Times Top News

Times Top News

New Principal Of Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital Removed From Her Post

New Principal Of Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital Removed From Her Post

by | Aug 21, 2024 | top-stories



Kolkata:

The newly appointed principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Suhrita Paul, has been removed from her post. The government’s move came after a delegation of students met officials at the Swasthya Bhavan.

The medical students had held a footmarch from the CGO Complex (CBI office) to Swasthya Bhavan and demanded that the new principal be removed. The protesting doctors had seconded the demand.

Her transfer is seen as a conciliatory gesture on part of the government, which had appointed the health ministry official to the post on August 12 – the day it also transferred RG Kar’s Sandip Ghosh to the premier Calcutta’s National Medical College.

That latter move had backfired, with stern criticism coming from the Calcutta High Court, escalation of student protests that started over the rape-murder of a young doctor on August 9 and drawing the attention of the Supreme Court.  

Like Sandip Ghosh at the National Medical College, Suhrita Paul did not gain acceptance of the protesting students and just three days after the appointment, had a face-off with them.  

After the midnight vandalism at the hospital on August 15, Suhrita Paul lost her cool with the students. As the protesting doctors demanded that she take immediate action regarding the midnight mob attack and meet the students’ demands, Ms Paul retorted, “If you can’t trust me for one hour then send me home also”.

The reference was to the fate of her predecessor Sandip Ghosh, who has been sent on a long leave by the Calcutta High Court, which was furious over his new posting less than 12 hours after his resignation.

“I need one hour to do some official work. You need to believe me, I won’t go. You have to believe me. If you can’t believe me then don’t expect anything from me,” Suhrita Paul had said.

The protesting doctors have made it clear that they are not willing to relent till their demands are met.



Source link

Starbucks' New CEO To Supercommute 1,600 Km To Work On Corporate Jet

Starbucks' New CEO To Supercommute 1,600 Km To Work On Corporate Jet

by | Aug 21, 2024 | top-stories


Starbucks’ CEO Brian Niccol will have an unusually long commute to work as he becomes the coffee giant’s new chief next month. Mr Niccol who lives in California will travel 1,600 kilometres every day to the company’s headquarters in Seattle.

As per his offer letter, Mr Niccol will use a corporate jet for his commute. Even when he is not traveling for work, he will be expected to work from the Seattle office at least three days a week, as per Starbucks’ hybrid work policy which has been in place since 2023.

The 50-year-old will be paid a base salary of $1.6 million every year and can earn a cash bonus of $3.6 million to $7.2 million depending on his performance. 

He will also be eligible for annual equity awards worth up to $23 million.

This is not the first time Mr Niccol has been part of such a supercommute arrangement. He successfully negotiated a similar deal when he was the CEO of Chipotle in 2018. 

Chipotle was headquartered in Colorado, a 15-minute drive from Mr Niccol’s last working place. But the Mexican fast food chain moved its headquarters from Denver to California three months after he was appointed CEO.

“Brian’s primary office and a majority of his time will be spent in our Seattle Support Center or out visiting partners and customers in our stores, roasteries, roasting facilities and offices around the world. His schedule will exceed the hybrid work guidelines and workplace expectations we have for all partners,” a company spokesperson told CNBC.

Such comfortable terms for employment are common for high-ranking executives who have immense bargaining power compared to the average employee.

Hillary Super of singer Rihanna’s lingerie brand Fenty x Savage was given a s similar concession when Victoria’s Secret made her its new CEO. 

She will work from the firm’s New York City offices instead of its headquarters near Columbus, Ohio.

But this is not the case for all CEOs.

Amazon’s Andy Jassy and JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon are pitching hard to bring back work-from-office policies.

The reason behind Mr Niccol’s unusual arrangement at Starbucks is underscored by the coffee giant’s falling sales. 

In US and China, Starbucks’ two largest markets, sales have dropped this year under its current CEO Laxman Narasimhan’s tenure. 

Mr Niccol is a star candidate for the top post as he has a strong track record of turning around troubled companies. When he was CEO of Chipotle, its stock reportedly soared 773%.



Source link

“Happy That PM Understood Concerns”: Minister On Lateral Entry Withdrawal

“Happy That PM Understood Concerns”: Minister On Lateral Entry Withdrawal

by | Aug 20, 2024 | top-stories



Union Minister Chirag Paswan thanked the Prime Minister Modi.

The Centre today requested the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to withdraw its advertisement for lateral entry into bureaucracy, a reversal following criticism from the Opposition and pressure from ally Chirag Paswan, who had reservations against the move. After the government’s U-turn, the minister thanked the Prime Minister who “understood the concerns of people from SC/ST and OBCs”.

UPSC last week issued an advertisement seeking “talented and motivated Indian nationals” for lateral recruitment to various senior positions within the Union government. These positions included Joint Secretary, Director, and Deputy Secretary in 24 ministries, with a total of 45 posts up for grabs.

Yesterday, Mr Paswan said that “reservation provisions must be there in any government appointment. There are no ifs and buts in this. No reservation exists in the private sector and if it is not implemented in government positions as well…”

Mr Paswan said he was in with the Prime Minister and his office and said he held in-depth discussions with me and added that “I submitted relevant documents to his office. In all kinds of government appointments, rules of the reservation should be followed by the government,” says Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan at a press conference in Patna, Bihar.”

The Union Minister thanked the Prime Minister and said, “I am happy that my Prime Minister Modiji understood the concerns of SC/ST and backward people. My party LJP (Ram Vilas) and I thank PM Modi.”

The lateral entry move was shredded by the Congress, who called it a ploy to snatch jobs from disadvantaged classes and give it to cadres of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS, the BJP’s ideological mentor.

The Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have alleged that it is a “conspiracy” by the BJP to appoint its ideological allies to high posts through the back door.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that while the UPA government introduced lateral entry to appoint select experts in some areas, the NDA government is using it to “snatch the rights” of Dalits, tribals and backward classes.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had said the Congress’ criticism of the lateral entry system exposes its “hypocrisy”.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Vaishnaw said. “INC (Indian National Congress) hypocrisy is evident on lateral entry matter. It was the UPA government which developed the concept of lateral entry,” he said.





Source link

Sudha Murty Clarifies Raksha Bandhan Post On X After Backlash

Sudha Murty Clarifies Raksha Bandhan Post On X After Backlash

by | Aug 19, 2024 | top-stories


A thread indicates that somebody should come and help me, she said.

Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty shared a message on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and explained how it is an “important festival” for her and the value a thread or rakhi holds. The Infosys Chairman’s wife also shared the story behind the festival, which sparked a debate on social media platform X, with users differing from her. She later issued a clarification and said he intention was to highlight one of the many stories she learnt about when growing up.

“Raksha Bandha is an important festival for me, where a sister ties a thread indicating that in case of any difficulty, you should always be there to help me,” she said in a video message posted on X.

The wife of the Infosys Chairman shared the story behind the festival and said, “It goes back to when Rani Karnavati (from the Kingdom of Mewar) was in danger after her kingdom, which was small, came under attack. She did not know what to do. She sent a small piece of thread to Mughal Emperor Humayun and said I’m in danger please consider me as your sister. Please do come and protect me.”

Ms Murty said, “Humayun did not know what it was…he asked what is this and the locals said this is a call of a sister to a brother…this is the custom of the land,” adding, “The emperor said okay if this is the case then I will help Rani Karnavati. He left Delhi but couldn’t reach there on time and Karnavati died.”

“This idea is when you’re facing a threat or in distress. A thread indicates that somebody should come and help me and it means a lot…” she added.

However, several users on X differed and said the story goes back to the time of Mahabharat and not post-medieval India. Users said, that during the time of Mahabharat, Lord Krishna inadvertently cut his finger while using the Sudarshan chakra to kill King Shishupal. Draupadi covered the wound with a piece of cloth. 

Lord Krishna was touched by her deed and promised to keep her safe from any harm. During the Chirharan incident, when the Kauravas tried to shame and dishonour Draupadi, Lord Krishna appeared and protected her when no one else could.

The Rajya Sabha MP later issued a clarification and said, “The story I shared on Raksha Bandhan is just one of many tales associated with the festival and certainly not its origin. I mentioned in the video that, “this was already a custom of the land. My intention was to highlight one of the many stories I learnt about when growing up, about the beautiful symbolism behind Raksha Bandhan.”

There are several stories on the history of the festival including the story of King Bali and Goddess Lakshmi. King Bali was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu and he took the responsibility to protect Bali’s Kingdom for which he left Vikundam. Goddess Lakshmi wanted to stay with her husband Lord Vishnu. 

She tied Rakhi on King Bali’s wrist on the full moon day called Shravana Purnima. It is believed that since that day onwards it has become a custom to invite one’s sister on Shravana Purnima to tie an auspicious thread of Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan.





Source link

After Rahul Gandhi's Attack On Lateral Entry, BJP's “UPA's Time” Reminder

After Rahul Gandhi's Attack On Lateral Entry, BJP's “UPA's Time” Reminder

by | Aug 18, 2024 | top-stories


Sources said lateral entry will help bring specialised skills in government service

New Delhi:

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the lateral entry concept has had a boomerang effect on him, according to the BJP, as the ruling party leaders pointed out that it was the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government which developed the concept in the first place.

Mr Gandhi had in a post on X alleged the Modi government is trying to recruit officers loyal to the BJP’s ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh through lateral entry, and not via the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

“Reservation of SC, ST and OBC categories is being snatched away by recruiting through lateral entry for important posts in various ministries of the central government,” Mr Gandhi alleged in the post.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was among BJP leaders who shot back.

“INC hypocrisy is evident on the lateral entry matter. It was the UPA government which developed the concept of lateral entry. The second Admin Reforms Commission (ARC) was established in 2005 under the UPA government,” Mr Vaishnaw said in a post on X.

“Shri Veerappa Moily chaired it [ARC]. UPA-period ARC recommended recruitment of experts to fill gaps in roles that require specialised knowledge. The NDA government has created a transparent method to implement this recommendation. Recruitment will be done through UPSC in a transparent and fair manner. This reform will improve governance,” Mr Vaishnaw said.

Sources said the ARC identified that certain government roles needed specialised knowledge not always available within the traditional civil services, and it had recommended recruiting professionals from the private sector, academia, and public sector undertakings to fill these gaps.

The ARC had proposed the creation of a talent pool of professionals who could be inducted into the government on a short-term or contractual basis, bringing fresh perspectives and cutting-edge expertise in areas such as economics, finance, technology, and public policy, sources said.

The ARC also stressed the importance of integrating lateral entrants into the existing civil services in a manner that maintains the integrity and ethos of the civil service while leveraging the specialised skills they bring, sources said.

The lateral entry scheme was formally introduced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure, driven by the recognition of the need for domain experts to enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of India’s administrative machinery.

In 2018, the government took a significant step by announcing vacancies for senior positions such as joint secretaries and directors, marking the first time that professionals from both the private and public sectors were invited to apply for these high-level roles. The selection process was rigorous, emphasising candidates’ qualifications, experience, and suitability for these strategic positions.





Source link

Harbhajan Singh's “Call For Justice, Introspection” To Mamata Banerjee

Harbhajan Singh's “Call For Justice, Introspection” To Mamata Banerjee

by | Aug 18, 2024 | top-stories


Harbhajan Singh wrote a two-page letter, demanding justice for Kolkata rape and murder victim.

New Delhi:

Former Indian cricketer and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Harbhajan Singh today wrote a letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, expressing his “deep anguish” over the delay in justice for the Kolkata rape and murder victim.

His letter comes over a week after a 31-year-old trainee doctor was raped and murdered at the seminar hall of the government-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The August 9 incident has sparked widespread outrage and protests across the country. 

The letter, which was addressed to Ms Banerjee, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, and the citizens of India, was a call for “justice and introspection”, Mr Singh wrote.

“This unspeakable act of violence, which shook the conscience of all of us, is not just a heinous crime against one individual but a grave assault on the dignity and safety of every woman in our society. It is a reflection of the deeply rooted issues within our society and a blatant reminder of the urgent need for systemic change and action by the authorities,” he said in the two-page letter, which was also shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.

“The fact that such an atrocity could occur within the premises of a medical institution, a place dedicated to healing and saving lives, is both shocking and unacceptable,” Mr Singh said.

He said that more than a week has lapsed and we are yet to see any “concrete action”, adding that it has led the doctors and the medical community to protest on roads.

“Their (doctors) protests are understood and I wholeheartedly support the medical community in their fight for their cause of justice,” he said.

“The medical community is already working in challenging conditions. With such incidents, how can we expect them to perform their duties with dedication when their own safety is so gravely compromised?,” the Rajya Sabha MP asked.

He urged the West Bengal government and the investigating agency, CBI, to take immediate and decisive action to ensure that the perpetrators of this “vile act” are brought to justice swiftly.

Mr Singh also said that such incidents are reported from different parts of the country and “have become regular columns” on newspapers and TV programmes.

“The governments must implement comprehensive measures to prevent such occurrences in the future,” he wrote.





Source link

YouTube
Instagram
WhatsApp