All ministers do not come on time, says Ashok Gajapathi Raju

NEW DELHI: Suggesting that it takes time to usher in changes in the system, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju quipped that all ministers do not come on time.

Participating in a conference here today, Raju's remarks were in response to a query on whether there are institutional resistance in implementing the government's initiatives.

"There will be resistance when someone is used to a particular way... Like all ministers do not come on time. Now if we can be on time, we can generate the consequences," Raju said.

Ironically, he himself came a bit late for the session at an event organised by aircraft maker Boeing.

The Minister also said the government would like to be more transparent which would help in generating confidence.

To a query related to the government's initiatives, Raju said, "from an atmosphere of hopelessness, we have moved to that of hope. It is clearly visible".

However, he acknowledged that there are issues and certain things like dishonesty at high places and that these things have already been addressed.

"I don't think there has been a scam during the period of this government... But we still hope to develop systems that do not lend itself to dishonesty and are vibrant to the needs of the people," the Minister said.

About 5/20 norm, Raju said that he could not understand the logic behind it and personally would like the rule to go.

Under 5/20 norm, only local carriers having a fleet of 20 planes and five years operational experience are allowed to fly overseas.

"I could not understand the logic to why it is there. So left to me, I would like to do away with it but there is a process... Cabinet is preoccupied with a lot of things, so the Aviation Ministry's priorities need not necessarily be that of Cabinet. I am working with an intention to get rid of this rule," Raju said.

The Civil Aviation Ministry is working on a new aviation policy wherein the 5/20 norm is also being reviewed.

Meanwhile, Amitabh Kant, Secretary at the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), said that FDI inflows increased 48 per cent since the launch of 'Make In India' initiative in September 2014.

The increase has happened even as global FDI fell 16 per cent, he added.