Indian Newslink July 15 Digital Edition

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JULY 15, 2016 12 VIEWLINK The English Fortnightly (Since November 1999) Issue 350 | July 15, 2016 Containing immigration numbers and fraud Immigration has all the makings of Election 2017 issue. The change in governments in Australia, United Kingdom, United States of America and possibly other major players in the UN Security Council could have an impact on migration in their respective countries. There is an outcry in all of them to check migrant inflow. Immigration is an emotional issue which most ethnic communities would defend as ‘essential.’ Their reasoning is obvious and understandable. The Ruling National Party and immigration advisors and immigration lawyers are defending a liberal immigration policy. Their reasoning is also obvious, although may not be understandable or even less, acceptable. A majority of us, including those involved with this newspaper are migrants. The difference is only in the year when migration took place. But all of us went through a robust immigration process- there were no short cuts. And most of us would prefer a more selective immigration regime. Auckland breaking Times have changed and New Zealand, more importantly, Auckland stands at the precipice of breaking down- in terms of infrastructure, housing and other essential supplies. The government’s policy of directing migrants to other smaller cities does not seem to work. Auckland is indubitably the commercial and industrial hub. Migrants know that most employment and business opportunities exist here. Is Auckland liveable City? Is it a loveable City? Should we not set aside our emotions and approach migration with a sense of purpose and reality? These questions were posed at a Panel Session organised by Multicultural New Zealand at its Annual General Meeting held in Auckland last month. The Panel comprised five candidates contesting the Auckland Mayoralty. The opinions were varied. Winston Peters warning The views of New Zealand First Leader and senior parliamentarian always provoke public debate. While his comments would anger Asian communities including Indian, mainstream media would support him. But not this time since most newspapers, radio and television stations are National supporters. Mr Peters has called for a review of our immigration policy and slow down the process. He has said that too many people are coming into our country and that a majority of them have questionable educational certificates and job experiences. “The biggest driver of record immigration has been a mass influx of people coming in, many on work visas, and many low skilled, as Treasury points out. (Prime Minister John) Key refuses to recognise that his open door immigration has put enormous pressure on New Zealand – emergency departments are overloaded, schools are struggling to cope, housing is in crisis, wages are depressed, and migrants are being used as cheap labour,” he said. Mass Rejections But a recent TVNZ Report should make us think and appreciate Mr Peters’ concern. The Report said that in the last year, almost 10,000 applications filed by Indians in India were rejected by Immigration New Zealand (INZ). “A majority of these applications were from unlicensed agents and advisers, who use false educational qualifications and financial statements to apply for student visas and there are warnings the problem could be more widespread,” TVNZ said. Massey University Pro-Vice-Chancellor (College of Humanities & Social Sciences) Distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley warned that would be an ‘ongoing issue.’ “It is a big industry in India, so I am not surprised at the number that Immigration New Zealand have found. They have a major reputational risk for us as a destination for Indian students; we have to get on top of it because otherwise an important industry in this country is at risk,” he said. Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said that the matter is being investigated. “INZ and Education NZ have gone into that market to make sure that people are very, very clear about the expectations for being a student in New Zealand,” he said. Inexcusable methods The number of cases involving rogue employers, immigration and education advisors and employers who defraud gullible public appears to be on the increase but the trend can be reversed with greater vigilance and discretion. People should come forward without fear and lodge their complaints with the authorities so that appropriate action can be initiated against the offenders. Indian Newslink is published by Indian Newslink Limited from its offices located at Level 1, Number 166, Harris Road, East Tamaki, Auckland 2013 and printed at Horton Media Limited, Auckland. All material appearing here and on our web editions are the copyright of Indian Newslink and reproduction in full or part in any medium is prohibited. Indian Newslink and its management and staff do not accept any responsibility for the claims made in advertisements. Managing Director & Publisher: Jacob Mannothra Editor & General Manager: Venkat Raman; Production Manager: Mahes Perera; Graphic Designer: Shine Kumar Phone: (09) 5336377 Email: info@indiannewslink.co.nz Websites: www.indiannewslink.co.nz; www.inliba.com; www.inlisa.com Our management system finds favour in India Modi with P K Mishra and Nripendra Misra Udhay Madhukar in India Today The Narendra Modi government created a flutter among bureaucrats recently when nine of the 42 officers from the 1999 batch whose names had been put forward for empanelment were not selected. Most of them, as usual, had outstanding grades. The reasons behind the rejection ranged from poor performance on delivery to a lack of personal integrity. This was not an arbitrary decision but part of a massive reform process initiated in the selection procedure in June 2016. “There is a premium on competence and honesty for the first time in the history of the All- India services,” a top bureaucrat involved in the process said. Like in the past, the Central government committee of experts, comprising former bureaucrats, will recommend candidates to be empanelled for the post of joint Secretary, Additional Secretary, Departmental Secretaries and Chief Secretary. These officers will be first short-listed on the basis of their grades in Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APAR). New Procedure According to the new procedure, however, the committee will also prepare pen portraits of these officers in a seven-page format with multi-source feedback (MSF) based on four criteria-functional skills such as handling of finance, regulation, technology, execution and policy-making; domain expertise in sectors like economy, energy, agriculture, education and tourism; behavioural competence such as communication skills, team spirit, long-term vision, humility and empathy; and financial and intellectual integrity. “This will make it impossible for non-performing and corrupt officials to reach the top,” an official at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. The old method of empanelment by the expert committee had several flaws. It examined the annual grading of an officer done on a scale of one to 10 for the last 16 years, and then aggregated these marks. The committee was allowed to moderate the final tally based on its feedback of the candidate. The committee could marginally increase or decrease the final tally, as the case may be, if not satisfied with the marking. “The whole process was not positive selection but negative disqualification. In a way, it was elimination rather than selection,” a professional in the PMO, who played a key role in finalising the new selection criteria, said. System failure The system failed miserably to distinguish between the Good, the Average and the Bad because officers usually gave high grading to their junior colleagues, either in a spirit of camaraderie or so as to not upset the apple cart. Till 2006, a senior official had to evaluate his or her junior’s performance under three grades – Outstanding, Very Good and Good. This used to be a confidential process. However, since 2006, thanks to a court order, the senior officer is bound to show his or her junior the comments written in the appraisal form. This ‘transparency’ resulted in most officers giving superlative grades to juniors. The provision was also exploited by certain states such as Madhya Pradesh, which often gave 10 out of 10 to its officers so that the state could get the maximum number of bureaucrats empanelled. Changing grades The Union government is now working on changing the methodology of grading. “The method of writing the APARs-which remains the preliminary basis for selection-is also being changed to be more meaningful,” an official said. The Personnel Department database has been completely transformed by integrating different sets of data for a comprehensive 360-degree evaluation of officers. Last year, the PMO and the Cabinet Secretariat examined the APARs of 1250 All-India service officials, including IAS, IPS, Indian Postal Service, Indian Revenue Service and seven services of the Railways, and empanelled 750 of them. “With the new criteria of merit and quality being applied, the number this year may come down to 550. Fortunately, we have a good talent pool. Otherwise, we would have fallen short on officers,” a bureaucrat said. The new system also specifies norms for conducting the MSF. It requires one of the expert committee members to speak to one senior, one junior and one from the peer group of the officer applying for empanelment and take feedback on the three criteria. A fourth feedback has to be organised from a person who has dealt with the officer as a customer as an interface. These feedbacks have to be filled in a seven-page format, with the names of the four interviewees. Finally, the member must mention whether he or she recommends or strongly recommends the candidate for empanelment. According to sources involved in the process, this is done to sketch a complete and precise picture of each candidate, portraying their personality and specifying the jobs for which they are most suited. Meanwhile, of the nine officials rejected for empanelment last month, one has the reputation of being a very competent official and had earlier been posted in Delhi. But there was negative feedback on his integrity. Another officer got a high rating on integrity but was seen to be poor on delivery and leadership qualities. A third officer was rejected because his motivation levels were found low in high-pressure jobs. New Zealand ticked Before applying the new selection method, the government studied top management practices of several countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore and New Zealand, and also of private entities like McKinsey & Company, General Electric and the Tata Group. The New Zealand government’s method of selection was found to be the best and the most updated while the US system had not undergone any major change in the past two decades. The Union government is also simultaneously working on reforms in the selection process of the Chairman, Managing Directors and Directors of nationalised banks. The above is an edited version of an article that appeared in India Today website.
JULY 15, 2016 WOMEN IN BUSINESS 13 Seema Chatly Vibrant and extremely diligent, Seema Chatly is often found handling multiple calls with equal charm and politeness. Managing a chain of lodges and motels across Auckland seamlessly comes easy to this spunky businesswoman. “My biggest high is interacting with guests from across the world, ensuring that they experience unique New Zealand culture and hospitality,” she said. Owner and director of the heritage property City Garden Lodge, once the resplendent home of the Samoan Queen in Parnell, Seema is a hands-on person. Heading a young workforce in the service sector is a challenging task, especially when you set excellence as your brand image. Seema is constantly engaging with her crew to perform at their optimal levels. “The hospitality industry is exciting and exacting. Ronita Sharma Seeing men and women happy, healthy and beautiful has been my ambition since my formative years and I am happy that Forever Shine Beauty Therapy is providing me the opportunity to fulfil my ambition. Along with this, I am also happy that my column ‘Shine Forever with Ronita’ in Indian Newslink has evinced the interests of thousands of readers from New Zealand and other parts of the world. The past three years have been significant in my professional life. I was honoured to win the ‘Best Businesswoman of the Year’ Award at the Indian Newslink Indian Business Award ceremonies held in 2014 and 2015. Non-invasive technology Those complaining of stretch marks and gaining weight despite a strict diet will find a solution in a new equipment that is not only fast and reliable but also My staff is motivated to go beyond the call of duty and ensure that our customer service stands out with prompt response and efficiency. I am passionate about keeping our lodges/motels customer-ready always,” Seema said. Seems brings a unique difference to an otherwise routine job as a member of a team that includes everyone from cleaners to managers. Neither staff nor customers would be surprised to find her vacuuming the floors or arranging the bed if needed. For a young girl selected to join the Indian Airforce as a pilot before marriage, relocation to New Zealand with her entrepreneur-husband Suresh Chatly was a challenging journey. Starting from scratch, the couple have built a chain of four backpackers lodges in Central Auckland and two motels within a very short span. Seema attributes her success to her quick adaptability and enthusiasm to drive their business beyond the typical motel management work culture. Ensuring the best facilities for her guests runs parallel to providing the best workplace environment for her staff. cost-effective in the long run. The machine, new at Forever Shine Beauty Therapy, has already been tried and tested elsewhere with great success. It guarantees weight loss and even removes fat stretch marks. It also addresses issues such as water retention, sagging skin, tummy fat and skin colouration that bother women. Called, ‘Ultrasonic Cavitation Slimming Machine,’ it comes with Vacuum-RF Ultralipo and integrates four important features, namely, Cavitation, Vacuum, RF and Red Photon. The equipment has (a) proven non-invasive cavitation fat reduction (b) vacuum suction for deep fat blasting, body contouring and shaping (c) 5 MHZ Multipolar RF for body skin tightening and (d) Triolar RF for facial and eye tightening. I want to be known for innovation and spirit of adventure in this competitive industry. In addition, I would like my ‘International College of Beauty’ to become a sound training ground for celebrities and young men and women to establish their own beauty clinics throughout New Zealand and possibly throughout the world. 30 rooms (all ensuite); Free on-site car parking | 200 MB of free internet per stay. Sai Motel 385 Great South Road, Greenlane, Auckland. Ronita Sharma is one in a million. Experienced and highly qualified, has over 13 years of experience in making you look beautiful and feel healthy and happy Forever Shine & Beauty Therapy 29C Mount Eden Road, Eden Terrace, Auckland 1023 Phone (09) 3580830 |www.forevershinebeauty.com Ansuya Naidoo I am privileged to work with the Indian Community. It is also a pleasure to network with political leaders, influential business entrepreneurs and religious leaders. I have met many smart women in business, and it is a delight to see more and more women becoming the decision-makers. Empowering women Working for a Company that empowers women to the level to which BNZ does is truly rewarding. I was thrilled to be part of BNZ, when they awarded the inaugural United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles Award in 2013 in recognition of their diversity initiatives. Diversity is something which BNZ really embraces, which is why, they developed a dedicated Indian business team, which I lead. Across the country some Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) believe that business banking practices have undergone major changes with the advent of online banking, mobile banking and more powers delegated to branches and regional offices. Helping SMEs Some of them were even of the view that banks have become ‘heartless’ on the face of the global economic meltdown perpetrating recession. Smaller clients are of the view that banks do not understand the real needs of small customers, or know how to connect with them. At BNZ, we work with customers to understand their business, assess their challenges and opportunities, and work with them to help them achieve their aspirations and growth plans. Our strength in SME, a sector integral to the New Zealand economy as a whole, continues to grow. We have hired 50 new small business bankers, including 20 people in a new hub in Hamilton, 10 people in Christchurch and the remaining 20 in Auckland. These moves will ensure BNZ is well placed to serve our customers well in a growing sector BNZS 4104 Namaste From the Auckland Indian banking team. Talk to us today about our award winning products and services to help you reach your goals faster. 0800 275 269 bnz.co.nz Purnima Lekinwala The fact that hard work and honesty will be rewarded by popularity and success superseding despair and obstacles, has been proved time and again by people. Among them is Purnima Lekinwala, Director of Chakri Limited, a West Auckland (New Lynn) based company that produces a series of Indian snacks. Born and raised in an illustrious Gujarati family in Mumbai, India, Purnima arrived in New Zealand at an early age. Like most members of her community, she had the spirit of enterprise and an inherent ability to pursue her ambitions. Following her marriage, she set up her family comprising her husband and their two daughters and a son. Life appeared smooth and charming. Success may not be achieved overnight and Purnima built her business snack by snack and as years rolled on, her reputation grew as the provider of quality products meeting the stringent food safety requirements of New Zealand. Chakri Limited The growing demand for her homemade snacks encouraged her to establish ‘Chakri Limited’ in 2010 and today her products are sold at major Indian supermarkets throughout New Zealand. “Commitment to quality and focus on good business are the best ingredients to success. Life is always full of challenges but I have learnt from experience that with integrity and pursuit of excellence one cannot go wrong,” she said. Purnima is a prime example of the adage, “Every moment is another change; and every chance another beginning.” Wholesalers of •Panipuri •Chakri •Masala Puri •Sweet Puri •Sakkaraparaetc 3102 GreatNorth Road,Newlynn Ph: (09) 8263275 |email:g2gcafe@gmail.com
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