IAS Jasmeet Singh Sandhu belongs to the 2016 Batch Rajasthan cadre and is currently posted as district collector of Salumbar, Rajasthan. Sandhu has been recognized with awards at both state and national, the most recent being under the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan for empowering the differently-abled community. Regarding his vision for Salumbar,it focuses on water conservation and community empowerment.

For water conservation and to achieve a water-sufficient,Catch the Rain campaign and Jal Sanchay were initiated with the goal “to ensure that every drop of rainwater is harvested and water loss is minimized,” he explained. Various structures were constructed to capture and store rainwater. “From 2022 to 2023, 1,531 water harvesting and conservation works were sanctioned, and the surplus water is now directed to Jaisamand Lake, Asia’s second-largest artificial lake, providing the district with a natural reservoir,” he noted.

Under his leadership in addition to structural measures efforts were made to raise public awareness and encourage judicious water use through Jal Shapaths “Rooftop water harvesting structures were made mandatory in urban areas, and farmers were encouraged to build farm ponds and adopt sheet-based farming to minimize water losses,” he said.

Beyond water conservation, Sandhu has also focused on empowering farmers by introducing modern agricultural practices, such as solar pumps, drip irrigation systems, and high-quality seeds. Additionally, he added, “Farmers who were pro-technology were identified, and sustained focus was placed on them to use all these yojanas to increase agricultural output and increase farmers income.”

With a holistic approach to governance, Sandhu’s efforts also extend to empowering the specially-abled. He noted, “Despite enjoying entitlements from various government departments, the specially abled have to face a lot of issues Hence it was decided to start Sambal Abhiyan” The initiative included conducting camps where doctors from different disciplines provided on-the-spot certificates. “More than 7,500 specially-abled individuals have been identified through this initiative,” he added.

Additionally, to ensure equitable access to government benefits for all citizens, a house-to-house survey was conducted to create a database, identifying which government benefits people are receiving and which they are eligible for. “Overall, 2 lakh government benefits under various schemes have been given.”

For education, Sandhu believes in embracing digitalization through smart classes. “In remote areas, where there may be a shortage of technical manpower, digital education and smart classes can go a long way in addressing this issue,” he said. So far, smart classrooms have been established in 282 schools, one of which even features a robotic classroom.

Jen Namchu, ADG, PIB has applied for VRS. She has given her application in this regard. She is an IIS officer.

A vacancy of Director General, Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has arisen after the retirement of incumbent Rajesh Kumar Kaushal in October. The Government of India is yet to fill the vacancy.

Inter cadre deputation of Manoj Kumar Sahoo from AGMUT to Odisha cadre for a period of three years has been approved. He is a 2006 batch IAS officer.

Inter cadre deputation of Ms Monica Priyadarshini from AGMUT to Odisha Cadre for three years has been approved. She is a 2014 batch IAS officer.

Mayank Srivastav has been appointed as Deputy Director General in Sports Authority of India (SAI) on deputation. He is a 2006 batch IPS officer of Chhattisgarh cadre.

Dr Pranay Misra, AIGF, Regional Office, Lucknow in the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, has been given premature repatriation to his parent cadre. Dr Misra is a 201 batch IFoS officer of Chhattisgarh cadre.

As many as 27 officers have been promoted to the grade of Chief Commissioner/Director General of Customs & Indirect Taxes in the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes).

Informed sources  said that former Chairman of the Railway Board  Jaya Varma Sinha is unlikely to join as Member CAT in Kerala.

Tenure of State Election Commissioner in Assam is coming to an end in December. He is 1984 batch IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre. Name of Ravi Shankar Prasad is doing the round as his successor.

Two Senior Accounts Officers have been given new postings. Ms Francisca Jacob has been shifted to the Ministry of Skill Development, Delhi and D R Sutur was posted to Ministry of I&B, Mumbai.

Pranjal J Hazarika has been appointed as Secretary to Minister for SC/ST Welfare, Labour, Employment in Delhi Government. He is a 2006 batch DANICS officer.

M Keivom (YOA:2008), presently Director in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Djibouti

Nijamuddin has joined Department of Telecommunications, Headquarters (DoT HQs). He is a JAG of Indian Telecommunications Service (ITS) Grade ‘A’ officer.

As many as 17 IDAS officers have been transferred and given new postings. These officers are Sanjay Kumar (Pragyagraj); Neelu (PIFA-Navy, Delhi); Amrita Panda (CGDA Hqs Delhi Cantt); Abhinav Dudi (IFA-SWC), Jaipur; Manish (CDA-Army, Delhi Cantt); Abhishek Singh (DPTI & Sr Dy IFA-Army & COD, Prayagraj); Vijay Sharma (PCDA, (P) Prayagraj; Amit Kumar (PCDA, New Delhi), Ankit Pandey (PIFA-Q&M, Delhi), Geetika Singh Battu (CGDA Hqs Delhi Cantt), Dr Akshata A Rao (DCDA-R&D, Metcalf House Delhi; Dr Vijay Thomas D (IFA Hq TC (AF), Bangalore); Kavya Tangirala (CDA, Guwahati); Rahul Gaur (PIFA, Army-O Delhi); T C Kureel (PIFA, Army, Lucknow); Leena Thankachan (PCDA-O, Pune); and Kapil Deo (AAO-CC, Kanpur).

Pardeep Kumar has returned from deputation to MCD and posted at North Central Railway (NCR). He is a SG, Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE).

 

Last date to apply for Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) for Solomon Islands, Namibia and Nigeria has been extended. More information can be availed from the website.

 

Prafulla V Kohade has returned from deputation to RITES and posted at West Central Railway in the cadre. He is a SAG, Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME) officer.

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) seeks applications for the post of Director (Finance), Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited. Applications must be submitted by December 2.

Nominations of Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officers are invited by December 15 for appointment in Central Deputation posts in Government of India (both CSS and Non-CSS posts) at the level of DGF, ADGF, DDGF, IGF, DIGF, AIGF, on. tenure deputation basis, under the Central Staffing Scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) (Vacancy Year 2025).

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has advertised for the post of Vice Chairperson of the National Commision for Allied and Healthcare Profession (NCAHP). Applications can be emailed at ahssection-mohfw@gov.in on or before December 12, 2024.

 

National Tobacco Testing Laboratory (NTTL) has invited applications for various technical posts for Mumbai. More information can be availed from the website. Applications must reach on or before December 20, 2024.

Abhay Sharma, who is presently serving as Joint Director, Passenger Marketing (Coordination), Railway Board, has been transferred and posted as Joint Director (Fertilizer Movement) in the Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers. He is an Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer.

Permand Sharma, who is currently working as Chief Works Engineer (CWE) in South Eastern Railway (SER), has been detailed to look after the duties of the post of Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) at Kharagpur. He is an Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) officer.

Manoj K Sahoo, who is currently working as Additional Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM), (C), Waltair, in East Coast Railway (ECoR), has been detailed to look after the duties of the post of Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Waltair. He is an Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE) officer.

NLC India Limited, a premier Navratna CPSE under the control of the Ministry of Coal, Government of India, has contributed Rupees 1 crore to the Kerala Disaster Mitigation Fund through NLC Tamil Nadu Power Limited (NTPL) CSR Fund at Thiruvananthapuram on November 20, 2024. NTPL is a joint venture of NLC India Limited and Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO).  A cheque for Rupees 1 crore was handed over to Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala by Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, Chairman & Managing Director, NLC India Limited in the presence of M Venkatachalam, Director (Power), NLCIL and Ananda Ramanujam, CEO, NTPL on November 20, 2024 at the CM’s Office in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. On July 30, 2024, heavy rainfall triggered landslides occurred in the serene, northern district of Wayanad. This contribution aims to support the restoration efforts and rehabilitation of those displaced by the floods and landslides in Kerala. Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, CMD, NLC India also briefed Chief Minister of Kerala about NLC India's current activities and future plans. NLC India has been a reliable power supplier to the state of Kerala for over three decades, contributing significantly to the state's economic growth and development. NLC India has also signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEBL)for the supply of 400 MW of power from the upcoming NLC Talabira Thermal Power Project of 2,400 MW capacity (3x800MW) at Talabira in Odisha.

Air pollution

I guess maybe it is right time to consider the re locate ncr or consider a winter capital towards “nagpur / raipur / nizamabad/ northeast cities ” or some other areas with better climate or less risk of air pollution since carrying a oxygen box for everyone and time might not feasible even if it can be done temporary !

soumo rudra

Need more measure to curb air pollution 

more measures are needed to curb air pollution- shut down offices , and work from home . Shut down shops / malls ( perhaps odd - even ). Look at vehicular pollution n do graded restrictions incl odd even

Prasad

Action taken on a complaint filed on CPGRAM portal

A complaint was sent via mail to Department of Financial Services, Insurance Division, regarding Mapping of Office of Council of Insurance Ombudsman at CPGRAMS portal and related information. The Complainant filed an application under the RTI Act seeking action taken report regarding the complaint. The Complainant was informed that there was already a mechanism for registering online complaints at the official website of council of Insurance ombudsman and the request made vide email was examined and filed. The CIC held that the respondent had replied to the Complainant and no mala fide could be attributed to the decision taken by them. While exercising their wisdom, the Respondent provided the information as per record available with them. That being so and the reply having been given to the complainant, there appears to be no merit in the complaint.

Comments

It has been observed in many cases that the complainants have used the RTI Act to follow up on a complaint filed on CPGRAM portal or any other forum. The PIO should reply to the RTI application informing whatever action has been taken on the complaint.

Citation: Ankit Tiwari v. Department of Financial Services, Complaint No. CIC/DOFSR/C/2023/652827; Date of Decision: 03.10.2024

Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Vishakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books PIO’s Guide to RTI and Right to Information – Law and Practice. Her weekly article is being published since 2008 on this site. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and third party audit to individuals / organisations. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation at the link https://www.rtifoundationofindia.com/

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