Dept for NRIs on cards
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Oct 16 — A separate department to look after the interests of non resident Indians (NRIs), facilitate their investments in India within the Ministry of External Affairs may be set up by the Vajpayee Government.

The first phase of reorganisation of the government is over with the formation of Ministry of Information Technology.

Eyebrows were raised when a senior politician, Mr Ajit Kumar Panja, who in the Congress Government had served as Minister of State with independent charge of Information and Broadcasting and Coal, was made a Minister of State in the External Affairs Ministry. It is understood that the proposed department on NRIs may be entrusted to him.

The major Secretary-level reshuffle effected last night by the Government left important ministries like Home, Defence and Finance untouched and the exercise was necessitated due to the creation of several new departments.

Mr M.K.Kaw, a 1964 IAS officer from Himachal Pradesh cadre, who earlier served as the Secretary of the Fifth Pay Commission, has been given the newly-created Department of Secondary Education and Higher Education. He would also hold additional charge of the post of Secretary in the newly created Department of Elementary Education and Literacy.

Mr P.V.Jayakrishnan, who was replaced by Mr Ravindra Gupta in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, has been made the Secretary in the Ministry of Information Technology, which is currently held by the Prime Minister.

Mr Vinod Vaish, currently Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, is a Secretary in the newly-created Department of Telecom Services in the Ministry of Communications. The creation of the department is the first step towards corporatisation of the Department of Telecommunications.

Mr T.S.Vijayaraghvan, who has been replaced by Mr S.Narayanan, in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, moves over to the newly created Department of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.

The newly-carved out Ministry of Tribal Affairs would have Mr Bhure Lal, currently Secretary, Central Vigilance Commission, as Secretary.

Mr R.Vasudevan, currently Secretary in the Ministry of Surface Transport, has been moved to the newly created Department of Shipping in the same Ministry while Mr A.Josh, currently Additional Secretary in the ministry, has been shifted as Secretary to the newly created Department of Road Transport and Highways.

The newly created Department of Drinking Water Supply in the Ministry of Rural Development would have Mr S.K.Tripathi as Secretary.

Another new ministry is that of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation and Mr S.S.Chattopadhyay, currently Adviser in the Planning Commission, is the Secretary there.

Mr A.K.Kundra, a 1966 Punjab cadre officer, has been shifted from Noida Export Processing Zone to the Planning Commission as Adviser in the rank and pay of Secretary.

Mr C.T.Benjamin is the Secretary in the Department of Industrial Development in the newly created Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Mr D.P.Bagchi, currently Adviser in the Planning Commission, takes over as Secretary in the newly created Ministry of Small Scale Industries and Agro and Rural Industries.

Mr Dipak Chatterjee, Secretary Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, has been moved as Secretary in the newly created Department of Mines.