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Journalism of Courage
While attempting to appease investors in the Saradha group,West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ended up angering health activists. HRIDAY-SHAN,a prominent NGO that works closely with WHO and the Health Ministry,has shot off a letter to Mamata protesting against her statement urging people to smoke more. The Chief Minister had imposed additional tax on tobacco products to raise money for investors who have lost money. It was fine till then,because increasing taxes on cigarettes is seen to be a healthy move,but Mamata went a step ahead and told people to smoke more so that more money could be raised. Health groups were not impressed.
Getting their Fill
Woman on Top
Sindhushree Khullar clearly seems to be the bureaucrat in demand these days. Last month,she was given a two-year extension as Secretary of the Planning Commission,after having served two years in the post. Before that,she was given additional responsibility of overseeing the Direct Benefits Transfer scheme,the ambitious programme that is considered crucial for the UPA government ahead of next years general elections. But very soon,she might have to relinquish both these posts. The grapevine has it that she is being appointed the next Comptroller and Auditor General of India,to succeed Vinod Rai,who retires later this month. If appointed,she would be the first woman CAG. Incidentally,Khullar happened to be the Sports Secretary during the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Rum Run
THE Indo-Tibetan Border Police,which guards Indias borders with China,is cheering. The Home Ministry recently decided to sanction the same amount of rum to ITBP personnel as their counterparts in Army are entitled to. The ITBP personnel,who have to work in extreme weather conditions,had been making this demand for quite some time now.
