Whispers Forum

We are nation 125 crores. We created a wonderful AMUL model. Why cannot we have similar model in every economic sphere of activity. People need only good leaders to lead to create such models. This will certainly give birth to reduction to corruption to barest minimum as people will themselves be part of the economic system.
Harish Kumar
Gopal Krishna Gandhi should decline
Why Gopal Krishna Gandhi should decline politely ? It is the biggest insult to the Father of the Nation to nominate his grandson for the office of the Vice President of India. The Congress has only used the Mahatma for political gain bereft of any genuine respect for his ideas or ideology. They have tried to paint him only as a saint but never as a “Leader”, whereas it was the “Leadership par excellence” of M.K.Gandhi which did all the wonders. Just one example: when MKG started the Salt Satyagraha, it hit the British revenues to the extent of 25% of the total. The Congress tried to make its leader look a shade better and aped a Salt Satyagraha in Mumbai sometime during UPA-I rule. The political parties now in favour of Gopal Bhai are out of favour of the people of India because they have committed corruption of a humongous proportion and not even regretted a bit so far. Will Gopal Bhai protect these corrupt politicians as the VP of India ? Was it for that Gandhi ji made the supreme sacrifice for the nation ? Gopal K Gandhi should politely refuse to play ball for these corrupt elements in India and recall how he as Governor of West Bengal had to carry in his hand a tape recorder to record his own public speech as the communist rulers of West Bengal always tried to misconstrue his words and give them a spin. It is the same “progressive/ left/ liberal/secular” brigade which is goading him to fall for a lollypop. Were they, especially the Congress, ever sincere and grateful to the Father of the Nation they ought to have made Gopal Krishna Gandhi the President of India long ago when they enjoyed decisive majority, but they never even nominated him for the office of the VP. Low level politics making even the Mahatma a controversial figure !
M L Gupta
Discontinuance of payment of Family Planning Allowance for adoption of small family norms-
Recommendation of the Committee under the chairmanship of Finance Secretary:
On 7 th July, 2017, an Office Memorandum was issued by M/o Finance intimating all the Ministries/Deptts. /C&AG etc. to discontinue the FPA payments on existing rate as per admissibility.
The O.M shows that those who have adhered to the Family Planning Policy of the GOI were fool, especially, the officials (AIS, CSS, Central Services, State Services) belonging to Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Punjab, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. Most of policy followers are unreserved category officials.
The very purpose to discontinue this policy is to placate BIMARU States belongers whether AIS or other Central or State Government services. The officials belong to BIMARU states have two and more than two children. In some cases, officials belong to IAS have three children.
This irrational step of the government will be giving negative signals to those officials who adhered to the family planning policy under FPA of the government of India. Particularly, the Women Employees who adopted the family planning policy under FPA. There is no relation between the philosophy and action. It is encouraging those who do not adhere to the policies of the GoI.
What was the motive behind discontinuance of FPA? Is it pro-reserved and pro-bimaru state/pro politicians move by incapables. It is as bad as to protect such fundamentalist who kill the innocent in the fake name of COW (IST).
Successive Finance Secretaries have always been interested in implementing the policy of provision of lap tops/ telephone mobile/staff car facilities to the Deputy Secretary and above level officials in the NAME OF OFFICIAL DUTIES. In fact, the facilities are used by their wives and children. IAS and other entitled officials take undue advantage in name of official work. Secretary is entitled for one vehicle but in every department more than two vehicles are being used by Secretaries. The burden on the exchequer comes in crores on such unwarranted expenditures. One of the officials of the committee is within that corrupt category defying entitlement. Is this the governance ?
All the whispers followers are requested to decide whether FPA should discontinue for those who adhered to policy of the GOI or to make happy to those who do not adhere to policies of the GoI ?
Whether the officials adopted FPP contributed towards HDI now being punished by Modiji under the advice of FS or FS is planning to give incentives out of the future savings of FPA to those who are burden on the ex-chequer in the name of official duties ?
BK- A whisper follower

The appellant filed an application under the RTI Act before the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Central Information Commission (CIC) seeking information on the action taken on his representation dated 27.08.2011 addressed to the Chief Information Commissioner. The PIO informed that due to oversight, the action taken on the appellant’s representation dated 25.08.2011 instead of 27.08.2011 was provided. The respondent tendered her unconditional apology for this lapse and requested the Commission to condone the same. The CIC noted that correct information has not been provided. Taking a serious note of this lapse, the CIC counselled the PIO to be more careful in future so that such lapses do not recur. Further, the CIC directed the respondent to provide the action taken on the appellant’s representation dated 27.08.2011 to him within a period of four weeks.
Comments
In case of multiple correspondence from an applicant, the PIO must exercise due care to ensure that what has been sought is being provided. Such a mistake is likely in case of an applicant seeking information through multiple RTI applications.
Citation: Shri Deep Chandra Sharma v. Central Information Commission Decision No. CIC/SB/A/2016/001157 Dated 05.07.2017
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is the co-author of the books: RIGHT TO INFORMATION – LAW AND PRACTICE and PIO’s guide to RTI. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India - Right to Information Act 2005- RTI Foundation of India

A healthy mind needs a healthy body. So every responsible officer of the government irrespective of his service must have a healthy body. Why isolate police alone.
Parth
Security jeopardised
The Government of India has housed two of its sensitive offices namely NATGRID and National Security Council in a market place areas, which is not correct from the security angle of these agencies. There is free movement of vehicles and people in an around the two offices. It would be prudent, if these offices is located in some area of the city and not right in the heart of the Connaught Place.
B B Srivastava
Is everything alright ?
After Sameer Verma, now Lokesh Kumar Lihare left office of M/o Water Resources. Is everything alright ? I think "No". Whisperinthecorrider kindly through the light.
Parvati
No ordinary spat
An incident that happened in Sector 78 Noida the other day was no ordinary spat between the domestic help and her employer. It brings into focus a larger issue of illegal migrants who have spread from one corner of the country to another. Bangladeshi migrants changed the demographic nature of Assam, got an upper hand in some areas of West Bengal. In Noida and maybe in some other towns the domestic workers are mostly Bangladeshis. They have replaced those from Bihar. The mob violence that was unleashed on the society complex where a Bangladeshi domestic help alleged beating showed how they could become a serious threat to law and order. The moot question that arises how these illegal migrants sneak into the country and settle wherever they find work. All those who wrote in the media about this incident took the side of domestic help. True domestic helps are exploited by some but they are no less exploiters taking undue advantage of the dependence specially of working couples on them. They take up 5 to 6 houses for work and spend half an hour to one hour in each house dishwashing or mopping floor and make good money which they send home through the group of' dadas' who facilitate their entry in and out of the country by bribing the Border Security force personnel. They live illegally on Government land and for that also by giving monthly payment to police. It was shocking to hear both SP and SSP Noida refuting the Bangladeshi tag for the domestic helps who unleashed that violence on Mahagun Moderne Society in Sector 78 the other day as according to them they have "valid documents' of their being Indian national' Yes they do have voter id, ration cards, even Aadhars. It is not difficult to get these made. There is no checkin on the individual getting these made. It is high time we wake up to this nuisance of illegal migrants. Rohingyas from Mymmar have reached even Jammu-at least 10000 of them. Who let them go that far. It could also be some sinister plan to change the population profile of the region. The security agencies must address themselves to this menace which has already engulfed West Bengal.
Aarti Khosla

As on date many farmers are committing suicides for the loans they had obtained from financial institutions and are not able to pay back due to economic and financial conditions of them or their families.
It is happening, many times that their crops are damaged or ruined due to natural calamities, in many cases investments are made in none profitable ventures, in some cases loans availed are mis-utilized by them or their families and or they are not willing to pay back thinking that one or the other day their loans will be waived off as is being seen as such freebies are announced by political parties at the time of General Election in the States or in the country. In this way funds of the banks are going to the drains as banks are not able to realize the same.
In my view for such stressed loan cases of the farmers, State Governments in association with Financial institution should form a committee, prepare a questionnaire and study such cases, one by one, in the presence of the defaulting farmer. First of all the farmer should be assured and told in clear terms that banks are not going to sell his mortgaged land or property so that he is not under tension or stressed towards his loan availed from the bank. Then, the farmer should be put to questions and his reply be recorded. After this exercise the committee should inquire into the truthness of the matter and the reply submitted by the farmer. If the committee finds the problem of the farmer is genuine one, banks should accommodate such farmers with some more funds to start its farming activities, afresh, with some soft conditions, such as:
1. The land pledged with the bank will remain with the bank and its fresh valuation be made.
2. There are two factors in the payable amount. One is principal amount and second is interest applied till date. Banks should make installments for the principal amount for 3 to 7 years looking into his paying capacity which will be calculated based on his land holding.
3. The farmer should be told that he should start paying the payable installments, regularly. If he pays all the installments regularly, he will get rebate in the interest amount.
4. After the principal amount is paid, than farmer should be told to pay the interest amount in one go to avail the said rebate or if he is not able to repay the same as such, the installments for the interest amount be made without the rebate keeping in mind his paying capacity and be informed, accordingly.
5. In this way, farmer will not lose his land pledged with the bank and he will able to do his farming with enhanced help in shape of soft loan, easy installments of the principal and interest amount.
6. With these measures farmers will get a breather with boost in his income and he will be able to work afresh and would start earning and start paying his loan, availed.
7. What I think that small and petty farmers with very little land holding are hard working, honest, loyal and very much emotionally attached to their such property which has been inherited from their ancestors. They avail very little loan with no bad intention but due to the circumstances, some time, beyond their control faces such problems and are not able to repay the same to the banks and banks when threaten them that their mortgaged property will be auctioned or sold, they not able to bear such humiliation in the public and are forced to commit suicide.
8. I will request to Minister of Finance in Government Of India and in States to stop waiving off such loans and should form a uniform policy for all such loans availed by the farmers.
9. While making such uniform policy, only for the benefit of stressed loans of the farmers, Government should boldly and clearly tell the committee to prepare a comprehensive, easy to be implemented and in the best interest of the farmers with small or little land holdings with mention of how and with what measures such poor small farmers can be helped so that they are helped in such a way that they start working to farm their land and earn their livelihood to be able to take care of themselves and their families, also save their land holding.
If such measures are taken, lives of the farmers thinking of committing suicides will be saved.
Ram Kumar Garg
“ Discriminatory, Iniquitous , Legally untenable”
We live in an unequal society, full of disparities, anomalies. Consider Members of Parliament. Supremely arrogant. Their penchant for VIP status, hatred for parity with common man, is well known. They are Law makers; can frame rules for themselves. Austerity is no consideration. Though expected to lead by examples, their life-style is matchless. Have a look at their extravagant lifestyles. Highly subsidised. All at taxpayers cost.
Consider following scales of salaries, perks, privileges, immunity, exemptions,admissible to MPs :
(a) Monthly salary of Rs 50,000;
(b)Free laundry services;
(c) heavily subsidised canteen food @ Rs 30 per thali(Veg) and Rs 90 (non-veg);
(d) Daily allowance @Rs 2000 per day for signing Parl register;
(e) Monthly allowance @Rs 45,000 for constituency work;
(f) Monthly allowance @Rs 45,000 for office expenses (stationary, PA etc );
(g) MPLAD scheme worth Rs 5 crores per annum involving recommending development works to DMs- Rampant corruption, less said the better ; Euphemistically called ATM scheme.
(h) MPs can avail 34 single air journeys during a year with his/her spouse. The MP's spouse/companion can also travel alone eight times in a year to meet the member. The amount is included in 34 journeys;
(i) The MP is entitled to a non-transferable first class AC train pass allowing him/her to travel in any train. The MP is also entitled to one first class and one second class fare each time the MP travels;
(j) Rent-free flat or hostel accommodation; Licence fee for Lutyens bungalow;
(k) An MP can have three landline telephones. One each to be installed at MPs residence and office in Delhi and one at the MP's usual place of residence or any such place selected by the MP;Two mobile phone connections with 3G facilities Total number of free calls on landline and mobile phones is 1,50,000 local calls per year. The 3G data charge is also adjusted within this amount;
(l) Age is no bar for MPs.
Conclusions :
MP's cost to country is among the highest. They, along with muftkhor journalists , Parliament staff , security personnel and guests visiting Parliament house, should feel ashamed to ask for subsidized canteen food. Do they come from the Mars ? Though a monthly pay packet of Rs 1.6 lakh might not be enough for an Indian MP, the perks they get can easily dwarf their salaries. MPs also get pensions for life irrespective of years of service
Why target Senior citizens ?
Against this background, contrast MPs’ concessions with the plight of Senior citizens. The Railways has appealed to all Senior Citizens to exercise the option of foregoing subsidy on purchase of reserved class tickets. This reflects Finance ministry’s insensitivity, apathy and unconcern. Funds have not been allocated by MOF for such concessions in the current fiscal . The concessions, it is threatened, could even be done away with altogether for Senior citizens . Can the Finance Minister show guts to ask all ministers in present political dispensation to forego all kinds of subsidies, a drain on public exchequer ?
A K Saxena (A retd civil servant)

Out of 116 officers recommended by Coal India, 107 get promotion after getting vigilance and departmental clearance. But the officer who is not promoted or whose interview was not taken place due to health issue is not given any clarification further
Rishi Kishore
Solution
1.China is the biggest manufacturing with technology hub and consuming hub in the world.And exports goods, technology, manpower to any destination.Whole world is manufacturing their products and using Chinese manpower for getting their products manufactured in China.
2. India do not have much option. Option left is
a. Stop using Chinese goods and do not go for any Defence Deal as by this Foreign currency is being wasted.
b. Make in India Products along with stop wastage is required. Only make in India is not going to work.
c. Farm products viz Onion, Milk, Potatoes etc should be consumed / distributed / transported immediately/ keep changing your food eating style.
Government is just wasting farm products and Finance both by purchasing as no storage facility, no transportation facility and no finance to pay immediately.
All contributing National wastages.
We are not trying to understand the after effects and the motive of other country.
Rajesh Tenan

It is good choice as all the six advocates who are very hard working, intelligent, of high integrity with having deep and exhaustive knowledge of law. They will be an asset with the High Court and prove themselves to be worthy of fast and judicial delivery of judgments. May God bless them to uphold the judiciary system in high esteem for in time delivery of the judgments for the sufferers.
Ram Kumar Garg
NRIs are Indian citizens
NRIs already have voting rights. They are Indian citizens.
N C Saxena
Yeoman services of brothers
We can only recall the yeoman services of the brothers Gary Saxena IPS (ex Director RAW and ex Governor J&K) and Naresh Chandra IAS (ex Cabinet Secretary and ex Ambassador to USA) to the country, who have both departed in quick succession. God grant peace to the great, selfless souls.
Vijay Kumar

Let me come straight to the point. Israel's plan to destroy Pak's Kahuta nuclear plant, in mid- eighties was scuttled by India's refusal to provide re-fuelling facilities to Israel's war planes from Jamnagar airfield in Gujarat.
Absence of pro-active foreign policy of India, gave a setback to the course of history in the entire sub-continent. India nursed formidable hatred for Israel embedded by Gandhi- Nehru in Congress psyche for vote-bank politics.
Let us delve deeper into pages of Indian history.
Under Shimla pact, post 1971 war, Indira Gandhi permitted safe passage of 92,000 soldiers to Pakistan, returning empty handed. Nor, was India and its Parliament taken into confidence before signing of bilateral agreement. It was ratified post facto by Parliament.
Pak-occupied-Kashmir could have been snatched by India in return, as part of quid pro quo. Field Marshall Maneckshaw who vehemently protested against misplaced magnanimity of Indira sarkar, was over-ruled.
And, India continues to pay the price for the successive failures of Congress dynasty by pretending to live under fear of frequent terror attacks, border incursions, nuclear blackmail et al.
India is lucky to have PM Modi at the helm to sort things out and restore country’s pristine glory. Endowed with World-class leadership qualities and negotiating skill.
Recall his body language at G-20, Hamberg.
Counted among World’s top leaders, Modi has carved out a niche for himself in the comity of nations. Meeting Trump, Putin, Xi Jinping, Merkel and others from UK, Japan with warmth and at par.
Indians must strengthen his hands. The Opposition is urged to behave responsibly in national interests instead of openly hobnobbing with terror-sympathisers, the separatists, peaceniks and the stone pelters.
A K Saxena (A retd civil servant)
Condolence
I pay my condolences. I was working as Under Secretary, Ministry of Defence when he was Defence Secretary. I attended a meeting in his chamber.
Harish Chandra
NRIs are Indian citizens
NRIs already have voting rights. They are Indian citizens.
N C Saxena

The Appellant sought information regarding the certified documents related to the action taken on his email. The Respondent explained during the hearing that all the documents pertaining to the service records of the Appellant had been transferred to the Regional Office, Ahmedabad soon after his transfer to the said office and therefore, no records were available at their Amravati Branch office. The CIC held that the respondent could not substantiate or justify the reason for not providing the response as per the provisions of the RTI Act. The Commission further noted that the First Appeal had also not been heard and decided by the concerned FAA. The CIC expressed its displeasure on the casual and callous approach adopted by the Respondent in responding to the RTI application. The CIC instructed the PIO and the FAA to show-cause why action should not be taken under the provisions of the Act for this misconduct and negligence. The Commission also directed the FAA to explain why the First Appeal was not responded till date.
Comments
In many case, it is seen that RTI matters are being ignored and set aside without application of mind which reflects disrespect towards the RTI Act, 2005 itself. In some instances in the past, the CIC has directed the Respondent Public Authority to convene periodic conferences/seminars to sensitize, familiarize and educate the concerned officials about the relevant provisions of the RTI Act, 2005 for effective discharge of its duties and responsibilities. The public authorities must conduct regular trainings to ensure that the PIO’s do not end up facing penal proceedings.
Citation: Mr. B L Gangwani v. National Insurance Company Limited in Appeal No.:-CIC/MP/A/2016/001574-BJ; Date of Decision : 06.07.2017
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is the co-author of the books: RIGHT TO INFORMATION – LAW AND PRACTICE and PIO’s guide to RTI. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India - Right to Information Act 2005- RTI Foundation of India

Agrarian Distress What kind of agriculture economics we have practiced so far? Farming is not only a highly skilled profession but extremely “hazardous” too. We do not maintain data on farmer deaths due to snake bite (common during ploughing); serious injuries suffered while digging/ levelling/ harvesting and transporting, requiring immediate medical intervention, but treated locally with mud/ash/cow dung etc. resulting in disability or loss of productivity; wild animal attacks on man, domestic animals, farm animals or crops; loss of produce due to fire, rains, floods, storms or such other “acts of God”; deaths due to cholera, malaria, dengue, chikungunya, tuberculosis, diabetes, cancer and other life threatening diseases; violent land disputes stoked by local politicians in collusion with criminals and police; thefts; drought; floods; landslides; locust attacks and pest attacks. The industrial sector pays hefty emoluments to its highly skilled professionals and tops it too if it involves highly hazardous and even arduous duties. The per unit return in the industrial sector is not as high as that in the farm sector. The per unit contribution to the GDP and employment tilts the scales in favour of the farm sector. Even then, our approach to farm sector has been deficient so far. This when the farm sector constitutes the most “critical” segment of the Indian economy! There is an urgent need to correct the deficiencies of the Economic Policy for the farming sector. Shall we do justice to ourselves by treating the farm sector without the politician showing the farmer the mercy of the old Maharaja waiving the loans of the “poor”? A policy built on sound economic parameters, which guarantee highly remunerative profits and motivation to the farmer-producer to stay in the farm activity, satisfaction and fair price to the consumer and high revenues to the public exchequer needs to be formulated. All three stakeholders need to be kept in the centre to arrive at a sturdy and sustainable policy and plan of action for the next stage of our national agriculture policy. The farmer is not poor but made poor. The mismanagement of the sugar industry and the captive sugarcane farming is the best example of politics played for decades in the name of the farmers to the sole benefit of the political class. We have done the same damage to the farm sector which has been done to the primary, middle, secondary education or health in the country. The rich and powerful, of whom politicians, businessmen, bureaucrats form the largest segment, have resorted to owning Farm Houses/Farms at strategic locations (distinct from backward areas) but the real farmer is leaving farming for fixed wage employment in cities, to suffer the life of ghettoes with all the disadvantages associated with it. There would have been no suicide, no loan waiver, no need for a promise of doubling income by 2022 had we paid due attention to the sane advice of Mahatma Gandhi and tended our farms, villages and the farmers through a sound farm economic policy.
M L Gupta
Why only IAS officers ?
Why not S.K. Lohani type of officers of group 'A' services. An IRTS officer, who has worked in the Eastern Belt of the country, could be good CMD of Coal India Limited.
B B Srivastava
Astonishing – he has no work !
Reference whispers dated 7 July 2017 on the above subject. It is indeed a matter of regret that an HAG level officer of IES or ISS is kept idle for months together by the Secretary as the Secretary is not comfortable with non-IAS officers. Since the scheme of attachment of one each HAG level officer to each Ministry/ Department in around 2003-04 (?), the senior officers are being ignored. I remember one newly attached ISS officer in one Ministry after sitting idle and begging for work, had requested in one monthly meeting taken by Secretary that he should be allowed to make a presentation on how he can be useful to the Ministry. The presentation was an eye opener and the Secretary was forced to give him important work at par with other Joint Secretaries of IAS. I think the ISS officer in question should also take this time to evaluate how he can be useful to the Ministry and then request the Secretary to allow him to make a presentation on how useful he can be to the Ministry. We should not forget that Dr. Edwards Deming was a statistician who had turned around the quality and production in Japan in the 1960s.
Pradeep Kumar, A retired Central Government Officer

1. Farmers Loan waving issue. - Not Possible
2. Stopping of Farmers agitation- Immediate
3. Farmers produce, Milk wastages - Immediate action by distribution, transporting and proper storage is required.
4. Gorkhaland Issue - Burning Issue.
5. Defence Deal not required as Foreign Exchange loss.
6. Border Issues with China and Pakistan together with Kashmir to be resolved. Tibet Bhutan Sikkim border issue has started.
7. Reservation Issue and Employment Issue pending.
8. Focusing on Election is giving rise to pendencies and shifting from main issues.
Rajesh Tenany
Promotion of ISS officers to SAG level ?
Will Whisper in the corridor throw some light on the promotion of ISS officer of 1993, 1995, 1997 1998 & 1999 batches to SAG i.e. Joint Secretary level and empanelment of Joint Secretary. What about the promotion of 2007 and 2012 batches of ISS? When will they get the promotion ?
By A Visitor

In the interest of the organization, the maximum tenure of any Director or CMD should be pegged at 5 years.
Himanshu Sekhar Pati
“ Modi follows Indira on one count”
WIC’s Newsline (Politics) dt July 5,2017, is thought provoking. Bureaucracy is perpetually and habitually committed , irrespective of ruling ruling dispensation. To be compliant to political masters has been a felt necessity of babucracy, though for different reasons.
For instance, under Indira Gandhi’s autocratic regime , fears of transfers to inconsequential postings ,undue harassment, blackmailing , slapping cooked-up charges etc were common. This had immobilized the then “ Yes, Prime Minister “ bureaucracy. This dynastic tradition was scrupulously followed by the Congress-led UPA. The then de jure PM was spineless and speechless. UPA ministers reported direct to the de facto PM ( Read as Congress supremo ). Top bureaucracy brazenly fell in line as the questions of their post-retirement bonanzas, were involved.
Now, consider NDA. it is PM Modi’s towering personality that ensures committed bureaucracy. Some Ministers are redundant, retained only to answer Parliament questions without contributing to Policy formulations. It is free-for-all in some ministries. Compulsions of coalition politics. True, merit and honesty are respected by PM Modi. But, not always. Sadly, subjective considerations do creep in, even now . Thanks to present committed bureaucracy. PM Modi’s reliance on a small coterie of elite bureaucrats, is not advisable. But, who cares ?
A K Saxena (A retd civil servant)
Astonishing - he has no work !
I am writing in connection about the Indian Statistical Service officer posted in Social Sector Ministry. Rcently one HAG level officer got his posting in one of the renowned Ministry. It is very astonishing to say that he has no work .
By a Visitor