Public sector, private partnership

Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth has been meeting heads of various public sector undertakings (PSUs). One of them, who heads a major electronics outfit and works closely with the ministry of atomic energy and the ministry of defence (MoD), was taken aback when Seth suggested to him that in the blueprint for running the company he should consider including participation by the private sector. "But we work with MoD...," stammered the CMD. "Yes, I know," Seth is said to have replied patiently, "but you should consider involving the private sector in core operations." A sign of things to come?