The Hindu : New Delhi News : Inside Delhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Inside Delhi

Junket time

Residents of Lutyens' Delhi might be facing various civic problems, with chaos at parking lots in the area due to steep increases in tariffs being the latest burning issue, but senior officials of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) have some other important things to do -- attend a "workshop'' on "Communication and presentation skills as well as development of interpersonal relations", for instance, and that too several hundred miles away from the Capital.

Ironically, out of over two-dozen heads of departments of the civic body, 20 attended the two-day "workshop", organised by the Council's Co-ordination Department, at a luxury resort in Amber near Jaipur on September 3 and 4. Surprisingly, while the workshop was on developing communication skills, the organisation head -- Chairperson Sindhushree Khullar -- was not a part of the junket.

"On Friday, the work in the entire civic body virtually remained paralysed as almost all the heads of the various departments were not there and junior staff had a field day making full use of the absence of their seniors by shopping in Connaught Place or just bunking work for leisure. On Friday, a majority of the staff left for home hours before the scheduled time," sources in the Council said.

While on the one hand people had a tough time dealing with errant parking lot contractors and their attendants following introduction of the new parking policy with the enhanced tariffs, on the other officials were busy packing for the "workshop" and making other plans during their stay. In the Council, it is after several years that such an event related to personality development was organised but never in the past had something of this sort happened when almost the entire top brass of the civic body was missing from the Capital and that too on a working day!

Promoting

eco-adventure

As part of a newly-launched eco-adventure sport, tourism promotion and environmental conservation project, the "Explore Garhwal Eco-Adventure Expedition, 2004'' was flagged off from the International Youth Hostel at Chanakyapuri in New Delhi this past week. The project was flagged off by the president of the International Youth Hostel Association of India, H.K. Saxena. "We are providing full support to all members undertaking this expedition which is the first voluntary project of its kind in Uttaranchal," he noted.

The two-year-long voluntary exploration project will have 14 members from different states' youth hostels taking part. Nine of them were present at the flag-off ceremony here and the other five will join the team in Gujarat.

The project itself is divided into two phases. While Phase I will focus on Garhwal, Phase II will focus on the Kumaon Himalayas. It is being funded by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, and Liazer hotel. The technical support is provided by the Centre for Mountain Tourism and Hospitality Services and Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University.

"First we will complete Phase I and then go in for the Phase II if funds allow us," said a member of the project from the Delhi Youth Hostel Association of India, Tarun K. Ray.

Fashion friendship

The bonhomie and interaction between Indians and Pakistanis was strengthened at the recent "Bride and Groom Exhibition, 2004'' in the Capital. Though the Indian designers were seen competing with their Pakistani counterparts in so far as making profits was concerned, they shared an excellent camaraderie with each other. Fashion designers from two countries could be seen exchanging ideas with one another in a spirit of friendship over lunch.

One of the finest Pakistani designers, Najeeba Zulfiqar -- whose label "Beges" with its fabulous silhouettes sold like hot cakes - said, "I have received tremendous support from my Indian friends, particularly from the Punjabi community and especially Raj Babbar."

Ms. Zulfiqar was pleased that Bollywood actress Urmila Matondkar during one of her shoots in Pakistan wore a dress designed by her.

For some Pakistani designers like Syed Afzaal Ali who didn't have a chance to exhibit their craftsmanship in India, this exhibition proved to be a godsend. "This was an excellent opportunity to showcase our works. Earlier, the Indian Diaspora in Britain was buying smart lehengas from me. In this exhibition, Indian buyers have purchased my creations not only for their homes but also for their newly opened shops in malls," said Mr. Ali.

The exhibition also served as a platform for designers from across the border to display their works and the Indian public made good use of this opportunity by buying stylish dresses and bejewelled purses from them.

By Sandeep Joshi and
Madhur Tankha

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