Know Your Babu: New tourism secretary Vinod Zutshi’s marketing skills may come handy now

Zutshi (right) with minister Dr Mahesh Sharma

FIRST, let’s take a close look at this photo. Newly-appointed tourism secretary and 1982 batch Rajasthan cadre IAS Vinod Zutshi is seen while being welcomed by minister of state for tourism (independent charge) Dr Mahesh Sharma in New Delhi on Wednesday. In the backdrop of the photo which was released by the tourism ministry on Wednesday, the photo of prime minister Nadendra Modi too stands out. Eyes say it all – the minister is likely to give Zutshi enough room to experiment, innovate and undertake new…

Govt adopts liberal benchmark for ST, SCs in empanelment of JS, addl secy & secretary; No provision for reservation as yet

THE government has reiterated that there is no provision of reservation for SCs/STs in posts of secretary, additional secretary, joint secretary and director etc. which come under Central Staffing Scheme, but added that at the time of empanelment, every effort is made to empanel officers belonging to SC/ST and are at times liberal benchmarks are adopted as compared to officers from general category. Minister of state in the ministry of personnel, public grievances & pensions Prithviraj Chavan in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Wednesday gave this information. Currently, out of 88 secretaries in government of India as on December 11, 2009, there are four STs (4.55%) and no SC. Similarly, out of 66 additional secretary level officers, there is only one ST and one SC officer. In case of joint secretaries, out of 249 officers, 13 are SC and 9 are ST officers. There are currently 31 SC directors and 9 ST director level officers. Related Story: Centre tries to attract minorities by offering government jobs (July 11, 2009) ARC's recommendation on capacity building for OBCs The 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) in its 7th Report called “Capacity Building for Conflict Resolution – Friction to Fusion” recommended that government might work out the modalities of a survey and take up a statewise socio-economic survey of the “Other Backward Classes”, which could form the basis of policies and programmes to improve their status. It has also suggested that the government needs to formulate and implement a comprehensive scheme for capacity building of OBCs. The recommendations are under consideration of the government now. It was stated by the minister of state in the ministry of personnel, public grievances & pensions Prithviraj Chavan in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Action & Appointments a) Sundeep Kumar Nayak, a 1985 batch JK cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary in the ministry of mines. b) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Election Commission of India for appointment of Vinod Zutshi, a 1982 batch Rajasthan cadreIAS, presently in the cadre as Officer on Special Duty (joint secretary level) in the Election Commission of India. c) Suresh Chandra Gupta, a 1986 batch Sikkim cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of chemicals & petrochemicals. d) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the ministry of home affairs for inter-cadre deputation of C Sita Rami Reddy, a 1987 batch Punjab cadre IPS from Punjab to Andhra Pradesh for a period of three years, as a special case. e) Dr Nazrul Islam, a 1981 batch West Bengal cadre IPS has been appointed as Executive Director (Security) in the Railway Protection Force for a period of five years or until further order. f) Central deputation tenure of M Rajamani, a 1982 batch Orissa cadre IAS has been extended as senior Deputy Director General (Administration) in the Indian Council of Medical Research under the department of health research for a period till December 31, 2009. g) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the pre-mature termination of appointment of Jiji Thomson, a 1980 batch Kerala cadre IAS, joint secretary in the department of agriculture & cooperation, on his appointment to an appropriate position in the administration of the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games 2010 under Rule 6 (2) (ii) of the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954, on deputation basis. h) Anindo Majumdar, a 1985 batch UT cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of agriculture & cooperation for a period from the date of assumption of the charge of the post till the completion of his Central deputation period of 7 years, i.e. upto October 15, 2013 or until further orders. i) Sat Pal, a 1979 batch CSS has been appointed as secretary, National Commission for Safai Karamacharis (joint secretary level) under the ministry of social justice and empowerment. j) The appointment of Inder Jit Singh, a 1985 batch Kerala cadre IAS as joint secretary in the department of higher education has been cancelled. He has now been appointed as joint secretary in the department of science and technology instead. k) Inter-cadre transfer of Ms R. Nishanthini, A 2008 batch West Bengal cadre IPS from West Bengal to Kerala has been approved. l) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the regularization of the period of overstay of Ms Raji P Srivastava, a 1992 batch Punjab cadre IAS for a period from November 2, 2008 to May 5, 2009.