CURRENT ISSUE MAY 29, 2006

37. A.R. ANTULAY
Minority Affairs

Token Presence

Given that he was allotted an office just this month, his biggest achievement so far has been to get the ministry functional. Says he is aware that Muslims are not the only minority community in India. "Fact is, even Hindus are in a minority in many states," he contends. Wants to confer minority status on Jains and Kashmiri Pandits as well. However, he failed to get the minority education affairs under his wing.

MINORITY REPORT

Took three months to get started since he had no office

Is focused on tokenism rather than a real debate

38. P.R. KYNDIAH (2005: 36)
Tribal and North-east Affairs

Lost in the Woods

Yes, the minister opened five major hospitals in the North-east and saw through 27 major roads linking five states. But that's about it. Like his predecessors, Kyndiah has neither great triumphs to his credit, nor major blunders. For now, he is busy trying to get Rs 15,000 crore for tribal development from the Finance Ministry. What's next? Opening the region to tourism, especially golf tourism.

SLOW PROGRESS

No control on tribal development funds

The Bill giving tribals rights to forest land is still pending

39. SHIBU SOREN
Coal

Nothing to Show

This is not the best place to read about triumphs. He spent half his time in courts rather than in office and all he has achieved, in concrete terms, is opening up a few mines. Perhaps because Soren has been busy working on a new policy: "I have proposed to the prime minister that landowners, especially in tribal areas-who have lost their land, are not educated, have no business and depend totally on agriculture-be compensated."

BLACK MARKS

No regulation to handle clearing up of land for mining

Focus on Jharkand politics rather than ministry duties

10. PREM CHAND GUPTA (2005: 14)
Company Affairs

Corporate Makeover

Once upon a time he was criticised for his unholy obsession with Rail Bhavan. No more. A year on, Gupta is making impressive headway. His most recent achievement has been to push through the Companies Amendment Bill 2006 through a participative process with the corporates. The bill envisages implementation of a comprehensive e-governance system-the first of its kind in this part of the world. He has also activated investor protection cells and an online investors' Grievances Redressal System. Next on the agenda is to catch the crooks who scammed small investors and vanished.

ACTION PLAN

Comprehensive revision of Company Act 1956

Successfully launched e-governance project MCA-21

Reformed professional institutes like ICAI, ICSI and ICWA

Has dedicated resources at ministry and regional levels to enable online investor grievance redressal

"To create the best atmosphere for business, the ministry's mindset had to be changed."

11. S. JAIPAL REDDY (2005: 13)
Urban Development

Landscape Artistry

The popular perception that he was a reluctant I&B minister was perhaps true because Reddy has been going great guns with his new portfolio: he has provided short-term relief to Delhi shopkeepers against court-ordered demolitions by piloting a bill in Parliament and freed land from the state's grip by allowing freehold auctions. He also wants to allot more land to housing through public-private partnerships.

GOING TO TOWN

Encouraged conversion of leasehold land to freehold, making it easier for buyers to own commercial and residential plots

Put state Metro projects on the fast track by letting state governments choose between broad and standard gauge

"I am upbeat about my record and about future prospects in the ministry."

12. P.R. DASMUNSI (2005: 24)
I&B and Parliamentary Affairs

Pleasing All

An amiable man, which may be a good qualification for his second portfolio. But is it enough to control India's volatile media environment? Some say it is too early to tell, others point to his predecessors who have promised a lot and delivered little. So far, he has presided over the privatisation of over 300 fm stations and Doordarshan's audacious move to insist on sharing "important" sporting events.

MASTHEAD

Has managed to avoid controversy in a sector packed with competitive and aggressive players.

Successful privatisation of 300 FM stations without a hitch.

"There's a need for content regulation and comprehensive legislation on it."

34. SIS RAM OLA (2005: 34)
Mines and Minerals

Buried Under

He may have been better off handling agriculture but this Jat is out of the deep where mines are concerned. He opened up the sector with a policy allowing foreign firms registered within India and having an account in the country to take mining leases. In addition, NALCO, Hindustan Copper Limited and MECL (Minerals Exploration Corporation Limited) earned a profit-a hat-trick nobody had managed to pull off earlier.

STAYING STATIC

Has not been able to simplify rules to attract FDI

Has failed to amend archaic laws to allow growth in sector

35. G.K. VASAN
Statistics and Programme Implementation

Wrong Number

Unlike other ministers, Vasan cannot do much on his own. His mandate is to improve implementation of projects by 12 other ministries. This is as much a challenge for the young minister as an opportunity. In the domain of statistics he has delivered a simple mantra: "Statistics must be made available in real time, without compromising on accuracy."

FIGURING IT OUT

Is too new in the ministry to make any impact

Has no control over delays in statistical services

36. K.C. RAO (2005: 35)
Labour, Employment

Poor Job

He was the other renunciator. But it isn't as if he has changed stripes since taking charge of the Labour Ministry. It would seem Rao is still in the sanyas mode given the long list of pending issues at the ministry. Over 372 million workers in the unorganised sector badly need a social net. But Rao has no time to push legislation. His first priority is to get the Congress to deliver the promised land-Telangana.

THE BRICKBATS

Bill on social net for the unorganised sector pending

No debate on charting a course on labour reforms

Index