Saturday, September 26, 2009

A possible strike by Air India pilots may play spoilsport for Indian bureaucrats' vacation during this festive season

IF YOU have planned a vacation during this festive season to claim LTC (Leave Travel Concession), this piece of news is bound to disturb you. Four hundred Air India pilots are now threatening to go on mass leave in protest against up to 50% reduction in their productivity-linked incentives (PLIs). The impact could be worse than that of the recent Jet Airways strike if junior pilots of the national carrier too join their seniors who now say that they were not consulted before the management had decided to reduce their incentives, media reports said. For government employees, the strike could be a disaster as many officers might have booked their family vacations for the coming Diwali season only in Air India after the government had issued a directive saying that LTC could be claimed if one takes an Air India flight. Significantly, Arvind Jadhav, the Managing Director of NACIL, the company that runs Air India, is himself an IAS of 1978 batch. In a related development, the Air India is now looking for a Chief Operating Officer (COO) for which the company has given advertisements in leading financial dailies abroad. Read, Know Your Babu: Arvind Jadhav, posted on May 4, 2009 Also read, Officials must travel by Air India to claim LTC, clarifies DoPT, July 28, 2009 Action & Appointments a) Ms K Sujatha Rao, a 1974 batch Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS, is the country’s new health secretary. She is currently serving as secretary, department of AIDS control under the ministry of health and family welfare. She has been appointed in place of Naresh Dayal, a 1972 batch UP cadre IAS who is retiring on September 30, 2009. b) Ms Rani Jadhav, a 1970 batch Maharashtra cadre IAS (retired) has been appointed as chairman of Tariff Authority for Major Ports for a period of five years or until 65 years of age or until further orders. c) Ms Maya S Sinha, a 1981 batch IRS, Deputy Chairman, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust will not be entitled to a total deputation period of 7 years. Her tenure may be terminated on October 19, 2009. d) J Lhungdim, IDAS (84) has been appointed as Planning Advisor in the North-Eastern Council (NEC) secretariat (joint secretary level) at Shillong, Meghalaya under the ministry of development of North-Eastern Region (DONER). e) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the repatriation of S V Ranganath, a 1975 batch Karnataka cadre IAS, presently Member (Finance), Space Commission, Atomic Energy Commission and Earth Commission to his cadre. f) Ms Leena Nandan, a 1987 batch UP cadre IAS, presently working as joint secretary, ministry of tourism, has been appointed as Project Director to the Host Broadcaster Team in Doordarshan in the Pay Band of Rs 37400-67000 (PB 4) plus grade pay of Rs 10,000 up to March 31, 2011. g) T K Pandey, a 1987 batch Orissa cadre IAS will now be a Joint Secretary in the Planning Commission in the vacancy of R Sridharan in modification of the earlier order of the ACC dated 23rd June, 2009 for appointment of Mr Pandey as DDG, UIDAI under the Planning Commission. h) The tenure of BV Wanchoo, a 1976 batch IPS as Director, Special Protection Group has been extended for a period of one year beyond September 28, 2009 or until further orders. i) Ms K Ganga, IA&AS of 1981 batch 81 has been appointed as Deputy Director General, in the Unique Identification Authority of India (joint secretary level) under the Planning Commission for a period of five years. j) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the ministry power, for premature repatriation of Jayant S Kawale, a 1981 batch Maharashtra cadre IAS, presently working as joint secretary in that ministry, to his parent Cadre subject to the condition of ‘extended Cooling-off’.

1 comment:

  1. Air Indian pilots seem to have taken a cue from the Jet episode that took place recently. What are you doing, dear babus, when the country is kept in ransom by a few hundred non-compromising pilots?

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