1 | Urja Vikas Nigam’s IAS Ravi Shankar may go for a Center Deputation

Another IAS officer from Gujarat, IAS Ravi Shankar has secured deputation at the department of Food and Public Distribution of the Centre for the next five years.

Currently, he is the director (administration) of Urja Vikas Nigam. The Gujarat government will have to let him go in three weeks, according to reports.

An IAS from the 2007 batch of Gujarat cadre, has also worked as chief administrator of Statue of Unity, Narmada, and joint MD of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited, Gandhinagar.

Sources say that his efforts were unrecognised in Gujarat for over 15 years, and therefore he wished to move to the deputation in the Centre, reportedly through a Bihar leader. 

2 | Surat's development plan appeals tossed around?

The development plan for Surat was implemented four years ago in Surat. However, like many incidents in the past, it was reportedly disrupted by a number of politicians or builders for their benefit.

For every city, development plans are generated every 20 years. It may have infrastructural plans such as ring roads, paid FSI to make amends for development works, or how to manage the ever-increasing traffic in the city.

According to reports, former minister Vinod Moradiya had refused to modify the changes suggested by BJP's regional chief, C R Patil. Moreover, no decisions were made as the Vidhan Sabha elections were looming close.

The pending file now awaits a verdict, since Moradiya is not a part of the cabinet anymore, but heads the ministry of urban affairs. Sources also suggest that the CM had passed the file to Surat authorities under CR Patil's influence.

However, authorities at the ministry of urban affairs state that only the applications filed for the modifications were sent back, and not the whole development plan.

3 | Disputes over forming a committee on transfer rules for HTAT teachers

The recruitment process of HTAT for head teachers began in 2012. As there are no rules for the transfer of these teachers, many married couples are reportedly serving in different districts. Therefore, there has been a demand to change the rules.

The government decided to form a committee to formulate these rules. For this, education minister Kuber Dindor called the leaders of the Primary Teachers Union, National Education Union, and Metropolitan Primary Teachers Union to the secretariat, where a committee was to be formed regarding this matter in the presence of higher officials.

The first scheduled meeting was reportedly cancelled without any reasons given. A meeting was called again the next day. Immediately after the discussion began, there was a dispute between the leaders of the unions on the issue of the number of members. In the presence of the minister of education, they had quarrelled.

The education minister reportedly seemed to have no control at all. Finally, the marathon meeting ended without taking a decision to form the committee. 

4 | The abundance of summits held in the state only beneficial to the contractors

As part of G-20, U-20 i.e. Urban-20 Mayoral Summit was held in Gandhinagar for two days. Earlier B-20 i.e. Business-20 Surat meet was held at Surat.

For such summits, it remains to be seen how many people benefit from its purpose, and if the objectives of the summits are reaching beyond its participants or not.

Many believe that when prime minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister, the atmosphere used to be different when such national or international level programs were held. It was planned in such a way that the purpose of the program would reach all stakeholders.

Currently, such programs are held only because of notifications from Delhi, as a formality. The programs are also not planned properly and without pretence, as if there is no desire to make their purpose reach the people.

The mayoral summit was held in Gandhinagar on July 7-8. Such a program would not have benefited ordinary citizens or industries, but the contractors doing small and large works for such events are benefiting, along with the officials involved in the organising.

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