Scindia says new job 'daunting challenge'

After being appointed as the new minister of state for power (with independent charge), the young Congress leader from Madhya Pradesh, Jyotiraditya Scindia, 41, on Monday described his new job as a "daunting challenge" but hoped that he would be able to perform his duties well.

After being appointed as the new minister of state for power (with independent charge), the young Congress leader from Madhya Pradesh, Jyotiraditya Scindia, 41, on Monday described his new job as a "daunting challenge" but hoped that he would be able to perform his duties well.

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"It is a daunting challenge and I look forward to support and guidance from both my ministry officials and my colleagues in the other departments, Scindia told reporters after taking charge.

Educated at Harvard and Stanford universities, Scindia said power was an extremely strategic sector for India's economy.

"It is a very important ministry and it is a very big challenge and a very big charge," he said.

He said he would work at ensuring connectivity and bandwidth for electricity right down to the grassroot level.

"We would do that through multifarious economic means," Scindia said, adding that he would like to work in coordination with his peers in other ministries.

"(I will) ensure that there is greater coordination with my colleagues in both the ministries of coal and environment, to ensure that generation and execution on generation projects happens at a fast pace," he said.

Scindia said he would fix the priorities after having a clear understanding of the sector and the subject.

"First I will understand and absorb as much information as I can and then move forward, the way I did in the ministry of telecom and post and the ministry of commerce and industry," the minister said.