#YesWeCan: Mann ki Baat of an anonymous bureaucrat

Obama and Modi during Maan Ki Baat

WHEN two super communicators speak from the heart (Mann Ki Baat), every listener enjoys the moment. After prime minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama shared their thoughts together on a hugely successful Mann ki Baat episode in All India Radio on Tuesday, Modi appealed the aam listeners to participate in the programme by sharing their thoughts in social media with a #YesWeCan. Here is what an anonymous bureaucrat has to say about various ways to improve Indian bureaucracy:

Obama in India: How Indian bureaucrats add up to the “excitement"

PM Modi: Displaying Sartorial Flamboyance

DISPLAYING prime minister’s photo in a bandhgala with “narendra damodardas modi” inscribed in pin-stripes, customs commissioner and one of active social media users Neeraj Kansal tweets: “Move aside Michelle Obama. World has a new fashion icon”. The tweet was addressed to @BarackObama. Yes, every bureaucrat among others noticed how PM used the occasion also to display his sartorial flamboyance. But it was Kansal, a former home ministry director, who dared to praise the PM publicly. Here are other bureaucrats who took to the social media sites to express their feelings on #ObamaInIndia:

US Votes Obama: Focus now on Nirupama Rao in advancing Indo-US ties

Ambassador Nirupama Rao with President Obama

IT WAS November 2010. US President Barack Obama landed in Delhi airport on a Sunday afternoon after spending couple of days in Mumbai. Two senior women diplomats in pink saris were among very few people alongside Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh and his wife waiting to welcome the arguably the most powerful man in earth and his better half Michelle Obama. On Tuesday US time, President Barack Obama…

Obama’s pampered bureaucrats, and how Romney campaign takes a pot-shot

Romney, Obama

Video Text: “Add Another Bureaucrat”
Voiceover: “Why not have a President who actually understands business?”This is a part of a Mitt Romney advertising campaign hitting out at US President Barack Obama’s idea of adding a “secretary of business” in his second term. As President Obama and challenger Romney are heading for a neck-to-neck fight on Tuesday, BoI takes a close look at Obama’s pampered bureaucracy and how challenger Romney takes a pot-shot through an advertising campaign.

Senior Obama administration official Anil Kakani moves to India to join Anand Rathi

Barack and Michelle Obama with Indian PM and his wife (File Pic)

Anil Kakani, a senior Treasury department official in the Obama administration, will move to India to take up a private sector job with boutique investment bank - Anand Rathi and Co. Kakani, who till recently served as Senior Advisor for India at the US Department of Treasury and held that post for about two and half years, will join Anand Rathi and Co as executive director.

Being well-networked in corporate and government circle in US, Kakani in his new role, is expected to help American and other foreign companies enter Indian market by acquiring or tying up with mid-sized Indian companies. Kakani, who was a part of Bill Clinton’s team to visit India in 2000, also played a key role during the historic India visit of the US President Barack Obama in 2010. He was a senior adviser to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during the Clinton administration (1997-2000). Kakani then served as legislative counsel to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in US Senate between 2001 and 2004. Armed with a public policy degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a law degree from the University of Arizona, Kakani serves as a member of the board of directors of the North American chapter of TERI.

Arvind Mayaram in Pakistan

Rural development ministry’s additional secretary and 1978 batch Rajasthan cadre IAS Arvind Mayaram is now in Islamabad participating in an international workshop on “Impact of Globalization on Rural Development in Afro-Asian Countries”. The objective of the workshop is to deliberate opportunities and challenges offered by the globalization and formulate action plan for sustainable rural development in Afro-Asian countries.

Action and Appointments

a) The ACC has approved extension in Central deputation tenure of JP Sharma, a 1981 batch UP cadre IAS, as joint secretary in the ministry of Development of North Eastern Region for a period of three months beyond January 10, 2012.

b) The ACC has approved extension of deputation tenure of Ms Leena Nandan, a 1987 batch UP cadre IAS, as Project Director in Host Broadcaster Team (HBT), Commonwealth Games, 2010, in Doordarshan up to March 31, 2012.

No of US bureaucrats earning over $1.5 lakh annually continues to grow under Obama regime, Republicans may stall pay hike

US MIGHT have faced the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of 1930s, but the number of highly paid bureaucrats has continued to soar in America, giving the Republicans new ammunition to take on the Democratic regime led by Barack Obama. The number of bureaucrats earning $150,000 (about Rs 70 lakh) or more a year has soared 10 times during the past five years and doubled since President Obama took office, a USA TODAY report said. In India, the senior most bureaucrat cabinet secretary receives an annual salary of Rs 10.8 lakh.

The debate over the rise of high-paid bureaucrats in US may challenge Obama’s plan to give a 1.4% across-the-board pay raise to 2.1 million federal workers. In fact, federal employees’ average compensation has grown to more than double what private sector workers earn, the USA TODAY analysis said.

Action and Appointments

a) Bhushan Chander Gupta, a 1975 batch Punjab cadre IAS, presently in the cadre, has been appointed as secretary, department of food and public distribution, ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution in the vacancy of Ms Alka Sirohi, a 1974 batch MP cadre IAS.

b) Rajbir Singh Rana, a 1983 batch IDAS has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries in place of Arvind Kaushal, a 1979 batch IDAS.

c) Niraj Kumar Gayagi, a 1997 batch IDAS, who was recommended for Central deputation by the ministry of defence, has been selected for appointment as deputy secretary in the department of science and technology for a period of four years from the date of taking over charge.

Namaste Obama: Did foreign secretary Rao and Ambassador Shankar pre-decide to wear pink saris?

AS US president Barack Obama landed in Delhi airport on Sunday afternoon, two senior women diplomats in pink saris were among very few people alongside Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh and his wife waiting to welcome the arguably the most powerful man in earth and his better half Michelle Obama. As the television cameras flashed the two ladies in pink saris, many viewers were forced to guess that foreign secretary Nirupama Rao and her batch-mate Meera Shankar, India’s ambassador to US, had probably pre-decided what to wear before reaching the airport to welcome Obama and his wife. Or are they believers of pink as auspicious colours before big occasions?

No wonder, in famous Bharti-Zain deal, both telecom honchos Sunil Bharti Mittal and Sheikh Nasser Al Kharafi, made it a point to wear the same Moreschi shoes whenever they met as they turned superstitious and believed that the deal would go through if both of them wore the same shoes every time they met. And yes, whopping USD 10.7 billion mega telecom deal was finally struck!

Rao and Shankar, both 1973 batch IFS officers, have been working overtime during the last few weeks to make this high-profile visit of US president a mega success. Both have acted as trouble-shooters and aired significant comments in the run-up to the visit. A few days before Obama reached Mumbai, Ambassador Shankar, for example, had talked about how India needs to watch the anti-outsourcing sentiment in “new political scenario” in the US. Foreign secretary Rao, on her part, stressed how the victory of Republicans would not impact the India-US relationship, which enjoys “bipartisan support” in that country.

After shaking hands with foreign secretary Rao in Delhi airport on Sunday (see picture), US president patted the next woman in pink sari, Ambassador Shankar, who in turn exchanged a few words with Obama. The President, who does not know many Indian ministers and officials welcoming him, was seen visibly pleased to find a known face, Ambassador Shankar. Ambassador’s husband and former industry secretary Ajay Shankar (second from right in top photo) was also present in the airport to welcome the US first couple. Shankar, a 1973 batch IAS, has been staying in US after he had retired 10 months ago.

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Salad bowl in Meera Shankar's party

House of Shankars

Obama In India: Is U.S. really frustrated with Indian bureaucracy?

JUST ahead of U.S. president’s Barack Obama’s high-profile three-day-long visit to India beginning Saturday, a noted American author and former official during Jimmy Carter administration, has said the U.S. is frustrated with Indian bureaucracy. While talking to Rediff.com, Michael Krepon, a co-founder of the Stimson Centre and former official of U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency talked about bureaucratic bottlenecks in India.

He further said that Indians today have great frustration over bureaucracy. “The United States has great frustration with the Indian bureaucracy. I understand Indians also have great frustration with Indian bureaucracy, but it is very hard to change patterns of behaviour from the past even though the situation today is so much different from the Cold War,” he told to popular online media, Rediff.com.

Obama is expected to pressurize Indian policy makers to change rules in India and give more market access to American companies. One of the main agenda that US president may take up during his visit is opening up of multi-brand retail for foreign companies, for which DIPP came out with a draft discussion paper a few months ago. US company Wal Mart among others are expected to gain from the move.

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Four bureaucrats to assist PM during Obama visit

Group "A" telecom officers set to help TCIL’s African safary

The Union Cabinet has given its nod to the proposal of the department of telecommunications regarding deputation of Group “A” officers of department of telecommunications (DoT) to Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd. (TCIL).

The approval is to allow TCIL to fill up such number of posts on deputation from Group “A” officers of DoT for a period of three years with effect from October 1, 2010 according to DPE guidelines.

The senior officials are expected to help TCIL in executing the time-bound project of Pan-African e-Network and other ongoing overseas and domestic projects. 

Four bureaucrats to assist PM during US president Obama’s visit to India

FOUR top Indian bureaucrats who have been assigned to help PM in formulating India’s standpoint during the three-day long visit of US president Barack Obama, are principal secretary to Prime Minister TKA Nair (1963 batch retired IAS), National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon (1972 batch retired IFS), foreign secretary Nirupama Rao (1973 batch IFS) and India’s Ambassador to USA Meera Shankar (1973 batch IFS).

In addition, there would be seven ministers and deputy chairman of Planning Commission who will also assist PM during Obama’s visit which begins on Saturday in Mumbai, only to conclude on Monday night in New Delhi. In a statement to media, India’s foreign secretary said, “Prime Minister will be assisted by Ministers of Finance, Agriculture, Defence, Home, External Affairs, Human Resource Development, Commerce and Industry, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, National Security Adviser, myself and our Ambassador to USA.”

Here is President Obama’s schedule in India:

November 6

1)      Will reach Mumbai in the forenoon of November 6.

2)      Will begin his program by paying homage to the victims of the terrorist attack in Mumbai.

3)      Visit Mani Bhavan to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi

4)      Attend a business summit organized by the US India Business Council in association with FICCI and CII.

November 7

1) On November 7, he will address a ‘Town Hall’ meeting and associated events at the St Xavier’s College

2)      Celebrate Diwali at a Primary School.

3)      Will leave Mumbai and reach Delhi in the afternoon of November 7.

4)      Will have a brief visit to Humayun’s tomb.

5)      He will be the guest of honour at a dinner hosted by Prime Minister and Mrs Kaur.

November 8

1)      The ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan

2)      Visit to Raj Ghat.

3)      President Obama and Prime Minister will meet in the forenoon and discuss bilateral, regional and global developments of mutual concern.

4)      They will preside over the meeting of the India-US CEO Forum.

5)      Two leaders will address a joint press conference.

6)      In the afternoon, Vice-President, Leader of Opposition and Chairperson UPA Ms Sonia Gandhi will call on President Obama.

7)      President Obama will address a joint session of both houses of our Parliament, in the Central Hall.

8)      His official program concludes with a meeting with President, and a State dinner for him and the First Lady at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

November 9

      1)      President Obama leaves Delhi in the forenoon of 9 November 2010 for Indonesia.

Action and Appointments

a) M Ramachandran assumed charge as Principal Registrar at the head quarters of the Central Administrative Tribunal at New Delhi on November 4. He had earlier served in various capacities in different departments of government of India and had worked as deputy registrar and joint registrar of the tribunal in Bombay Bench and as registrar for many years in the Ernakulam Bench of the tribunal. He holds masters degree in history, public administration and law. 

Obama’s 150 bureaucrats are gays: Reports

OBAMA administration has appointed gay officials more openly than his predecessors, media reports from US said. According to estimates, about 150 key bureaucrats in charge of policy and staff happen to gays now. It’s a part of Obama administration’s effort to bring in diversity in administration, reports said. 

In 1993, there were furor when then President Bill Clinton nominated a confirmed gay and San Francisco Supervisor, Roberta Achtenberg as assistant secretary for Housing and Urban Development. Achtenberg was the first openly gay official to be appointed at such a high position, according to reports.

The interest about Barack Obama administration has increased among Indian bureaucrats ahead of US President’s visit to India next week. Obama would first land up in Mumbai on November 6 and stay at the Taj hotel which became the target of attackers during the Mumbai strike almost two years ago. He would be addressing Indian Parliamentarians on November 8 in Delhi.

Action and Appointments

a) Rajan S Katoch, a 1979 batch MP cadre IAS presently in the cadre, has been appointed as additional secretary and financial adviser in the department of commerce, ministry of commerce and industry in the vacancy of Sutanu Behuria, a 1976 batch HP cadre IAS.

b) Dr Amarjit Singh, a 1982 batch Gujarat cadre IAS, presently Executive Director, Jansankhya Stllirta Kosh (JSK) has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of school education and literacy on lateral shift basis in vacancy of Ms Anita Kaul, a 1979 batch Karnataka cadre IAS.

c) The competent authority has approved the proposal of the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) for extension in the tenure of Shashi Ranjan Kumar, a 1992 batch Manipur-Tripura cadre IAS, Director in that department for a period of three months beyond December 20, 2010.

d) Virendra Kumar Pareek, a 1982 batch Indian Defence Service of Engineers  has been selected for appointment as director in the ministry of urban development for a period of five years.

Nirupama Rao leaves for US to hold talks with American bureaucrats before Obama’s India visit

THE preparation for US president Barack Obama’s visit to Indian in November has officially begun. Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, a 1973 batch IFS, left for the US on Thursday to meet several high-level US officials, including chairman of the Senate on foreign relations committee to discuss about the high-profile visit.

Rao is likely to meet National Secretary Advisor James Jones and Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns. Later Foreign Secretary will join external affairs minister SM Krishna who would reach New York on September 20 to participate in the UN General Assembly. The issue of visa hike and threat to outsourcing to India are likely to figure during the US visit of the foreign secretary. Rao would be aided by her batch-mate and Indian ambassador to US Meera Shankar when she would engage in dialogue with top US officials.

(File Photo: Ambassador Meera Shankar and foreign secretary Nirupama Rao with external affairs minister SM Krishna, in Washington DC on June 2, 2010)

Babus In Demand

Are you an Indian officer at the rank of deputy secretary or director level, but with fairly good knowledge of Tamil language? If you fit the description, you could be a contender for a vacant post in development cooperation wing of Indian High Commission at Colombo. The period of deputation will be three years. An academic background in finance, economics or civil engineering would be desirable. Last date of application is October 15, 2010. Only in August, the government had invited applications for filling up the post of Counsellor, Community Affairs (Development) under the ministry of overseas Indian affairs at Abu Dhabi.

Action and Appointments

a) Mohan Kumar, presently Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Paris, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Bahrain in succession to Dr George Joseph. He is expected to take up his assignment shortly.

b) Delhi police has registered a case of molestation against a 50-year-old Delhi Metro officer under Sections 354 for allegedly outraging the modesty of a woman colleague, and 509 (making indecent gestures to insult a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). A woman in her mid-30s complained that she was being sexually harassed for the past few months by the DMRC officer, and the accused allegedly sent lewd text messages on her mobile phone.