94 IAS officers get clearance for exposure tour to USA; visit scheduled for May 15 to 29

THE two-week exposure visit to US organized in collaboration with Duke University for mid-career IAS, which was put on hold thanks to the health ministry travel advisory in the wake of H1N1 threat, is now re-scheduled for May 15 to 29, 2010. In fact, a mid-career officer cannot be said to have technically completed the mandatory training in terms of IAS (Pay) Rules without undergoing this programme.

As many as 94 IAS officers belonging to 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 batches who participated the first part of the programme in June-August, 2009 at Mussoorie, will be eligible to undertake the course in US. The ministry of external affairs (MEA) in an office memo dated February 1, 2010, gave the clearance saying that it has no objection to the US visit of 94 Indian officers “from political angle”.

The two-week exposure visit to Duke University, USA, is designed to provide officers with a global perspective and exposure to international best practices.

List of 94 participating IAS

Zero rupee notes to greet bureaucrats

A social organization has been campaigning among people to hand over specially designed Rs 0 notes bearing the image of Mahatma Gandhi to corrupt officials if they ask for bribes. The notes printed by Fifth Pillar look like Rs 50 bank notes though it is filled with inscriptions like “Eliminate corruption at all levels” and a pledge “I promise to neither accept nor give bribe”.

The concept is believed to be working in reducing corruption. “Next time someone asks you for a bribe, just take your country’s zero currency note and hand it to them. This will let the other person know that you refuse to give or take any money in order to perform services required by law or to give or take money to do something illegal,” Fifth Pillar campaigners say.

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RS Pandey appointed interlocutor for NSCN (I-M) talks

Raghav Sharan Pandey, a 1972 batch Nagaland cadre IAS who has recently retired as petroleum secretary, has been appointed as interlocutor and representative of the Government of India to hold talks with Naga underground outfit NSCN (IM). Mr Pandey is a batch-mate of home secretary GK Pillai. He had also served as additional secretary in the ministry of agriculture and secretary in steel and heavy industries ministries. Mr Pandey attended a one-year long course on poverty alleviation from the University of Sussex, UK (1985) and a 4-week-long course on disability and rehabilitation form an US university (1987)