E-Paper
Thanks, but no thanks: Lalu to IIM team
Prasad told the IIM-team how he changed the old dictums like raising of goods and passenger fares to minimise cost and increase trade.
Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, one of India's most colourful politicians who also proved himself as a capable manager by steering the Indian Railways to profit, on Thursday politely declined ideas from academicians on how to run his ministry.
Interacting with a delegation of academicians from Indian Institutes of Management, the minister said his organisation was already full of talented people.
The delegates led by IIM-Ahmedabad Prof G Raghuram, who was part of an official committee that predicted the Railways would incur Rs 60,000 crore debt in the next 10 years and slip into bankruptcy, had suggested that Prasad appoint an advisory board for efficient functioning of the organisation.
Raghuram had suggested that such a Board should comprise of experts from IITs and IIMs and other varsities to interact regularly for the benefit of the Railways.
Prasad also declined another suggestion from the delegates that he take the title of 'CEO' of Indian Railways following its spectacular performance during his two years as Railway Minister.
The Minister, under whose tenure the Railways has generated Rs 13,000 crore worth internal resources as also surplus revenue of Rs 11,000 crore, said: "Sincere efforts accomplished with honesty will bring about progress and development of any organisation."
Prasad, whose decisions to introduce earthen pots (kulhads) instead of plastic cups and khadi linen on trains won him rave reviews, said the turnaround was achieved by changing the old dictum -- hiking goods and passenger fares to minimise cost.
