Who are our viewers?

Officials and subordinates of IAS, IPS, IRS, IFS, ITS, IJS, Defence, Forest Services, Railways, Bankers, PSUs, Corporate, National Leaders, UN & Foreign Diplomats and Embassies.

Aaj Ki Aawaz

Survey says India wants Modi as PM!!!
A distant second comes Rahul and what to say about Sonia's GM (current PM)??

A capable and honest man today stands in the 'accused dock'!!!
Today PM's honesty many do mock!!

Modi is people's choice because of his accomplishments and allure!!!
For Rahul 'Gandhi' name is the lure!!!

What has Rahul achieved to be compared with Modi????
Like comparing a small park with Gardens in Delhi named after Lodhi!!!

Rahul's administration experience is 'nil'!!!!
He simply does not for the PM 'bill'!!

Congressis say let him become PM and then see him perform!!!
But performance comes first... isn't this the norm??

Take Mamtha... in electioneering and protesting she's the best!!!
But as of now she's failed the 'administration' test!!

India's at political crossroads!!
Wants to bin those who have made via politics loads and loads!!

In State elections people have given this message!!!
Honest and performers are given repeat 'passage'!!!

Modi, Nitish, Patnaik, Raman and Shivraj!!!
People want 'honest performers' to do on the State Raaj!!

Pawar has once again played his 'I'm retiring trick'!!!
Even last time to this pledge he did not stick!!!

It's for Mumbai MC and ZP elections that he's made this vow!!!
Tomorrow he'll say 'to Party's diktat to continue I had to bow'!!

He cannot afford to quit as then his detractors will get the upper hand!!
With all the alleged gupplas he's done bajaa denge Pawar ka band!!

Sibal says BJP and SAD have double standards on Lokpal Bill!!!
After Congress's true colours have been exposed Sibal blames BJP still???

How can we forget the 'Democracy's khoon at midnight'?????
And we know how to side step this Bill Congress worked day and night!!!

Punjab and Uttrakhand Vote on 30th of Jan!!!!
A very negative campaign in both States Congress ran!!

BJP and SAD's campaign was 'on development'!!
Indeed a 'welcome development'!!

Now let us see what course do Parties take in Uttar Pradesh!!!
As of now 'caste and religion' wooing has dominated their electoral sandesh!!

Bharat Kumar
aaj_ki_aawaz@yahoo.com

Will Ms. Uma Bharati meet her Waterloo in Charkhari?
Will former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Uma Bharati meet her Waterloo in Charkhari? She has been fielded from Charkhari assembly segment for forthcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh (UP). As the grapevine has it, forces from BJP in UP & Madhya Pradesh are active to torpedo her victory in Charkhari.

Sadananda Gowda, Karnataka CM firmly in the saddle
Sadananda Gowda who was sworn in as Karnataka Chief Minister on August 4, 2011, is now firmly in the saddle. He has started taking decisions independently. This was amply demonstrated in last week's transfers of IAS & IPS officers of Karnataka.

For whom will Thakurs vote in Uttar Pradesh this time?
Rajputs and Thakurs in Uttar Pradesh, in all likelihood, will this time vote either for the BJP, due to Rajnath Singh or for the Congress due to Digvijay Singh factor.

How much damage can appeal of Bukhari do to Congress?
The appeal by Shahi Imam Bukhari of Delhi's Jama Masjid to vote for SP has the potential to take away the crucial vote bank that Congress is targeting in UP. How much damage can Bukhari do to Congress's well crafted Muslim strategy?

Polling in Punjab today; whom will the people vote for?
Shiromani Akali Dal has put forth economics and all round performance and development. Congress is cashing on anti-incumbency factor against the ruling alliance. People's Party of Punjab (PPP) headed by former state finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal will also test his party's fate.

Today in Uttarakhand its Congress vs BJP vs Pokhriyal
Its N. D. Tiwari vs Maj Gen. (Retd) B.C. Khanduri, but will Pokriyal spoil the show for BJP?

Will the Congress be able to achieve the vision of Nav Uttar Pradesh?
Promise of 20 lakh new jobs in the state is a tall order, will the people of UP buy the vision document 2020 of `Nav Uttar Pradesh ke Nav Adhaar'.

SURVEY

Empanelment process in GoI is unfair

The present process of empanelment in the Government of India (GoI) which is more or less on colonial lines is neither objective nor fair or transparent and susceptible to bureaucratic and political pressures.

The above is the conclusion of the survey conducted by the whispersinthecorridors.com asking the surfers - Is the empanelment process in GoI fair and legal?

And the response of the majority was that besides being bereft of objectivity and unfair, the process is highly politicised and so secret that it gives an impression of lack of fairness and something fishy in the process.

"The present practice is neither objective nor fair nor transparent, susceptible to bureaucratic and political pressures. It suffers from serious lacunae as the assessment relies on Annual performance appraisal reports", said one surfer adding that the methodology is subjective, arbitrary, based on 'pick and choose' and thus legally untenable.

This, according to surfer explains why the former Cabinet Secretary refused to disclose the selection criteria treating the process outside the ambit of RTI Act 2005 despite CIC's directions to keep the selection criteria in public domain in response to an RTI application.

For detailed report see the January issue of Whispers in the Corridors.

BUREAUCRACY

Wait for 1978 batch IAS officers till April
As the grapevine has it, those IAS officers of 1978 batch who have been empanelled in the Government of India (GoI) as Secretaries will have to wait till April 2012. Reason for the delay is attributable to clearing of backlog of bureaucrats belonging to 1977 IAS. However, like the past exceptions are not ruled out.

Jiji Thomson appointed TRIFED
Jiji Thomson has been appointed Managing Director (MD) of the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED). He is an IAS officer of the 1980 batch who belongs to the Kerala cadre.
(We said this on January 26)

39 GMs in fray for ED in PS banks
As many as 30 of 39 General Managers (GMS) of Public Sector (PS) banks who are in fray for 22 posts of Executive Directors (EDs) had faced interviews on January 29 , 2012 & the rest of the candidates will be interviewed on January 30,3012.Those in contention are: S.K. Kalra, D. Chakravarty, Anil Kumar, Sharman Shrivastava, V.S. Krishna Kumar, P.S. Bhatia, Satish Kumar Widhani, B.K. Shrivastava (all from Allahabad Bank), P.Srinivas, R. Atmaram, M.S. Chelapati Rao (all three from Andhra Bank), R.S.Setia, Arun Tiwari, S.Kalyan Raman, Animesh Chauhan (all from Bank of Baroda), Bhupinder Nayyar and R.K. Goyal (both from Bank of India), S.D.Arya (Bank of Maharashtra), Upagupta Mohapatra (Central Bank of India), C.G.Pinto, K.G.Shenoy, K.Ramdas Shenoy, K.V. Raghav Kamath, B.K. Diwakar (all from Corporation Bank), Mukesh Kumar Jain, Sudhir Kumar Jain, R.K. Gupta, Sadhuram Bansal, Mahendra Kumar Sharma (all from Dena Bank),Malay Mukherjee (Indian Bank), K.Subramanian (Indian Overseas Bank), Atul Gautam (Oriental Bank of Commerce), Ranjan Dhawan, B.P. Sharma, S.S. Bhatia & Farid Akhtar (all from Punjab National Bank), Ambrish Nanda (United Bank of India),S.K. Sangar & T.K. Shrivastava (both Union Bank of India).

Patnaik to be Ambassador to Cambodia
Dinesh K Patnaik is being tipped to be new Indian Ambassador to Cambodia. He is 1990 batch IFS officer.

Meeting for empanelment of 1978 batch IPS takes place
Meeting for empanelment of1978 batch IPS officers to the rank of DG has taken place on Friday evening. Details are awaited.

Why has Madhavan Nair been blacklisted?
Is there a rivalry within the PMO that has led to blacklisting on Madhavan Nair of ISRO, or was he threatening to spill the beans on
Devas Ltd?

Laxman Das to take over as Chairman of CBDT
Laxman Das will take over as Chairman of the CBDT on February 1. 1974 batch IRS officer Das will succeed Mukesh Joshi who is retiring on January 31.

Dharmendra Sharma to get one year extension
Dharmendra Sharma Joint Secretary,(IS1),MHA, Government of India is likely to get one year's extension. He is an IAS officer of 1988 batch who belongs to the AGMU cadre.

Maurya is now IG Admn and Trg ITBP
Bijaya Kumar Maurya, IG, ITBP North West Frontier Chandigarh has joined as IG, Admin & Training, New Delhi. He is an IPS officer of 1990 batch who belongs to the UP cadre.

Will Placement Committee meet?
Under the changed scenerio will there be Placement Committee meeting in the CBDT today? Atleast eight vacancies of the CCIT are to be filled up.

Kunwar Fateh Bahadur to face disciplinary action?
Election Commission of India is likely to take strict disciplinary action against Kunwar Fateh Bahadur, UP Home Secretary, for not vacating his chamber in the Secretariat with the same position. He is an IAS officer of1988 batch who belongs to the UP cadre.

IAS association meets Kerala CM
Senior members of the IAS officers association in Kerala met Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to intervene regarding an FIR that the Vigilance department had registered against former Chief Minister Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan & three IAS officers. In the FIR it has been alleged that Achuthanandan while serving as Kerala Chief Minister had shown undue favours to one of his kins in allotting a plot of land. Achuthanandan enjoyed a clean image until the case was registered against him. The case pertains to land allotment in district of Kasaragod bordering Karnmataka. As the grapevine has it Oommen Chandy gave a patient hearing and ssured to look into the matter. Basically, the association pleaded for the CM's intervention pointing it out if such an atmosphere prevailed then it would be difficult for them (bureaucrats) to discharge their official duties in the right earnest. The delegation comprised: Vijay Anand, Rajiv Shrivastava, Subbiah, Dr. K.M. Abraham & Manoj Joshi.

Additional charge to existing CCITs in Mumbai region
As the grapevine has it, existing Chief Commissioners of Income Tax (CCITs) in the Mumbai region will get additional charge.

IFS goes on inter-cadre deputation to Tamil Nadu
Maharashtra cadre 2009 batch Indian Forests Service (IFS ) officer C Meenakshi has gone on inter-cadre deputation to Tamil Nadu for three years.

Will Sarangi be PSC Chairman in Maharashtra?
Name of U C Sarangi is doing the round for the post of Chairman Maharashtra Public Service Commission. 1977 batch IAS officer who is presently ACS Home in the state is retiring on February 29.

Swadheen Kshtriya to succeed Sarangi?
Grapevine has it that Swadheen Kshtriya is going to succeed U C Sarangi as ACS Home in Maharashtra. Will 1980 batch IAS officer Kshtriya be acceptable to Sharad Pawar and Prtithviraj Chauhan?

Subodh Kumar gets three months extension
Commissioner Mumbai Municipal Corporation Subodh Kumar is reported to have been given three months extension in service. 1977 batch IAS officer Kumar was scheduled to retire on January 31.
(We said this on January 19)

Hunt for new Joint Secretary MSME on
A hunt is on for new Joint Secretary Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME).

Four vacancies at CPC, Bangalore
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is seeking officers in the level of ACIT/ DCIT, ITO, ITI and TA to post at CPC, Banglaore. The interested officers can send their applications to the Board before February 12, 2012.

Posts of Members to lie vacant in Settlement Commission after April
The some posts of members of the Settlement Commission (Income Tax/Wealth Tax) are falling vacant between the period of April and September, 2012. Those willing for the same can send their application to the Board before February 23, 2012.

IAS postings in UP
DM, Siddharth Nagar, V Chaitra has been moved to Panchsheel Nagar. Saurabh Babu will be DM Siddharth Nagar.

Vice Admiral Thapliyal is Chief of Personnel Navy
Vice Admiral Anurag Thapliyal has taken over as new Chief of Personnel in the Navy Headquarters.

Shashank is new Station Director DD Kendra Bhopal
Station Director Doordarshan Kendra Lucknow Shashank has been moved to Bhopal to succeed Prabhu Jhingran who is superannuating on January 31.

83 posts of Judges vacant in Allahabad HC
As many as 83 posts of Judges have been lying vacant in Allahabad High Court against 160 approved strength including 16 posts of Permanent Judges against 76 approved strength and 67 of Additional Judges against 84 approved strength.

C K Gopalakrishnan, IES, Secretary, FSLRC promoted
V L V S S Subba Rao, Secretary, Financial Sector Legislative Reform Commission, has been promoted to Senior Administrative Grade (SAG). He is an Indian Economic Service (IES) officer of 1985 batch.

R K Singh promoted as GM (ATM), APD, Jaipur
R K Singh, Joint Secretary (ATM) has been promoted as General Manager (ATM) and will remain posted at APD, Jaipur in Airport Authority of India (AAI).

Lt Gen Dayal passes away
Former Goa Governor Lt Gen (Retd) R S Dayal passed away in Chandigarh. He was 83.

IIS officer is no more
Indian Information Service officer Vijay Kumar passed away in Delhi. He was 61.

PAKISTAN WHISPERS
Former Cardiology Institute Chief arrested In Spurious Drug case
Dr Saleem Jaffar former MS of Pakistan Institute of cardiology (PIC) was arrested by the federal investigation agency on Sunday in the case relating to death of over 100 heart patients who were allegedly given fake drug by the institute. Dr Jaffar was earlier sacked from his post soon after the deaths came to government's notice. Owners of the pharmaceutical firms where the drugs; Solprin, Zafnol, Concont, Cardiovascin and Isotab were allegedly manufactured have already been arrested by law enforcement agencies.

Postponement of Pakistani Judicial Commission's India Visit
The visit of judicial commission from Pakistan to India on mutually agreed dates from 1 to 10 February for recording the statement of Indian witnesses in the case of seven accused being tried in Pakistan for the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack is likely to be postponed due to objections raised by the defence counsels who had earlier agreed to join the commission and had also submitted their travel documents. The counsels are now objecting to take on record the confessional statement of Kasab as he has not been tried in Pakistan and is not a co-accused in common proceedings along with their clients. In the absence of these prerequisites taking on record Kasab's statement is according to the defence counsels contrary to provisions of section 43 of the evidence act. They are also objecting to the notification for the commission's visit to India by Pakistan's foreign office instead of the Ministry of law and justice. The notification and the order of the Rawalpindi ATC court order delegating its own powers to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mumbai are likely to be challenged in the Islamabad High court.

Sim Card Activisation in Minister's Name: Flash Strike by Nadra Employees
A sim card obtained in the name of Pakistan's federal minister for the interior Rehman Malik in Karachi resulted in a flash strike by employees of National database and Registration Authority (Nadra) against alleged police torture of their colleagues. Details of the Sim card which was also activised were given by a journalist Asif Mahmood to drive home the point that sensitive data in possession of Nadra wasn't safe at all. The federal investigating agency's cyber crime wing immediately started investigations and rounded up nine employees, two deputy managers, one assistant manager and six data entry operators who were allegedly severely tortured during interrogation even though none of them were found to be involved in the mischief. Finally one Khalid Noor an employee of the civil-police liaison cell (CPLC) has been booked in the case. Nadra's database can be accessed by CPLC and the revenue authorities as well for various official functions.

Minimum wages & other labour laws don't apply to private banks?
Pakistan saw a boom in the banking sector in the 1990s after the government agreed to privatisation and many foreign investors
particularly from the gulf region got in to the banking sector in a big way. Most of these banks particularly in the far flung areas of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwaha are paying a paltry sum of Rs 5000/- to young BBAs and MBAs against the minimum wage of Rs 7000/- p.m fixed for skilled manpower under the labour laws. The youngsters are made to work for 9 to 14 hours a day with no overtime payment against the maximum limit of 8 hours. The employers also do not provide any medical cover to the employees. As against this the public sector National Bank of Pakistan pays Rs 24500/- per month to a junior clerk apart from overtime allowance for work done in excess of the normal 8 hours working day and a comprehensive medical cover.

North East Connect 2011 held at Mumbai (UPDATED)
North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC) in association with National Skills Foundation of India (NSFI) with support of North Eastern Council (NEC) has organised the North East Connect 2011 at the Tunga International, Mumbai. The main objectives of the North East Connect are to promote investment in some of the highly potential sectors such as Agriculture and Allied Sector, Food Processing, Tourism and Handicrafts. North East has immense opportunities for investment and growth and is committed to provide a platform to facilitate such an inclusive development. The potential of the region is relatively less known and less exploited. Participants include policymakers, industry representatives, financial institutions, service providers and investment firms. The organisers plan to take the event to other parts of the country including Bangalore and Kolkata during late February & early march this year. Dignitaries present at the event include P K Pattanaik, IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of DoNER who inaugurated the event and gave a very enriching speech and urged various stakeholders to join the north east in these efforts to enable development reaching the communities at the grassroots in the distant lands of North East India. Dr P W Khongjee, Parliamentary Secretary, Govt of Meghalaya gave away the Valedictory address and apprised about the immense potential of Tourism in North East. Others included Anjani Sinha, MD & CEO, National Spot Exchange. Dr T Vilaschandran, GM, NABARD, Dr N C Saha, Director, Indian Institute of Packaging, P M Badgujar, Principal Scientist, CFTRI, CY Mahajan, Vice President, Exotic Produces, Pune, S Bhattacharjee, MD NERAMAC, Sanjeev Asthana & Dr Satender Arya, NSFI.
The exhibition organised during the NE Connect showcased exotic fruits and their value added products from kiwi, pineapple, carambola, black berry etc. When talking about the spices north east had the raja chilli (bhot jolakia) to offer to the people in the forms of pickle as well as whole.

G Laxmi Priya is Commissioner for Disciplinary Proceedings in TN (UPDATED)
G Laxmi Priya, Commissioner, Salem Corporation, has been transferred and posted as Commissioner for Disciplinary Proceedings, Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu. She is a 2006 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre.

SAIL & SCOPE holds 'Ethical Leadership' programme on Martyrs' Day (UPDATED)
Maharatna Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and the Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) jointly organised a programme at SCOPE Convention Centre here today to commemorate Martyrs' Day, which is observed on the death anniversary of the Father of the Nation every year. Dr. Karan Singh, visionary Indian statesman, was the Chief Guest on the occasion, which was graced by the presence of Guest of T KA Nair, Advisor to Prime Minister of India, PK Misra, Secretary (Dept. of Personnel & Training and Ministry of Steel), SAIL Chairman C S Verma, SCOPE Director-General Dr. U D Choubey. Eminent citizen (Ministry of Rural Development) Shobhana Radhakrishna delivered a lecture on 'Ethical leadership and values in management practices based on ideology of Mahatma Gandhi'. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Karan Singh remarked that "true homage to Mahatma Gandhi on this day would be to commit ourselves to make concerted efforts to live on at least some of the ideals that he espoused". To talk of fundamental rights is fine, but why don't we talk of our fundamental duties, he asked. Dr. Singh urged the gathering to introspect as to how far have, we moved from his ideals, and why even after so many years, there are people who shiver in winter, sweat in summer and get drenched in monsoons because of poor facilities. Gandhiji's movement must be seen in its holistic context, with its political, economic, social and educational perspectives, he added. T K A Nair on his part emphasised the significance of the concept of trusteeship that Gandhiji espoused, and explained how it must guide our activities and shape our decisions. "People in position of power and influence must lead by example and be the role models of those they lead," he added. Explaining how SAIL's Vision and Credo internalise the Mahatma's thoughts, principles and philosophy, C S Verma highlighted the fact that Gandhian principles and ideologies continue to be relevant today. Earlier, Dr. UD Choubey in his welcome address, threw light on the values that Gandhiji worked for throughout his life. SAIL Director (Personnel & Technical) B B Singh proposed a vote of thanks.

Six IRS (IT) officers get additional charge (UPDATED)
Six Indian Revenue Service (IRS-IT) officers have been assigned additional charge. Accordingly, T B C Rozara, CCIT-III, Delhi, has been assigned additional charge of DGIT (Inv Txt), Delhi while K Satyanarayan, CCIT-III, Bangalore is given charge of CCIT-I, Bangalore and N P Singh, CCIT-I, Mumbai will hold of CCIT-II, Mumbai. Similarly, A P Saxena, CCIT-III, Mumbai of CCIT-IV, Mumbai; U K Choudhary, DGIT (Inv.), Pune of DGIT (Inv), Mumbai and G N Pande, CCIT, Allahabad will be looking, CCIT, Lucknow.

A K Agarwal selected as Director (Finance), RECL (UPDATED)
A K Agarwal, ED, RECL, has been selected for the post of Director (Finance), Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (RECL) at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on Monday. As many as 13 persons were interviewed for the same.

DEBATE

Is it appropriate or inappropriate for an elected representative to address a bureaucrat as "Sir"?

Orissa Chief Minister Navin Patnaik has asked Cabinet Ministers to maintain dignity of the office. Patnaik conveyed his mind when a Minister addressed "Sir" to an IAS officer in his presence. "You are Cabinet Minister and should maintain your dignity" the Chief Minister said. How far it is appropriate or inappropriate for an elected representative to address a bureaucrat as "Sir".

Mail your to the point views to suresh.mehrotra@yahoo.com or mehrotra.suresh@gmail.com

CORPORATE

Union Budget in Mid March
General budget is likely to be tabled in the Parliament in the Mid March.

Upadhayay appointed Part-time Director, CONCOR
A. S. Upadhayay, Executive Director Traffic Transportation (F), Railway Board has been appointed as part-time Government Director on the Board of Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR) with immediate effect.

Mallik reigns from Nagarjuna Agrichem
P K Mallik has resigned from the post of director of Nagarjuna Agrichem.

Lakshminarayanan resigns from Servalakshmi Paper
C K Lakshminarayanan has resigned as the director of Servalakshmi Paper.

Rao resigns from Divis Laboratory
P Gundu Rao has resigned as the non-executive director of Divis Laboratories.

Rao resignes as Non Exec. Director, Divis Laboratories Ltd
Dr. P. Gundu Rao, Non-Executive Director of Divis Laboratories Ltd has resigned from the company's Board of Directors to spend time with his family in the United States.

Ramachandra resigns as Director, Alpine Housing Development Corporation Ltd
M. K. Ramachandra was resigned as Director of Alpine Housing Development Corporation Ltd w.e.f. January 23, 2012.

Vasudevas is Chief Marketing Officer, Aircel
Aircel has elevated Anupam Vasudevas as Chief Marketing Officer.

Mallik has resigned as Director, Nagarjuna Agrichem Ltd
P K Mallik has resigned as Director of Nagarjuna Agrichem Ltd.

Samat resigns as MD, Walt Disney India
Mahesh Samat, Managing Director of Walt Disney India has resigned from the company.

Savaliya resigns as Company Secy. Great Offshore Ltd
Suresh Savaliya, Company Secretary, Great Offshore Ltd has resigned from the company with immediate effect.

Fulsunge appointed Head (Projects), JMJ Group
The JMJ Group has appointed Shailesh Fulsunge as Head (Projects).

Our scientists have no accountability

Though they had few significant achievements, our scientists are generally a pampered lot. They have no accountability nor have to face any audit for spending billions of Rupees of tax payer's money. Now by resigning from IIT Chairmanship, Dr. Madhavan Nair can not absolve himself by posing as a martyr. The broadband fraud would have cost the nation billions. Government would not have dared to take action against a scientist of Nair's standing without proper evidence, especially when he has been a Padma Vibhushan winner and in the good books of PMO especially that of PM's now sidelined ex-PS .Most probably he has been made a tool by the PMO in the fraud. Instead of crying hoarse or getting support from scientist community or parochial support from his state CM, he should face the enquiry and come out clean. Government on its part should order a CBI enquiry and bring out the culprits whether they are scientists, politicians, bureaucrats or extra-constitutional authorities..

N Krishnan

Are Padma awards and Gallantry awards left with dignity?

Who says Padma awards and Gallantry awards have been left with some dignity? These are just like 'prasad' distributed among favourites or as a result of lobbying hard by the receivers with powers that be. We have seen year after year, now persons with doubtful credentials are also being bestowed these awards. See this year. Some police officers who have got gallantry awards have serious allegations of abuse and torture against them. An old man from Assam has been given Padma Shri second time now when he got the same award decades ago. The list of awardees this year includes little known names in several fields. If no tangible achievement of an individual is there, put him or her in the category of 'Public Affairs' or 'Social Work'. Two past civil servants have been included in the list. Knowing them one wonders what for they have got this award and that too Padma Vibhushan. Then why award the film actors. What have they done for the nation ? They may be great actors and that gives them lot of moolah to lead a lavish life of celebrities. Why bestow Padma awards on them ? The way it is happening now year after year one is reminded of a saying in Punjabi "andha bante rewrians murh murh apno ko de" (A blind man distributes sweets and gives again and again to his own)

Aarti Khosla

Little mirth & some misery!

WIC must be complimented for Aaz ki Aawaaz of Jan 27, 2011. The parade, no doubt, is a matter of national pride. Still there were some moments of mirth. Aaz ki Aawaz has somehow missed one: the bravery award winner children have been customarily given elephant ride on the Rajpath (that is the Road to Power). The Rajpath is joined on both ends by the Janpath (People's way, that is). The elephants seem to have annoyed or offended some powers that they were not allowed on either path! May be the presence of the CEC made some difference, though he was wearing a cap that made only surmise that it was he. Or may be the elephants were covered and not visible to the viewers! It is a lifetime opportunity for a child to ride an elephant on such grand occasion! The misery : the format of the parade needs improvement. Our depiction of the tribals is out of sync after 62 years of the Republic. It suggests as if the Republic has kept them backward deliberately, though great changes have really taken place in the life of all citizens. Their new faces in the vibrant Republic demand to be showcased.

The Bihar tableau was the best way to convey the value of the girl child in society. What a valuable way of delivering purely scientific knowledge wrapped in culture for even the most illiterate to understand and act? Plant trees to celebrate the birth of a girl child! Trees symbolize procreation cycle, prosperity and healthy environment!

M L Gupta

The Norway Saga

This itself calls for an interesting 'Study' on child rearing practices of India and other Western, Middle East countries etc. Apart
from the Norway case, a visiting American talk show host cheekily commented on a star couple living with their parents, that Indians don't respect nursing homes probably. As reported by a daily, 'Come on'. The presence of parents in a home especially where the couple is working, is a boon anyday and a lesson in adjustment. I personally shudder at this practice of westerners of leaving their infants and babies all alone in a crib in another room / sometimes on another floor, unattended by even a maid. Don't we see plenty of insecure, selfish, substance abusing, violence prone youngsters crawling the streets of the west? They slam the door on their parents face and walk off. Did you not yourself teach them since infancy, not to be needy and dependent? So why cry now? Thank god, the Norway complaint was confined to finding the small boy sharing the bed with the father. If it had been a female child, the Norwegians imagination would have gone into overdrive. The Trash/bias is in the Norwegians Thinking, their lack of respect and tolerance for the Cultures of other countries for one am not keen to step into Norway.

S Shobha

Highlight corruption in NHAI

NHAI has advertised the post of Chairman for a fixed term of five years. Even private sector officers are eligible. NHAI is running without a regular Chairman for the last two years since retirement of Brijeswar Singh. Details are available in NHAI website www.nhai.org. Whisper.com should host this news and other news relevant to corruption in NHAI, particularly in recruitment which is rampant.

R Chawla

Extend support to make JU a Centre of Excellence.

With his taking over as Vice Chancellor (VC), Jammu University, it is hoped that the academic work of University is brought back on rails. With his appointment, long pending demand for a local to head JU has been fulfilled. Now everyone should extend his support to new VC to make this university a Centre of Excellence.

C Mohan

Using RTI to get a CGHS claim cleared

In respect of a CGHS claim, an appellant sought the details of items of theclaim which weredisallowed by CGHS along with the reasons and the copies ofcirculars on the basis ofwhich the items were disallowed, and whether thecirculars were available onthe CGHS site. The PIO demanded Rs. 8/- for the 4 pagesof information whichwere duly deposited by the appellant. He was not satisfiedwith the replysupplied by the PIO and filed an appeal before the FAA who askedthe appellantto visit the office of FAA on any working day by appointment fordiscussing theRTI of Appellant. After a perusal of the papers, the Commissionobserved thatthe information has not been supplied to the Appellant despitepayment of theadditional fee. The Commission directed to provide theinformation to theAppellant before 05 February 2012 and issued a notice to thePIO why penalty shouldnot be levied on him.

Comments

The case discussed above shows how the RTI Act can be used to solve some of theproblems which the government servants encounter on day-today basis.

Citation : Mr. A.L. Makhijani v. CGHS in Decision No.CIC/SG/A/2011/003275/16955

- 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)