Chidambaram as Exemplar

Chidambaram helps an elderly woman into her wheelchair. Picture by Eastern Projections P. Chidambaram may be known for his skills in managing the finances of the country and also recently for his innovative security measures, but it was his humane side that came to the fore recently. On January 2, at a function to mark the opening of a State Bank of India branch at Sonapur on the outskirts of Guwahati, the recently anointed home minister went out of his way to help an elderly woman to her wheelchair. That left those who caught a glimpse of the act greatly moved. Not only did he help her sit in the chair but made sure she was comfortable by adjusting the straps. Quite a lesson for other politicians who just donate the wheelchairs and forgot about them. Chidambaram, who had reached the venue before chief minister Tarun Gogoi did not waste time by just sitting around while waiting for him and the function to begin. He turned the bonnet of a car into his workstation and started working on several files with security personnel throwing a protective ring around him. Feat of power There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for Assam. The gas-based power plant at Kathalguri, run and operated by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (Neepco) recorded its highest ever generation on December 26 (since its commissioning in March 1995). This achievement went unnoticed amid the trauma over serial bomb blasts, but it assumes significance that power generated by the project is more than the 50 per cent requirement of the state during peak hours (about 18 hours a day). As against its installed capacity of 291MW, the plant has been generating between 280MW and 295MW since December 26. It achieved such a feat by carrying out a few corrective measures on different fronts in recent times — which are considered extraordinary in a government-run institution. Hats off to Neepco’s Kathalguri unit workers. ts, but it assumes significance that power generated by the project is more than the 50 per cent requirement of the state during peak hours (about 18 hours a day). A waterfall in Lohit Footnote The tourism department of Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh is going all out to welcome pilgrims to the Parshuram Kund Mela from January 12 to 15 on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. Nearly one lakh pilgrims from various parts of country and Nepal are expected to visit the holy lake on the mela days. Hundreds of people from the neighbouring states have already started arriving for picnics pilgrimages. A senior official said the department has constructed two dormitories for the pilgrims. The bathing ghat and changing room have also been constructed. Parking zones have been identified and it is decided that no vehicle will be allowed beyond parking zone. All pilgrims will be frisked thoroughly. These steps have been taken in view of security of the pilgrims and an appeal has been made to all the visitors to bear with the arrangement even if some inconvenience will be caused to them. Arrangements have also been made to issue entry permits for the vehicles going to Parshuram Kund and inner-line permits to the visitors at Dirak and Sunpura checkgates. Lohit deputy commissioner Kaling Tayeng, along with Namsai additional deputy commissioner R.K. Sharma and all heads of departments visited the mela site on January 4 and held a meeting there. Tayeng expressed satisfaction on the arrangements and suggested some improvements so that the pilgrims visiting the holy place could take a dip in the lake with comfort and convenience.

Chidambaram helps an elderly woman into her wheelchair. Picture by Eastern Projections P. Chidambaram may be known for his skills in managing the finances of the country and also recently for his innovative security measures, but it was his humane side that came to the fore recently. On January 2, at a function to mark the opening of a State Bank of India branch at Sonapur on the outskirts of Guwahati, the recently anointed home minister went out of his way to help an elderly woman to her wheelchair. That left those who caught a glimpse of the act greatly moved. Not only did he help her sit in the chair but made sure she was comfortable by adjusting the straps. Quite a lesson for other politicians who just donate the wheelchairs and forgot about them. Chidambaram, who had reached the venue before chief minister Tarun Gogoi did not waste time by just sitting around while waiting for him and the function to begin. He turned the bonnet of a car into his workstation and started working on several files with security personnel throwing a protective ring around him. Feat of power There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for Assam. The gas-based power plant at Kathalguri, run and operated by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (Neepco) recorded its highest ever generation on December 26 (since its commissioning in March 1995). This achievement went unnoticed amid the trauma over serial bomb blasts, but it assumes significance that power generated by the project is more than the 50 per cent requirement of the state during peak hours (about 18 hours a day). As against its installed capacity of 291MW, the plant has been generating between 280MW and 295MW since December 26. It achieved such a feat by carrying out a few corrective measures on different fronts in recent times — which are considered extraordinary in a government-run institution. Hats off to Neepco’s Kathalguri unit workers. ts, but it assumes significance that power generated by the project is more than the 50 per cent requirement of the state during peak hours (about 18 hours a day). A waterfall in Lohit Footnote The tourism department of Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh is going all out to welcome pilgrims to the Parshuram Kund Mela from January 12 to 15 on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. Nearly one lakh pilgrims from various parts of country and Nepal are expected to visit the holy lake on the mela days. Hundreds of people from the neighbouring states have already started arriving for picnics pilgrimages. A senior official said the department has constructed two dormitories for the pilgrims. The bathing ghat and changing room have also been constructed. Parking zones have been identified and it is decided that no vehicle will be allowed beyond parking zone. All pilgrims will be frisked thoroughly. These steps have been taken in view of security of the pilgrims and an appeal has been made to all the visitors to bear with the arrangement even if some inconvenience will be caused to them. Arrangements have also been made to issue entry permits for the vehicles going to Parshuram Kund and inner-line permits to the visitors at Dirak and Sunpura checkgates. Lohit deputy commissioner Kaling Tayeng, along with Namsai additional deputy commissioner R.K. Sharma and all heads of departments visited the mela site on January 4 and held a meeting there. Tayeng expressed satisfaction on the arrangements and suggested some improvements so that the pilgrims visiting the holy place could take a dip in the lake with comfort and convenience.