23 March,2010 09:02 AM IST | | Dilip Cherian
Dilli is fascinated with Nandan Nilekani's growing stature in the UPA dispensation. The former Infosys chief, who was chosen by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to head the unique identity card (UID) project, seems to have sufficiently impressed those who matter, even though the UID project is still in a nascent stage. Manmohan and Co have now decided to saddle Nilekani with an additional responsibility. He will now also chair the proposed Technology Advisory Group for Unique Projects, another high-powered panel aimed at developing more efficient administration through projects in the IT sector.
u00a0But if Nilekani's is a tale of growth and a higher role in government, the story of Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor is that of survival and surprise. Creating a Kochi IPL consortium and persisting as India's only Twittering mantri, Tharoor is also growing, with Manmohan continuing to back him. Tharoor's tweets and now Kochi's scores will continue to provide fodder for Dilli's watchers!
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Eat your hearts out
Dilliwalas perhaps are too used to badmouthing their city, so it may come as a surprise to many that a recent study named the Capital as the best Indian city to live in. This should act as a balm for those who routinely face the ire of Dilliwalas for the lack of civic amenities in the capital, even if skeptics remain unconvinced. Still, it is indeed nice to know that the overall quality of life in Dilli is heads and shoulders above Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad et al. However, the capital has not fared so well in maintaining health standards. But is Dilli also really the safest city as the survey says? Mumbaikars probably would contest this, and so will many Dilliwalas!
