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Convenor of Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) Dr Oscar Rebello has been nominated for CNN-IBN's Indian of the Year Award 2007 in public service category Vote for him at: http://www.cnnibnindianoftheyear.com/publicservice_voting_new.php --------------------------------------------------------------------------- BJP holds brainstorming session By Nilesh Khandeparkar [EMAIL PROTECTED] Gomantak Times, Panjim, Monday January 14, 2008 PANJIM, Taking a leaf out of corporate governance, the BJP top brass in the state seems to be gearing up to activate various sections of the intelligentsia to solicit their help towards policy formulation. Thirty-five cells of professionals, businessmen and personalities from all walks of life are on the party's radar. And for the first time in the state, the party is constituting a 'Hotel and Tourism Cell'. Towards making this exercise a reality, the BJP core leadership -- party president Shripad Naik, vice-president Keshav Prabhu, Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar and general secretary Govind Parvatkar -- met professionals for a brain-storming exercise at the party headquarters yesterday evening. The methodology for applying the principles of the corporate world, say BJP sources, will be through the formation of 'cells'. Although this idea is not new to the cadre-based party, what seems to have caught the fancy of the party's decision-makers in the state is the importance of the quality inputs which it hopes to elicit from these cells. Speaking to GT, party general secretary-cum-spokesperson Govind Parvatkar, while explaining the procedure leading to the formation of these 'cells' informed thus: "The main purpose behind the formation of these cells is to promote the BJP's vision in every profession." Each cell will be headed by a convenor and a co-convenor, who will be chosen from within that respective group, and by the members of that respective group. Soon after its constitution, the members of the cells are expected to mull over their sphere of influence and provide quality inputs to the BJP top brass to help formulate police for the all-round welfare of that particular section of society for which these inputs are solicited. High-level sources in the party say this exercise has also been undertaken with a view to spreading the BJP's sphere of influence to all sections of society. Interestingly, sources inform that for any professional to enroll as a member of these cells, the party ideology is not binding. "He may not agree on some parts of the party's ideology. But, in those areas where his thought process may coincide with that of the party, such a professional is welcome to provide suggestions and enrol as a member of that particular cell," added Parvatkar. Although the recommendations of these cells are not binding on the party, Parvatkar emphasised one point, "We will consider all these inputs from the respective cells before deciding on policy formulation for that particular group of professionals or businessmen," Parvatkar said. To achieve this objective, the BJP has activated professionals and others from walks of life. So far, the party has been successful in constituting the convenors for the following cells -- Santosh Kenkre (Chartered Accountants' Cell), Dr Shekhar Salkar (Doctors' Cell), Dr Dattaram Desai (NGO Cell), Vithal Vernekar (Co-operative Cell), Commerce Cell (Ajit Parkar), Cultural Cell (Siddhnath Buyao), Fishermen's Cell (Nitin Salkar). The main highlight of these cells will be the constitution of the Hotel and Tourism Cell. "This is happening for the first time in the party," concluded Parvatkar. (ENDS)