Govt approaches Ratan Tata for heading AI
Agencies
Posted: Wednesday, Jul 08, 2009 at 2000 hrs IST
Updated: Wednesday, Jul 08, 2009 at 2000 hrs IST
New Delhi: The government is understood to have approached industrialist Ratan Tata to head an advisory board of the ailing Air India.
Sources in the know said that Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Tata had met recently, and the Minister is believed to have sought his help in turning around the cash- strapped national carrier.
No official confirmation could be obtained on whether Tata has agreed to the government's proposal.
Air India is working on a plan for the return of leased aircraft at the earliest, sources said. A team has been set up to work on the leased contracts aimed at redelivery of leased planes within a week.
The sources also said Air India will close down its offices at overseas locations where the carrier does not operate.
Heads of strategic units concerning cargo, MRO and other related businesses will also be preparing a cost-cutting plan. Action plans would be drawn up by these officials to determine deliverables in the next 6 months, 12 months and 18 months.
Comments
» AL VS TATA COMAPANYS
Posted by Gopalan on 2009-07-15 17:39:39.354242+05:30
i am really worried why Mr RATHAN TATA has been given this assignement when he is having his own misery. Some of the company is worst than AL.TATABP SOLAR INDIA LTD one of the company were in managements is asking executives to put there resignation forcefully ( THREATING TO TERMINATE IF NOT GIVEN IN STIPULATED TIME )already 24 executives have been shown the doors.Comming days more executive will tumble.Rathan tata is a great man but people under him ......??????
» Thinking Outside the Box
Posted by Giri Girishankar on 2009-07-10 17:57:25.896765+05:30
A few days ago, it was Mr. Nandan Nilekani. Now it is Mr. Tata. It is encouraging and heartening to see that the Indian Government is beginning to see the light of the day and become more practical. The country is fortunate in having Dr. Singh as the PM. India has demonstrated in the recent past that its entrepreneurs and managers are world-class and are capable of motivating their organizations to exceptional performance. Their skill and acumen deserve to be utilized for the best outcomes at a national level.Congratulations Mr. Patel and Dr. Singh.
» AI and Ratan Tata
Posted by gautam on 2009-07-10 07:36:44.77857+05:30
What makes Praful to rush to Ratan and straightway offer chairmamship of AI.I think Tata's hands are full and he is having problem in handling his own group of companies which are posting huge losses.Jamshed was pioneer of aviation industry in India but same cannot be said about Ratan.This is classic case of appeasement and lack of farsightedness.By pleasing an industrialist Praful wants to hide his own failures. He was aviation minister for last 5 years and he didnot know even that AI is on death bed!Praful must resign for his one more flack.
» Retiree Educator
Posted by Mathew George on 2009-07-09 12:58:30.915774+05:30
Air India need a helping hand.It is not the blame game that is going to serve.One can see the anxiety on the part of the Ministry concerned in doing it the right way.RJD Tata is very much known as a very successful enterpreuner and it is right on the part of Praful Patel to offer the Chairmanship of a committee to steer back the Air lines to the correct course.We have to a constructive criticism of the whole story
» Unions, Staff and their work culture
Posted by Prakash Krishnagiri on 2009-07-09 12:32:28.444467+05:30
Once any Indian lands up a job with any Government Institution. He/she feels that the job is secured and automatically the vigor to work diminishes. That is why there is lot of lethargy in All Government Offices and State-owned companies. All these employees are backed by Unions and the unions threaten to shut down operations or go slow..in the name of seeking justice for their members. The Unions never ever thought about the performance of their members. The unions should be the one shown the gate first. There are no unions in Middle East and things are working smoothly here. There is no answerability among the Indian Government employees. Unless these things are taken care of, nothing can be done to make any of these govt owned companies profitable. Even this current job cut will have the Unions gearing up for another round of strike and may be NO SHOW (an airline term) at work. The Govt. Staff should fear about their job, only then will they work properly.
» AIR INDIA
Posted by ARPrabhakar on 2009-07-09 10:33:14.140917+05:30
I am pained that such a fine out fit is going from bad to worse. Why rope in Mr Rattan Tata, who has his hans full with his own company responsibilities.Let me handle the Airlines for a period of a minimum 2 years and the results will be there for all to see. This kind of 'giant affairs' need personal and sympathetic considerations and not washing off the hands of resposibility.
» Mr Tata as an advisor
Posted by Dr Tarashankar Rudra on 2009-07-09 09:50:27.853983+05:30
Dear Sir/Madam, It is welcome news by Air India (AI) to request for the expertise of Mr Ratan Tata as an OUTSTANDING MANAGER. Owing to the global turmoil that is affecting his own Businesses, I would humbly request Mr Tata to only take up an expert advisory role without heading the committee to run the executive affairs of AI.
» TATA to Lethargy in Air India,
Posted by ARUN VIRMANI on 2009-07-09 09:36:18.884193+05:30
Yes Mr Ratan Tata, it seems the words of Shakespeare, "There are tides in the affairs of Men, which if taken at their height, lead to Fortune".I see such a tide, particularly the far of New York, and i am proud that you had once qualified as an Architect from Princeton ! May you become the 'Prince' who turned around the 'Indian Maharaja'...wish i could be of some 'khidmat' to Air India, which i have yet to travel with !!
» Careful Mr Ratan Tata.....
Posted by indian on 2009-07-09 07:41:37.704802+05:30
After all these years milking Air India dry,having snatched it from the Tatas and ignominously having thrown the reknowned Mr JRD out of the airline, the Indian Govt wants to put Mr Ratan Tata in charge? And in an advisory capacity only ? Obviously they want some eminent person to take the blame and take the credits for themselves if it is turned round to make a profit.No way, Mr Ratan Tata, please join the board ONLY if privatisation is on the agenda and on no other terms! My foot!!! Mr Tata will take the blame and our slothful babus and politicians will take the credit and free rides on the Maharaha's back? Mr Tata should not step into this horseshit at all costs at least not under the present terms. Sincerity is sorely lacking in Praful Patel's offer.
» Mr.
Posted by Dinyar Mulla-Feroze on 2009-07-09 06:15:27.055405+05:30
The Tatas sold Air-India to the GOI for a comensation of Rs.1/-,did I say Sold sorry I meant Stole. The Govt. stole a perfectly working and Classy Airline and turned it into a lump of turd. The primary responsibility of that was corrupt bureaucrats,ministers and their appointed lackies. Now they blame the Employees and want to penalise them by stealing their rightfully earned compensation. Half or more of the employees have been stuffed by these culprits and many more on the payrol do not even exist. Hand the Airline lock stock and barrel to the rightful owners the Tatas and not the Johnny come latelies like the Goels Malyas Gopinaths and Wadias.The sooner this is done the better..
