below the line

Advance trouble

A slip of the tongue by Kerala’s finance minister, Thomas Issac, during the budget speech has put the service organisations of government employees, affiliated to the ruling CPI(M), at the Ernakulam district collectorate in an embarrassing situation. He inadvertently announced a month’s salary as advance to all government employees for the ensuing Onam festival. Jubilant leaders of service organisations belonging to left parties organised meetings and victory processions in the collectorate premises praising the minister and the LDF government for their generosity. The euphoria was shortlived: the minister had been referring to State pensioners and not regular employees.

Coke’s low-hanging fruit 

Mango farms in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, supply the fruit to Coca-Cola’s partner Jain Irrigation which produces the pulp that goes into Maaza. The media was invited to visit these farms which practise ultra high density plantation techniques to up productivity. The trees are pruned so they remain just 1.5 metres high, and the mangoes can be plucked easily. Sometimes the fruits nearly touch the ground. As one wag commented, Coke should claim rights to the term ‘low-hanging fruit’! 

Spirited change

There were significant departures from old ways at the recently-concluded annual general meeting of the Diageo-owned United Spirits. The speeches were short, and the chairman who presided over the meeting, answered all the questions put up by shareholders without being defensive, even admitting that due diligence conducted by Diageo may have left something to be desired. What was missing was a garlanded portrait of the late Vittal Mallya, Vijay Mallya’s father. Looks like the new management wants to leave its past firmly behind and move ahead. Will the name change too? 

Tongue twisted

Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad is used to briefing the media. But he had a minor hiccup while announcing the decision to revise cost estimates for a hydro-electric project in Bhutan named Punatsangchhu II. Yes, Prasad found it hard to pronounce as well, so he just spelt it out and admitted he couldn’t say it. That’s upfront, alright.

Still at the starting block

Assets-backed NBFCs are an unhappy lot. Despite the finance ministry allowing them to use the Sarfaesi law to recover dues, nothing’s been done about this. It’s been 15 months, and the Government is yet to issue the relevant notification for this. What a waste. Prodigal son returns

At a recent lecture given by Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian, economist TN Srinivasan expressed happiness that Subramanian had at last moved to supporting “outward orientation” in full measure. “The prodigal son returns, TN,” quipped the CEA in response. TN shot back with: “I am glad that you have at last seen the light (on outward orientation)”, sending those assembled into peals of laughter.  

What’s in a name?

Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu was announcing the Government’s plan to redevelop colonies in the capital, including Netaji Nagar. “We should rename it Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Nagar. Because there are so many chota mota netas (small politicians),” he said. In that case, said the former minister of state, Babul Supriyo, Sarojini Nagar should be renamed Sarojini Naidu Nagar. Ever the wit, Naidu retorted: “No no, we can’t do that. People will think there is some relation to Venkaiah Naidu, that’s why this is being done.”

Overheard  

Rama Raman, former CEO of Noida, Greater Noida, Yamuna Expressway Authority, may join Indian Railways after the court took a grim view of his continuing in the coveted posts for six years.

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