Rockstar Amitabh

NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, a 1980-batch IAS officer from Kerala is called a ‘rockstar’ among his batch mates. He is one civil servant who is most active on social media. Since he has taken over as CEO NITI Aayog, he is moving every day from one programme to another programme. He not only travels most of the time with the Prime Minister but also with ministers. He is so engrossed in his new found avatar that he is visiting most of the Prime Minister’s programme implementation centres in far flung areas. He is always immaculately dressed and carries himself with dignity. He has a simple formula to get the best out of everything. First, he works with a team which is superb in their field and never compromises on quality. He never minds spending for the cause and creates a niche for it. The Incredible India campaign is his creation. He is tech savvy and motivates his colleagues to adopt new-age technology. Recently the NITI Aayog organised ‘Movelo Cyclothon’ near India Gate. He himself was leading from the front by riding a cycle along with state home minister Kiren Rijiju. “Inclusive, affordable and cleaner mode of transportation. “Phenomenal experience! We need to move people, not cars. Cycling is the way to go for a healthier life and a less polluting city,” he tweeted, adding that cycling lanes are a must for Indian cities. This, then, is the new face of planning in India–the NITI Aayog organising Cyclothons whereas the earlier Planning Commission was confined to organising mostly seminars and talks.