Air India, which once ruled
the skies, is today surviving on periodic infusion of tax payers’ money.
What
led to this tragic change in its fortunes? Are our other public sector
companies susceptible to a similar fate in the near future?
Jitender Bhargava, a former
executive director of Air India, and a member of our fraternity has authored a
book, The Descent of Air India,
which elucidates the failure to rejig Air India in tune with the times,
compounded with an overt reliance on the airline's past glory, impractical
expansion plans and the misuse of the company's resources, rapidly leading to
financial meltdown.
Bhargava in a candid account
of how a series of dramatic events ran aground the airline offers a
behind-the-scenes expose of submissive and indifferent chairmen, self-serving
employees and union members, a step-fatherly government, who colluded in the
near destruction of one of India's finest public-sector undertakings (PSUs).
The book has lessons for
those serving in the government sector, particularly PSUs, that in today's
competitive world they can't give in to sloth, be loath to change and demand
progressively higher emoluments while remaining unproductive thereby
endangering the future of their company. The book heralds a 'wake up time' for
government run concerns as India envisions to be a global economic power.
How
to get the book?
1. Through Amazon.in @ Rs 495 plus courier charges.
2. By writing to Mr Bhargava
at jitenderbhargava@gmail.com @ Rs 400 plus courier charges.
Mr
Bhargava has agreed to part his commission for PRCI members and PRapport readers!
About
the author:
Jitender Bhargava is a
respected voice in the aviation sector. Having served over two decades with Air
India, of which thirteen years were as executive director, he has a deep
understanding of the problems of the airline and the aviation industry and
regularly comments on civil aviation in leading national dailies and television.
Bhargava is also Chairman, Aviation & Airports Committee of the Indian
Merchants' Chamber, Mumbai.
