Hundreds of Air-India employees braved the heavy rains on Thursday to pay homage to founder-aviator J R D Tata. A 7.3-ft fibre glass statue of JRD was unveiled at the old airport premises at Santacruz to mark his 100th birth anniversary. Hangar No 4—two large planes are usually stationed there—wore a new look after it was emptied out to accommodate employees. "Down the line, we have lost our vision of leadership," A-l Managing Director V Thulasidas said. "From the guard at the gate to the minister at the top, I need your cooperation. 

I will do my best but I won't spare anyone if efforts fail from your side," Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said. Giving a three-year deadline to the employees and the ministry to raise its standards, Patel derided the Indian chalta hai attitude. "Change your thinking," Patel said. Captain Dhruva Bose, a former pilot who worked under Tata, said the statue was placed at the right spot because "this is the place all employees visit first when they join the airline".