Ms. Sanjeevanee Kutty IAS (Maharashtra 1983) presently posted as Additional Secretary & Financial Adviser, Ministry of Home Affairs, h been appointed as Special Secretary.
IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Ms. Sanjeevanee Kutty the very best.
Financial and Administrative Measures in Aviation Sector
The Government has taken several measures to tackle problems in the sector like persuading state governments to reduce Value Added Tax (VAT) on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), allowing direct import of ATF by Indian Carriers as actual users, permitting foreign airlines to participate upto 49 percent in the equity of scheduled air transport undertaking, allowing External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) for working capital requirement of airline industry for a period of one year subject to a total ceiling of US $ 1 billion and tax concession for parts of aircraft and testing equipment for third party maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of civil aircraft.
The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) in its meeting held on 12th April, 2012, approved a Turnaround Plan (TAP)/ Financial Restructuring Plan (FRP) for operational and financial turnaround of Air India (AI) subject to achievement of certain laid down milestones by AI. As part of the TAP/FRP, AI has initiated, inter-alia, the following steps in order to cut costs:-
(i) Rationalization of certain loss making routes.
(ii) Induction of brand new aircraft on several domestic and international routes to increase passenger appeal.
(iii) Phasing out and grounding of old fleet.
(iv) Establishment of Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC) and Hub Control Centre (HCC) in Delhi.
(v) Freezing of employment in non-operational areas.
(vi) Operationalization of Subsidiary Companies such as Air India Air Transport Services Limited (AIATSL) and Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) and transfer of manpower and equipment and treating them as Independent Profit Centers and,
(vii) Induction of the B787 aircraft on the Medium Capacity Long Haul Routes.
BRICS-MSME Round Table and Seminar on Services
The 2nd meeting of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) Round Table and the Seminar on Services was held on 28 July, 2016 at Agra. The BRICS is a grouping consisting of 5 countries namely Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa. Mr Dammu Ravi, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce was the moderator of both the MSME Round Table and the Seminar on Services.
Mr S.N Tripathi, Additional Secretary and Development Commissioner, MSME was the Chief Guest at the 2nd MSME Round Table. The Chief Guest highlighted the importance of the MSME sector and how the government had been a facilitator for the sector with a view to encouraging entrepreneurship in order to stimulate manufacturing in line with the flagship schemes of the government namely Make in India and Skill India. The deliberations were centred around the regulatory framework and institutional structures of MSMEs; the role of MSMEs in innovation, technology transfer and international projects; integration of MSMEs in the global value chains and a possible portal for BRICS MSMEs. India also provided a brief on the 1st BRICS Trade Fair to be held in October, 2016. The BRICS delegations decided that they would take the discussions and possible cooperation on MSMEs forward.
In the 2nd BRICS Seminar on Services, the issues that were discussed were cooperation on the services statistics in the BRICS region and possible areas of cooperation on trade facilitation in services. The discussions were useful and highlighted the importance of the service sector in the BRICS region.
Injeti Srinivas appointed as Secretary
Shri Injeti Srinivas IAS (Orissa 1983), Director General, Sports Authority of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has been appointed in the rank and pay of Secretary.
IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Shri Injeti Srinivas the very best.
V P Yajurvedi given officiating charge as DGOF & Chairman- OFB
Shri V.P.Yajurvedi, IOFS has taken over as officiating charge of the post of DGOF & Chairman/ Ordnance Factory Board .
Shri Yajurvedi joined Indian Ordnance Factories in 1978 after a Masters in Electrical Engineering. He also has an MBA in Material Management. In a career spanning 38 years he has contributed significantly in various capacities at Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur, Machine Tool Prototype Factory Ambarnath, Ordnance Factory Muradnagar, Armoured Vehicle HQrs, Ordnance Equipment Factories’ Hqrs and Ordnance Factory Board Corporate HQrs.
Before taking over as DGOF &Chairman / OFB, he led P&MM Division of OFB as Addl. DGOF & Member of OFB.
IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Shri V.P.Yajurvedi the very best.
Truth in danger as new techniques used to stop journalists covering news
Summary:The truth is being suppressed across the world using a variety of methods, according to a special report.
The truth is being suppressed across the world using a variety of methods, according to a special report in the 250th issue of Index on Censorship magazine.
Physical violence is not the only method being used to stop news being published, says editor Rachael Jolley in the Danger in Truth: Truth in Danger report. As well as kidnapping and murders, financial pressure and defamation legislation is being used, the report reveals.
“In many countries around the world, journalists have lost their status as observers and now come under direct attack.”
There’s an increasing trend to label journalists as “extremists” or “terrorists” so governments can crackdown on reporting they don’t like. According to Index’s Mapping Media Freedom project, which tracks attacks on journalists in more than 40 countries, 35 incidents were reported where journalists were being linked to “extremism” to restrict reporting, 11 in Russia and others in Belgium, Hungary, France and Spain.
Veteran journalists say certain countries including Syria are becoming almost impossible to cover. And citizen journalists in Syria say they are under enormous pressure to stop reporting but feel a responsibility to carry on despite the risks, particularly since so few international journalists are left in Syria. “All we can do is persevere, coping with the fear and the risks,” one told Index.
Laura Silvia Battaglia, who trains journalists in Iraq says: “In Iraq providing safety training is not only necessary, it’s a duty for international originations who care about journalists and activists in dangerous zones. […] Local journalism is vital if the Iraqi people are to know what is happening in their country, and to do that journalists need to continue to protect themselves.”
The special report is part of the 250th issue from global quarterly magazine Index on Censorship which explores the increasing threats journalists are facing globally. More information about ‘Danger in Truth: Truth in Danger’ can be found here. The magazine also includes an exclusive translation of a play extract by Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell, published for the first time in English.
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Dr. M Mathivanan appointed CEO- CMDA, Tamil Nadu
Dr. M Mathivanan IAS (Tamil Nadu 2006) presently posted as Collector, Tiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu has been appointed as CEO, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, Tamil Nadu.
IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Dr Mathivanan the very best.
Seema Bahuguna appointed as Special Secretary
Ms Seema Bahuguna IAS (Rajasthan 1983) presently posted as Additional Secretary & Financial Adviser, Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development has been appointed as Special Secretary.
IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Ms. Seema Bahuguna the very best.
Development of Inland Waterways
Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, 111 inland waterways have been declared as National Waterways (NWs)in addition to the five existing NWs, across 24 States for utilising them as an environment friendly and sustainable mode of transport.
Out of these 111 NWs, the following waterways are operational:
(i) NW-1: Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system (Allahabad-Haldia).
(ii) NW-2: River Brahmaputra.
(iii) NW-3: West Coast Canal (Kottapuram-Kollam) along with Udyogmandal and ChampakaraCanals.
(iv) NW -68: Mandovi.
(v) NW-97: Sundarbans waterways.
(vi) NW -111: Zuari
The Jal Marg Vikas Project has been commissioned for capacity augmentation of NW–1 (river Ganga) from Haldia to Varanasi with an objective to facilitate movement of 1,500 – 2,000tonne vessels. The project has been undertaken with the technical and financial support of the World Bank at an estimated cost of Rs. 4,200 crore. The project is scheduled to be completed in six years. Under this project, various sub projects include, fairway development and construction of multimodal terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj and Haldia and a new navigation lock at Farakka. On NW-2 (river Brahmaputra) a Ro-Ro service has started and a ship repair facility is being constructed at Pandu (Guwahati).
Commencement of development of six more waterways is planned in this financial year. These waterways are NW-4 (Kakinada Puducherry Canal alongwith Krishna & Godavari Rivers), NW- 5 (East Coast Canal with Brahmani& Mahanadi Delta), NW-16 (Barak), NW-37 (Gandak), NW-40 (GhagraRiver) and NW-58 (Kosi).The development of NW-4 & 5 has already been initiated and status is as below:
National Waterway – 4
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been entered into between Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Government of Andhra Pradesh to develop the Kakinada- Puducherry canal system along with Krishna and Godavari rivers in Andhra Pradesh through Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to be formed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and IWAI. Feasibility studies, including delineation of land, have also been undertaken. The fairway stretch between Vijayawada and Muktiyala (87 Km) is being developed through dredging for which tenders have been floated by IWAI. This will help to move the cement required for construction of the new capital of Andhra Pradesh at Amravati.
National Waterway– 5
NW-5, with a total length of 588km, consists of river & canal portion i.e East Coast Canal. The development of river stretch of 333 km consisting of Brahmani, Kharsuanand Delta River Systems of Mahanadi &Brahmani has been taken up initially in two phases. The stretch (between Pankopal to DhamraandParadip port) of 203 km is being developed under the 1st phase. Fairway development which include dredging and setting up of terminal facilities at Pankopal,ParadipandDhamra are under progress.
Rajani Ranjan Rashmi appointed Special Secretary
Shri Rajani Ranjan Rashmi IAS (Manipur 1983), presently posted as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change,has been appointed as Special Secretary.
IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Shri R R Rashmi the very best.
Helicopter Manufacturing Unit
Foundation stone of the new helicopter manufacturing unit of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, near Tumakuru, Karnataka was laid by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 03.01.2016. The unit is being established for manufacture of new helicopters like the indigenously designed and developed Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) in the 3 Ton class category and other helicopters in accordance with projects likely to come up subsequently. The initial investment for the project could be of the order of Rs.2000 crore.
The infrastructure for manufacture of Helicopter is planned to be set up in a phased manner. Production of Helicopters is expected to commence in 2018.
Producers debate Growth Challenges at FICCI forum
Panelists at a ‘Knowledge Series’ forum of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) believe the digital content economy would see exponential growth over the next three to four years.
The seminar, held in association with the Los Angeles India Film Council, assessed the extent to which screen content acts as a driver of the digital economy in India. Executives from the creative industry assessed the current regulatory and infrastructural challenges, growth trends and how to monetise such content.
Ramesh Sippy (pictured), film producer and co-chair of FICCI’s entertainment division, spoke of how increased connectivity, technological innovation and new content delivery platforms all combine to spur growth. The government’s role, he said, was pivotal in enabling legitimate content delivery platforms to protect and monetise their content, in a rapidly changing marketplace.
India is the second largest internet user market in the world, with an accelerating 40 per cent internet growth rate. It is felt the Indian media and entertainment sector is at a ‘tipping point’, for online businesses to provide a multitude of options to consumers. However, online content theft, varying levels of broadband access and affordability in terms of data rates are challenges for providers. These will impact how digital media evolves.
Girish Menon, director, transaction services, at KPMG India, said: “The advent of OTT services (delivery of audio, video and other media in broadcasting over the internet, without the involvement of a multiple-system operator in the control or distribution of the content) and onthe-go content, aided with competitive tariffs (rates) and the falling average retail price of smartphones, has helped drive video consumption. However, profitability continues to be a major challenge, coupled with infrastructure and affordability of data tariffs and payments models. It is imperative for OTT players to address these concerns through innovative means, to achieve the medium’s full potential.”
Among the challenges discussed were telecom infrastructure, data charges and, of course, content theft. Film maker Vishesh Bhatt said while monetising of content and innovating with advertising are options, platform owners need to get more courageous with content creation. “We see a lot of examples from the West and try to adapt. Unfortunately, we lack the risk appetite that the West has. Today, if I have an idea but it’s risky, I might not get buyers for it. So, we might not be able to make the pathbreaking content those in the West are making,” he felt.
The panellists agreed the Indian system poses a dichotomy in that it offers scalability through the sheer mass that can be catered to but also has a demand for original content which automatically restricts the audience that can be targeted.
Ajay Chacko, co-founder of Arrey, the UDigital media venture’s brand, added: “Technology is a cost we are well aware about and can plan. To make the business viable, the focus will have to be on innovative marketing and monetising the content. There are ways to use content to market the platform and to create content for advertisers. Different strategies will work for different players.”