Defence ministry identifies nodal officer to ensure setting up of tented accommodation for C'wealth Games, 2010

THE ministry of defence has recently identified a nodal officer for an action of a different kind. His job will be to identify defence land in and around Delhi for setting up of tented accommodation to make up the shortage of accommodation for 2010 Commonwealth Games. It was revealed during a high-level meeting chaired by Union tourism and housing & urban poverty alleviation minister Kumari Selja and attended by secretary tourism Sujit Banerjee and representatives of governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, ministry of youth affairs and sports, urban development, railways, DDA, NDMC, MCD, Delhi Police, DIAL, ITDC and IHM (Pusa) etc. It was informed in the meeting that the government of Haryana had identified vacant sites at Surajkund and Hodel for setting up tented accommodation. Also, the state government also proposed to earmark suitable land for tented accommodation at Badhkal Lake. It was decided in the meeting that 5,500 residential flats of DDA located at Vasant Kunj and Jasola for the Games which would be furnished and operated by ITDC, should be ready in phases between January to May, 2010.

An ex-bureaucrat to head Japan's postal service; govt criticized A former finance ministry top bureaucrat in Japan Jiro Saito will be the next president of the country's postal service, an appointment that was severely criticized by opposition Liberal Democratic Party which said the choice contradicted the Democratic Party of Japan's stance that elite bureaucrats shouldn't be allowed to grab cushy jobs in government-linked agencies after retirement. Read: Japan's age-old Amakudari (September 3, 2009) Significantly, 73-year-old Saito who would now lead the postal system in the country was the top finance ministry bureaucrat between 1993 and 1995.

Babus in Demand The government is looking for the right candidate currently working in the rank of director or deputy secretary for the post of General Manager, Food Corporation of India, Chennai. The last date of application is November 27, 2009. Read the CIRCULAR

Gen Next File... Noted actor Kabir Bedi will be in Delhi on October 23 to release ‘Ready to Rock’, a book written by Ronen Chatterjee, son of 1975 batch Orissa cadre IAS and secretary, public enterprises Bhaskar Chatterjee. Well known theatre personality and CEO, Lok Sabha Television, Suneet Tandon will read excerpts from the book on the occasion. ‘Ready to Rock’ is Chatterjee Junior's second offering. His first book ‘Fire Within’ was released in 2008.

Yet another netagiri Vs babudom: Should Indian politicians deserve a standing ovation from bureaucrats?

THERE is nothing unusual about politicians having a grudge against cushy bureaucratic jobs as civil servants are ever-green in corridors of power and need not go to masses for seeking fresh mandate. But the recent set of instructions for Indian babus, particularly the bizarre fiat of the Rajasthan government that bureaucrats must stand up to receive an elected representative, read politician, is going too far. The directive issued by principal secretary of the administrative reforms and co-ordination department of the Rajasthan government said if any MLA or MP drop in without an appointment, the bureaucrat must them a priority. Also, civil servants are asked to invite local representatives to all the official functions organized in the area he represents, and the seat for the politician should be reserved till the end of the function. As babu blogger mentioned in a post dated August 7, 2009, that Indian political masters recently imposed a set of additional instructions on how officers should behave with the Members of Parliament. Read, “Netagiri & babudom: A new set of instructions issued to help officers communicate with MPs”. Also, politicians from Goa recently criticized their bureaucrats as inefficient and non-cooperative. Tensions reached such a stage that the government of Goa began consultation with the Central government to create a separate cadre for the state of Goa only. Read, “Why do Goan Netas hate babus? State politicians demand separate IAS, IPS cadre only for Goa” posted on August 11, 2009. Also read, “My Take: Low Level European Civil Servants Lead In Brand-Building Of Europe’s Bureaucracy” posted on June 30, 2009. Action & Appointments a) Arvind Mehta, a 1984 batch Himachal cadre IAS officer has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of commerce, in the pay band of Rs 37400-67000 (PB-4) with a grade pay of Rs 10,000 for a period of 5 years. b) Rita Sharma, a 1974 batch UP cadre IAS and secretary department of rural development will hold the additional charge of the post of secretary, department of drinking water supply for a period of three months with effect from September 1, 2009. c) Bhaskar Chatterjee, a 1975 batch Orissa cadre IAS, and presently principal adviser, Planning Commission has been appointed as secretary, department of public enterprises in the ministry of heavy industries and public enterprises. d) R Bandyopadhyay, a 1974 batch IAS West Bengal cadre IAS, and presently secretary, department of public enterprises has been appointed as secretary, ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) in place of Anurag Goel, a 1972 batch UP cadre IAS. Mr Goel will now become Member, Competition Commission of India (CIC). babu blogger wrote it on August 3, 2009 that Mr Goel would be a CIC Member. Read, "Post-retirement plan for MCA secretary Anurag Goel & personnel secretary Rahul Sarin firmed up in advance"