Retired IAS officer Tarun Shridhar rejects govt’s Rs 80,000 offer, will give free advice on revitalising HPTDC
Retired IAS officer Tarun Shridhar has stepped forward to offer free consultation to the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) to help revitalise the struggling tourism body.
Despite the government’s offer of Rs 80,000 monthly honorarium, Shridhar has graciously declined the compensation, citing his gratitude to the people of Himachal Pradesh for the respect and recognition they have given him over the years.
The state government’s proposal to appoint Shridhar, who belongs to Shimla and owns a house in Keleston, comes as part of a directive from the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which emphasised the urgent need to address the HPTDC’s declining financial health. To this end, the government has established a committee to assess the corporation’s financial woes, with Shridhar named its chairman.
The committee’s mandate will be to thoroughly investigate the current state of HPTDC’s finances and propose necessary reforms aimed at steering the corporation back to profitability. Shridhar’s extensive experience in the tourism sector makes him an ideal candidate for this role, having previously served as the Managing Director of the HPTDC from 2005 to 2007, a tenure during which the corporation saw profits for the first time in years.
Shridhar, who retired from his post as Secretary in the central government, has had a long and distinguished career. He most recently served as a member of the Central Administrative Tribunal before retiring in May this year.
His decision to provide free services is seen as a testament to his deep connection with Himachal Pradesh and his commitment to contributing to the state’s welfare even in retirement.
The HPTDC committee, under Shridhar’s leadership, is expected to make recommendations that could potentially reverse the corporation’s financial decline, fostering growth in the state’s tourism sector.
