Once the bell rang, I entered the room
Me: Good afternoon sir.
Chairman: Good afternoon. Points his hands to chair where
I need to sit
Chairman: Are you comfortable? Can we start the
interview?
Me: Yes sir.
Chairman: Senthil, from the southern end of Indian State
u reached long way to Delhi
Me: It’s my ambition and dream
sir. From my school days, I though of becoming an officer who travel sin red
beacon signals. Also in my family none became government high officials. And
hence I came this long way to Delhi
Chairman: What’s happening in Tamil Nadu? Always
agitation, strikes etc…
Me: Now nothing sir. Colleges
reopen.
M1: Do you think TN has legal right to interfere in Sri
Lankan affairs?
Me: Yes Mam.
M1: How do u say? India’s foreign policy can’t be
dictated by States
Me: Mam, as we know, India Pakistan , we think of J&K than any other
states in the same way, when we speak about Nepal ,
we think of Nepal , when we
speak of China it’s Arnachal
Pradesh, when we speak about Bangladesh ,
it’s West Bengal . Hence it is normal when we
speak about Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
M1: Very good analysis. But we also should consider
Chinese influence in Sri
Lanka
Me: Mam, A foreign policy of a
country can’t be dictated by other countries policies or afraid. A foreign
policy should be evolved and maintained regularly. So blaming of XYZ country in
our neighbours is just a mere excuse.
M1: Ok Senthil.
M2: Why Tamil Nadu is always opposing the entrance
examination?
Me: (I don’t know what to answer
for this; I wholeheartedly blamed all the politicians in TN) Sir, as the
entrance examinations are framed on the central government syllabus, TN is
opposing it.
M2: Do you think UPSC comes under that. Why TN is not
opposing too that
Me: UPSC is highly competitive
and more coveted exam. UPSC exam cant be prescribed to one syllabus at all..
M2: What’s your opinion about the new changes in UPSC
that was announced and recalled?
Me: I really felt happy on seeing
the changes in UPSC exam but sadly it was reverted back too some extent.
M2: But TN is the first state to oppose the changes and
then started by all States. It seems your state is really a panic to all….
Me: In general, aspirants who are
preparing for UPSC welcomed this move but unfortunately opposition came from
the coaching class institutions as they rely only on literature and optional
subjects. So it all triggered and also language constraint added to it. To my
point, it would be much nicer if no optional at all.
M2: (Amazing to hear such answer that too from TN
candidate.) Can u suggest how UPSC exam should be?
Me: The Question papers should be
only in English ands the answers can be given in any prescribed 22 scheduled
languages and English. The Mains paper must be without optional. Hence the
Literature controversy will come to an end.
M2: Ok
M3: Can u say me some of the e-governance projects in
your state?
Me: e-pathai, VLE
Chairman: What is AMMA scheme in your state and what’s
the purpose?
Me: Assured Maximum Service to
Marginal people in all villages. Aims to bring the government officers to
villagers itself.
M1: Senthil, say something about AMMA mess?
Me: (shocked for me, why asking
this and all) to give tiffin and food at affordable rates.
M1: Had u eaten in this?
Me: No mam, not yet. Planning to
go.
M1: Do you think it’s a good step?
Me: More people in Chennai
welcomed it. AS the prices are increasing in progression rate, weaker section
of the people will surely benefit from this
M1: In the recent TN budget 2013-14, the govt has
allocated a big sum of amount to school education department? Do you think it
will be a fruitful one? Say it in detail. As all the members want to hear
what’s happening in TN School education departments?
Me: School Education is the
backbone of the economy. In the recent TN Budget, aaprox Rs. 16000 crore has
been allocated to this department, which is the highest allocation ever for any
department. This includes free shoes, chappals, geometry boxes, atlas, school
bags, 4 sets of school uniforms, and also free sanitary napkins to girl
students, woolen sweaters to hilly area students, free school books, etc…
M1: Do you think its all necessary?
Me: Anything doing for school
education is not wasteful thing mam.
M1: can u say the new meals for the school children in
your state?
Me: After several decades, the
govt of TN had changed the menu for school children in nutritious meal program.
The new menu includes egg masala, veg Briyani, tomato rice, sambar rice, veg
pulav and so on
M1: Interesting menu. (All members laughed)
Chairman: In the recent Union Budget 2013-14, Finance
Minister quoted two persons in his speech. Who are they?
Me: It is Economist Thomas Glitz
and Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar
M3: See here too, you mention foreigner at first and
Indian (that too from your state) at last. But you people are shouting for
linguistic… very paradox….
Chairman: What Thirukural he quoted in the budget?
Me: (stunned for a while). And
said I need to recall, chairman said, take t and say me.. also say about
Thirukural..All Tamil politicians and technicians are quoting it…
Me: Said it: don not know. {then
said about Thirukural and Thirvalluvar what all mugged up in my school days}
Chairman: Can we change the name of TN to TASMAC Nadu? Do
you agree with TASMAC?
Me: At any cost, none will agree
that a government itself sells liquor shops. So it’s a bad step
M2: But in early history if you go back to Gupta dynasty,
it all happened. Are u weak in history? Why can’t u think it as a history
repeats?
Me: It maybe sir. But in
democratic form of government it is really a worrisome situation. The only one
thing is no hooch tragic deaths
Chairman: The economic growth of TN is just 45 from 9%.
Why is it so?
Me: Due to poor monsoon, failure
of rainfall, and also excess of power cuts hit all the three sectors badly.
Hence the decline.
M2: Senthil, Kudnakulam, Kalpakam, Neyvveli, Mettur and
Tuticorin is with Tamil Nadu. Then how this 16-18hours power cuts?
Me: Mam, all these are in TN only
but the electricity produced by them are not fully utilised by TN alone. It is
shared among several states. Also Kudankulam not yet started.
M2: You people are not allowing to start anything, for
everything u r protesting and agitating means, how can u make up your state
into developed one.
Me: In Kudankulam, all the
protests are gone. State government had given it nod for that. Now some
technical snag is there, recently PM too said by next month, the plant will start
to execute.
M2: Say the power projects in the State – is solar and
wind are really a good option for TN
Me: From Mettur to North Chennai power projects I said it. Then on wind and
solar energy, it all depends on the monsoon. Once the wind energy gave 500 MW a
day and now it is nil. So it is not possible to depend that energy alone. On
Solar energy recently TN quoted for international bid and it is Rs.6.48 per
unit, which is the cheapest in India
M3: Once TN sold electricity to other, now the situation
is like this. Why is it so?
Me: Not planned for the future is
the real problem. Also TN is not connected to Central grid is another one major
problem. Apart from that, the electricity is moved to central list is the
biggest problem.
Chairman: Assume you are Secretary to the Department of
Electricity in TN. What suggestion will you give to TN Govt?
Me: No public or political
meetings after 6 PM at any cost. All the MNCs and multiplexes in Tier-I cities
should be moved to solar power immediately. Increase the electricity price
tarrif for MNCs and multiplexes. 100% no
usage of bulbs.
Chairman: Cauvery issue
Me: I said this history
M2: Is it over or a temporary stop?
Me: It all depends on how the
Centre govt is forming CMA?
{They asked about districts that are being benefited by Cauvery, the recent
centre notification etc…}
Chairman: The State government ban on IPL players in
Chennai – do you welcome it?
Me: yes. It represents the
feelings of Tamil people.
M3: Don’t you think sports must not be mixed up with
Politics?
Me: Ye sir, I agree. But the ban
of Pakistani players also remains the same. But coming to Lanka, it s not
politics, it is clearly a humanitarian issue that too ethnic Tamil who also
once Indians..
M2: Pakistan
Me: Then why boosting trade
relation and business talks with enemy nation. Mam, banning of players dated
back to 1946 itself, when the interim govt headed by Nehru strongly voiced
against apartheid issue in South Africa
and called for economic sanction against South Africa India India
M2: It seems all the people of Tamil Nadu are in same
line… its really interesting…Do you think Indian media are 100% correct.
Me: No mam, they are making small
issues much bigger. Even in addressing the Tamil issue of Lanka they are not at
all correct.
(They discussed something with them)
Chairman: Say something about BRICS Bank
Me: I said it..
Chairman: Asked about the new regulations of RBI in
starting a pvt bank
Me: I struggled here
Chairman: Do you think Indian voters cast their votes
still on the basis of caste, religion and region?
Me: No sir. Too some extent it
changed.. Now people are really looking for developments.
M3: Something about India
Me: Chnadrayaan and Mangalyan.
M3: Asked what it about
Me: I briefed it
M2: Senthil, Vishwaroopam ban – is it correct or not?
Me: Absolutely against the
freedom of speech and expression.
M2: Are u fan of Kamal?
Me: No. Once the censor board
clears the film, it should be allowed to screen in theatres.
M3: What National Award won by that film?
Me: Best Art Direction and Best
Choreography
M3: What is the speciality about UN water award 2013 in
respect with the State of TN
Me: In Category 1 which is awarded
to best water management practices, TN bagged Second place and Category 2 which
is awarded to best participatory, communication TN bagged second place {I thought any other questions form this, but great
escape… no further questions on this…as I just gone through at the last minute}
(I remembered only these much)
To me, it was a bitter experience,
as too much controversial questions
