20 January,2011 06:32 AM IST | | Bipin Kumar Singh
Hours after the aviation portfolio was handed over to Vayalar Ravi, he promises to restore the national carrier to its former glory and pride
Hours after the announcement that he had been made the new Civil Aviation Minister, Vayalar Ravi set himself an uphill task.
He said his topmost priority would be to bring Air India out of the red and restore it to its former glory.
Man on a mission: Vayalar Ravi
"I will restore Air India to its former glory and position of pride and am committed to making it a profitable venture.
I request all the pilots, crew and other employees of Air India to cooperate with me to bring the airline back on track," said Ravi.
Stating that he would follow the open-door management style, he said he would be available 24X7 and would try and make his ministry one of the star performers.
"People are welcome to approach me directly with their disputes. I will be more than happy to solve whatever issues they may have."
Ravi thanked the High Command, including UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, for giving him charge of the ministry.
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"I am very happy with the new portfolio. Now, my duty is to make this ministry the best," he added.
The minister, who is in Kochi, will assume office today. He will also retain the post of minister for overseas Indian affairs with cabinet rank.
Outgoing civil aviation minister Praful Patel has been promoted to cabinet rank and handed charge of the Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises ministry.
Patel has been in charge of the aviation ministry since 2004, when the UPA first came to power.
Speaking about the cabinet reshuffle, Patel said, "I am very happy that I am a cabinet minister now. But, that does not mean I was unhappy with the aviation portfolio. It was very challenging and a big responsibility.
People may look at aviation as a very glamorous sector, but it is actually quite complex. Fundamental changes had to be made in the sector to convert it into a vibrant one."
Life and times
Vayalar Ravi (73), a law graduate, was also the home minister of Kerala his home state in the 80s. He was a member of the parliamentary consultative committee on civil aviation between 2004 and 2006.
Ravi married his girlfriend Mercy after a brief courtship when both of them were active in the Kerala Students' Union. She died on September 5, 2009 following a kidney failure.
In February last year, Ravi and Shamma Jain (Indian ambassador to C ufffdte d'Ivoire) were injured in a car accident while on an official visit to African countries.
New Dream team
Kamal Nath: Urban Development
Veerappa Moily: Law and Justice
Sharad Pawar: Agriculture, Food
AK Antony: Defence
Chidambaram: Home Affairs
Mamata Banerjee: Railways
SM Krishna: External Affairs
Ghulam Nabi Azad: Health and Family Welfare
Sushil Kumar Shinde: Power
S Jaipal Reddy: Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister
Murli Deora: Corporate Affairs
Ambika Soni: Information and Broadcasting
Praful Patel: Heavy Industries
