corruption in bureaucracy or bringing about administrative reforms. I am not impressed. Sorry.

K C Sivaraman

Belittlement: A Way of Life!

B.B. Srivastava while rightfully castigating the imperious remarks of Aiyar, comes across no better by proudly proclaiming and savouring his own feat of tearing an elite group in civil service to shreds! In this respect, perhaps Aiyar will be more than inclined to join hands with him and come up with even more scathing indictment of the elitist cult in bureaucracy! However, this crazy one-upmanship (whether individually or in exclusive group), which has totalitarian streaks and is antithetic to basic tenets of democracy, has been the bane of our collective creativity and excellence in larger national interest. One comes across it ever so often, whether in personal, professional, public, secular or religious life, even as one rejoices gleefully sitting pretty on one's own dung hill. Enough venom has been spewed in the columns of WIC as regards internecine inter-service rivalry (battle?) and there is ample empirical evidence in and around us. Shall we see reason, try to make amends and engage ourselves collectively for constructive goals or opt to get drowned all by our own self in the ever increasing morass of our own making? Yes, our political democracy and administrative culture offer us such choice.

S K Tewari

IPS lobby wants it !

The reason why government plans to allow later entry of army officers in IPS and not recruit more direct IPS is that IPS lobby wants it this way. Army officers coming in a post as lateral entry will have older than IPS manning that post. Army officers will have lesser years of service left and they will not be threat to IPS at the time of promotion to higher ranks. On the other hand if more number of direct IPS are recruited through civil services they will be crowding at the time of promotions and promotions will be slower.

So IPS lobby wants to share experience and expertise of army officers without sharing higher level posts with them.

Prafulla Mishra

Bureaucrats should read it

Your site interests me. As a freelance journalist, I interviewed a number of officials from TN. My book 'FEATURE WRITING'- PHI carries a full story about the reasons for fall in Civil Service Aspirants From TN. Shall be happy if you bureaucrats read it.

N. Meera Raghavendra Rao

Whsipers of no use

The Aaj ki awaaz written in hinglish, is unfit for reading. The comments under 'what people think about us, is a fake. I think the postings/transfers matters do not have public interests. It only increases the hits of browsers. The forum quality is very bad. The comments of B B Shrivastava about Mani Shankar Aiyar, amounts to bragging.

P C Varma IDAS (Retired )

Accidents need to be controlled

Traffic accidents due to speeding and racing are on the rise and need to be controlled. Racing on roads and highways needs to be made a separate criminal offence and heavy punishment prescribed. This will save young lives.

Vijay Kumar

No cop held accountable

The High Court blast occurred a second time in a matter of months claiming lives and maiming people. The people have paid the price. What happened to the Police authorities down the line, in charge of the security of the sensitive High Court area ? Not one officer, right from the SHO upto the Special Commissioner for this area/Commissioner, was transferred nor held accountable. After the blast, the police swung into action, cordoning the area and rushing the victims to hospital. Every man standing in the queue in the ultra sensitive High Court area that day was confident and lulled into a false sense of security that the police was doing their job and alls well with the world . Until the blast happened.

What is this shutting of the stable doors when the horse has bolted ? Isn't this a mockery going on in the name of policing, in Delhi? If this is the state of ultra important areas , God help the rest of Delhi

S Singh

Why they forget about poor when in power?

Why is it that those of our leaders who have themselves faced poverty before becoming important leaders forget about the poor when in power?

A K Singh

Congratulations

Dr. Dinesh Arora's remarkable efforts to improve the public health in Kerala, as the Director of NRHM was very appreciable. Beside as a courageous and impartial IAS officer, the people in Kannanur District in Kerala thankfully remember his name always. Wish him all success in the present post.

Koyaji

Copy of agreement

The appellant sought detailed information about the installation of a cellular tower in the building of which he is a resident. The CPIO informed that the consent of the Secretary and Treasurer of the Association was taken before installation of the cellular tower in question but refused to provide information about (i) the rent being paid to the apartment owner on whose apartment the cellular tower has been set up and (ii) copy of the agreement between BSNL and the said apartment owner. The CIC rejected the arguement that the disclosure of this information would adversely affect the competitive position of BSNL. The CIC observed that the appellant has stakes in the building and its environment and the electro magnetic radiations emitted by the tower may affect him and directed to disclose the information.

Comments

This case opens up the numerous possibilities of the use of the RTI Act in the environmental protection. The PSUs are left in a position of disadvantage vis-à-vis their private sector counterparts.

Shri R Rajagopalan v. BSNL in CIC/LS/A/2011/001221

- 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)