Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Gujarat Model, UP Babu: 5 reasons why PM chooses Nripendra Misra as his principal secretary

WHEN former UP cadre IAS of 1967 batch Nripendra Misra was made principal secretary to prime minister, inarguably the most powerful bureaucrat’s post in any government, many in the corridors got surprised. How come prime minister Narendra Modi decided to handpick this 69-year-old bureaucrat from Uttar Pradesh to assist him in replicating the Gujarat model across India? Here are 5 possible reasons behind Modi choosing Misra as principal secretary:
1. First, Misra’s reputation as a highly efficient and honest bureaucrat helped him piping his competitors many of whom worked directly under Modi whereas Misra had no Gujarat connection. Ten years ago, Misra was even considered to be a future cabinet secretary, but with the UPA coming to power, equations changed.
2.
Secondly, very few people now remember that Misra, two and half decades ago, was a highly influential aide of the then UP chief minister Kalyan Singh. Two of Modi’s cabinet ministers, Rajnath Singh and Kalraj Mishra, were incidentally Kalyan Singh’s deputies then, and had closely interacted with Misra. It’s believed that Rajnath Singh and Kalraj Mishra might have pitched for this UP bureaucrat getting this coveted post. For Modi, the next UP assembly poll is crucial, and in that situation, a principal secretary with a sound UP background may come handy.
3. Thirdly, Misra as India’s WTO negotiator could impress the then commerce minister and present home and defence minister Arun Jaitley. Also, as telecom secretary, Misra was on good books of the then telecom minister Arun Shourie. It’s believed that Modi had taken Jaitley’s advice before summoning Misra to New Delhi's Gujarat Bhawan last week, and also on Monday, before finalizing his appointment as principal secretary to PM.
4. Fourthly, Modi had limited choices. Though prime minister finds his key aide and 1979 batch retired Gujarat cadre IAS K Kailashnathan as efficient, he has no experiences in Central government ministries. Also, KK as principal secretary would be quite junior when 1976 batch IAS officers are still serving.
5. In contrast, Misra is highly experienced. He was secretary, DoT and fertiliser, additional secretary/special secretary in commerce ministry and joint secretary in department of economic affairs (DEA). Also, between 2006 and 2009, Misra was chairman of telecom regulator Trai.

Who is Nripendra Misra?
DoB: March 8, 1945. 
Education: Postgraduate in chemistry and political science and public administration from Allahabad University. Masters Degree from John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University (Public Administration).
Service: IAS, 1967 batch, UP cadre
Experiences
a) Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
b) Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, GoI
c) Secretary, Department of Fertilizers, GoI
d) Special Secretary/Additional Secretary, WTO, Ministry of Commerce, GoI
e) Minister (Economic), Embassy of India, USA,
f) Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, GoI
g) Consultant in World Bank, Asian Development Bank, IFAD and Govt. of Nepal

13 comments:

  1. Great analysis !!!

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  2. Very poor knowledge of the writer. Misra was the one who taught Modi ABC on govt functioning - he was practically a teacher to Modi who was alient o govt. and beaurocracy. Go to youtube and look Modi's interview with Kishwar in which he details out how Misra mentored him.

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  3. The Misra who worked very closely with Modi when he was the CM was PK Misra and not Nripendra Misra. PK Misra was principal secretary to PM during 2002 riots. Later he joined the Centre and retired as agriculture secretary. Post retirement, PK Misra was brought back to Gujarat by Mr Modi as the head of Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC). The writer is right. Nripendra Misra was never close to Modi.

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  4. Nripendra Misra had deposed against former telecom minister A Raja in Court in connection with the 2G spectrum scam case.But Hindustan Times has reported that Nripendra Misra could face some discomfort over a set of recommendations made by him as a chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) that aided former telecom minister A Raja’s controversial decision to ignore the auction route for allocating 2G spectrum in 2007.

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  5. Clearly, Modi opted for efficiency and upright reputation of a distinguished officer. The HT report is biased and distorts facts, as every newspaper has reported otherwise.

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  6. from where can get NP e-mail id or any other PMO STAFF

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  7. Sub:-Discrimination is being practiced by the various offices under the A & N Administration in respect of impartial Biometric attendance in a discriminatory manner-reg.
    Hon’ble sir,
    Reliable, confirmed and authenticated sources reveals that despite mandatory directives by the Ministry/ GOI, it observed that although most of the offices have introduced the biometric attendance partiality is being maintained in respect of group A, B and C officials. In most of the offices, under the A&N Administration, inclusive of the secretariat, it has been revealed that higher bureaucrats and their sycophants have been exempted from this mandatory inclusion of their names in the biometric attendance, whereas only the lower strata of the staffs, have been compelled to enter their names, in this biometric attendance in a rather illegal and arbitrary manner, in utter violation to the directives guidelines and norms of the GOI.
    This very non-inclusion of names of higher bureaucrats and sycophant staffs / officials is raising discontentment and harassment on the lower staffs, since the higher bureaucrats and sycophant staffs / officials are at liberty to come and go, any time to the offices, at their own will and wish, which is a matter grave concern.
    Thus if impartiality is to maintained in respect of each and every Government Servants, this mandatory biometric attendance should be adhered to in its true spirit and names of all the government staffs of the particular office, should be entered in this biometric attendance, to bring about transparency and accountability on each and every officials, irrespective of their post and position, in the best interest of natural justice to all the government servants and the general public.

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  8. Sub: Grievous complaint/ legitimate grievance on the lack of awareness creation in respect of Traffic Rules & Regulations by the Traffic Police of A & N Islands to facilitate the general public – Reg.

    Sir,
    With reference to the above mentioned subject it is highly aggravating to bring to your kind notice and consideration that although the Traffic in A & N Islands have increased enormously, it is saddening to observe that despite this increase, there are no awareness banners/displays, which would facilitate the general public towards adherence to basic rules and regulations.

    In this context it is disheartening to observe that the Traffic Police are only interested in challans on the private/public vehicles but the Govt. vehicles are spared on their traffic violations like non-wearing of seat belt, misusing, haphazard parking, non-wearing of their uniforms etc. whereas the it is observed that private/public vehicles are constantly harassed/discriminated each and every day in the name of traffic violation.

    But when this matter was enquired from the traffic Police personals on the complaint from the general public, they revealed that the higher authorities have directed them to make at least 12 to 15 challans mandatorily every day, by each of the concerned officials under traffic control branch. Hence it is obvious that they are compelled to adhere to the directions and it is the general publics, who have to bear the brunt, for petty mistakes.

    On the contrary it is observed that although vehicular traffic have increased many fold, there is no extra infrastructural development towards smooth flow of traffic and the vehicular commuters are compelled to utilize the same roads which existed 40-50 years back, except for some widening here and there and hence planning and infrastructure development has to be initiated to tackle the ever increasing traffic, since the situation would be alarming in the next few years.

    Moreover on the complaint of general public the SP (District) South Andaman was contacted over phone on 06/04/2015 at 6.36 PM about the awareness creation of the traffic matter but it was replied by the above SP that the police department cannot display all the traffic rules on the roads for the awareness of the general public, which is indigestible and reveals lackadaisical approach by the concerned official.

    Therefore, it is requested that at least minimum of awareness creation placards, banners, displays, newspaper advertisement and media announcement may be made in the local media of these islands to at least create some basic awareness among the general public.


    I do hope that your generous self would take expeditious action in the issue as deemed fit at your esteemed end, in the best legitimate interest of general citizen, in the best interest of natural justice, to curb/curtail the adamant and arrogant misuse of the precious Govt. Exchequer
    Thanking you in anticipation, for justified action and reply, in the best interest of principle of natural justice.

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  9. Sub: Grievous complaint/legitimate grievances against the functioning of the various controls rooms established in various offices of the A & N Administration – Reg.

    Sir,

    With reference to the above mentioned subject it is deeply aggravating to observe that although several control rooms have been established in the various offices of the A & N Administration, they are not functioning up to the expectations and aspirations of the general public, due to which the general public are deprived and denied towards action on the genuine grievances.

    In this context, it is to be reiterated that whenever complaints are being made to the control rooms, at the first instance they refuse to accept/register the complaints on the officers/officials, misuse and corrupt activities, under the pretext that the complaint cannot be registered and in case of registration of complaints they are not being forwarded to the concerned authorities and the complainants are left hanging into fire for want of justice on their justified complaints. Moreover when the complainants make further inquiry from the control room on their complaints, they adamantly and arrogantly advice the complainants to give and application to the concerned authority, which is highly controversial and contradictory to the functioning of the control rooms. When the complainants are compelled to prefer complaints in writing, what is the specific purpose the control rooms, when they are not catering to the complaints of the general public.

    Therefore, under the prevailing circumstances, it is obvious that the control rooms, which have been established to facilitate the general public’s complaints, may be directed to accept/ register the complaints impartially and forward the same to the concerned authority/ department immediately, along with the requisite feedback to the complainants, on the action taken on the complaint, so that the complainants are assured/justified that their complaint has not gone in vain.


    I do hope that your generous self would take expeditious action in the issue as deemed fit at your esteemed end, in the best legitimate interest of general citizen, in the best interest of natural justice, to curb/curtail the adamant and arrogant misuse of the precious Govt. Exchequer
    Thanking you in anticipation, for justified action and reply, in the best interest of principle of natural justice.

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  10. Sub: Indistinguishable similarities in the Dress Code of Police personal of Law and Order and Police Radio Operators – Reg:

    His Excellency,

    With the esteems of respect and regards we would like to bring to your kind notice and favorable consideration the fact that there is indistinguishable similarities in the Dress Code of Police personals of Law and Order and Police Radio Operators which is causing confusion among the general public.

    In this context it is to be reiterated that in general cases of untoward incidents and accidents, it is observed by the public that despite the presence of police personals, due to their different responsibilities, more often the PRO personals ignore the incident/ accident, whereas the general public are under the illusion that the Police personals of the Law and Order are ignoring the matter and proceeding as if on no concern to them.

    Therefore it is humbly requested to atleast differentiate the Cap, Belt and Shoe of the Police personal of ( Law and Order) and Police Radio Operators and create awareness among the public on the differentiation, in the A & N Islands, so as to enable to general public, to distinguish between them.

    Thanking you in anticipation, in the best interest of natural justice.

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  11. Sub : Complaint against the non-initiation of speedy action in the bleaching powder scam, pertaining to Port Blair Municipal Council – Reg.
    Sir,
    Kudos to your efficient efforts in unearthing the bleaching powder scam in the Municipal Council and exposing the irregularities and arbitrary procedures, adopted by the PBMC in money laundering of precious public utility funds, by corrupt officials of the PBMC, thereby swindling, squandering and cheating the Govt. Exchequers to the tune of lakhs of rupees, to satisfy their own egos and personal benefits, to fill their pockets and enjoy on the looted, highly essential public utility public funds.

    With reference to the above mentioned subject it is reliably learnt from confirmed sources that your esteemed organization had registered a case against the irregularities and arbitrary procedures adopted by the PBMC towards, illegal procurement of bleaching powder by adhering to illegal means in violation to the set procedures, directives and guidelines of the GOI. And had interrogated several PBMC employees, involved in the irregularities, by utilizing your most able and efficient staffs/officials and were on the verge of submitting your report, to the concerned higher authority, of the A & N Administration, for further deemed action. But now it is reliably learnt from confirmed sources that some of the interrogating officials, have been transferred, to suppress this matter, by misuse of power and authority, on the recommendations of some higher bureaucrats of the A & N Administration, who have been illegally gratified, to suppress/ camouflage this illegal bleaching powder scam, which if exposed many PBMC officials would be under the scanner of irregularities and serious corruption charges.

    Thus to epitomize further we would like to reiterate that you and your supporting staffs have done a commendable work in exposing this scam and now if this matter is suppressed all your attempts of exposing the said scam, would be presumed to be a futile exercise and a eye wash in the eyes of the common general citizens of these islands.
    Thus it is expected that your esteemed organization would put in all your expertise and knowledge towards the exposure of this scam, expeditiously in its natural true spirits and perspectives, instead of bending to pressures from higher bureaucrats, who are acting with vested interest to protect and shield the corrupt officials, for their personal benefits by illegal means, by ardent misuse of power and authority.

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  12. Your honor,
    I'm desperately trying to seek your help please. Interaction with honorable P.M. ends up with a PMO-PG, registered grievance. PG grievances are usually forwarded to the same authority against which complaint is raised. Result is of course quite disappointing and lengthy.
    GSI, Lucknow is not making payment of revised pension as per DOPT rule and in accordance of implementations of the GO, at other GSI offices in India. Simply biased mindset of the controlling authorities is ignoring rule of law/ natural justice. GSI, CHq, Kolkata and or Ministry of Mines are not intervening as such this decision is pending for over two and half years. Almost all the conceivable competent authorities have been apprised of this gross injustice. Out of disgust, helplessness this issue has been brought to explicit public notices through web news comments etc. But these pursuits have failed to draw any logical conclusion. Your help and support is solicited. Thanks and warm regards.

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