Language lessons

Personal privileges

MINISTERIAL perks are quite generous. Whenever ministers experience a change of portfolio,they are allowed to renovate their new offices at government expense. Most ministers take advantage of the perk even if not required. Rarely does the office getting renovated belong to the Personal Secretary and not the minister. That is what seems to be the case with new Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi. While he felt there was no need to refurbish his room because his predecessor Praful Patel maintained a plush office,his powerful PS is the one whose office is being newly made,literally from scratch,setting off speculation about where the power centre really lies.

Naked truth

CONGRESS spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi was left fumbling for an answer on Thursday when a television reporter asked for the ruling partys reaction to model Poonam Pandeys declaration that she would strip to the buff if Team India wins the World Cup on Saturday. It was a ticklish situation for him as the question came after his suo motu statement on the World Cup final which was laced with pride and the chak de spirit. Singhvi,however,managed to wriggle out,saying that it was not for a political party to react to. Lets only concentrate on winning and not what will follow.

Friendly advice

PROBABLY taking a cue from the Congress high commands reliance on people from outside the government to shape policies,Road Transport and Highways Minister C P Joshi has started inviting friends to official meetings. Much to the chagrin of officials,these privileged invitees also ask a lot of questions out of curiosity. The other day,the minister brought his friend,a Vice-Chancellor,to get a presentation from officials on amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act. Similarly,there was a lawyer friend at another meeting. One friend once even asked officials the difference between national and state highways. No wonder,bureaucrats in the ministry are having to negotiate a rocky road.

Cultural differences

MORE than two months after her transfer to the Culture Ministry,Kumari Selja is still to settle down. First,she had to wait for quite some time to get her office since the original ministers room had been converted into a temporary conference hall during the time it was directly under the charge of the PM. Now,Selja is battling to hold on to her personal secretary. It is learnt that the officer Selja had brought from Tourism Ministry has not been given clearance to continue as her personal secretary by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet. Not one to give up easily,Selja is making fresh efforts to convince the ACC to let her retain the officer in her personal staff.

Post haste

BARELY a month and half after he demitted the office of the Chairman,University Grants Commission,Prof S K Thorat has managed quite a plum posting despite having been on the wrong side of the HRD Ministry a couple of times and in spite of having faced a vigilance inquiry as well. He has now been appointed Chairperson at the prestigious Indian Council for Social Science amp; Research. Meanwhile,UGC is making do with its Vice Chairman Prof Ved Prakash officiating as acting Chairman.