Thursday, July 17, 2014

Is DFFT scheme designed to send IAS officers alone for foreign training?

Harvard University Campus
HAS Domestic Funding of Foreign Training (DFFT) Scheme, launched by the government in 2001 to send Indian officers for foreign training, turned into a scheme to fund IAS officers alone? Armed with statistics, Hyderabad-based IRS officer Satya Prasant P in his blog has termed the scheme yet another unjust thing through which the IAS tries to maintain its hegemony over other services. Sample this:
In two short-term programmes in Harvard called, “Leaders in Development: Managing Political and Economic Change”, and “Innovation in Economic Development”, all twelve officers selected for training in 2014 belonged to IAS. In another short-term programme, to be held at UK’s Cambridge University in September, out of 25 selected officers, 22 belong to IAS, two Indian Information Service officers and one Indian Economic Service officer. “The top universities like Harvard, Cambridge and London School of Economics are the exclusive privilege of IAS,” writes Prasant (Full Story). “Almost all the slots for training programmes in the USA and Europe are allotted to IAS officers. Only some slots for training programmes in Asian countries are given to non-IAS officers. Even the slots for specialized training programmes such as “Tax Analysis and Revenue Forecasting – Duke, USA” are filled mostly by IAS officers,” he adds.
The officer has further argued that the DFFT scheme prevalent for the last 13 years, has been designed to give IAS officers an upper hand. For example, Group ‘A’ central civil service officers can apply for the programme only when they are on deputation under the Central Staffing Scheme. But IAS, and now even IPS and IFS after a recent circular, can apply anytime. Similarly, minimum years of services needed to qualify for the scheme vary from service to service. For both short-term and long-term programmes, the minimum number of years of services is 9 years for non-IAS officers whereas for IAS, it’s seven years for long-term service programmes. Further, many non-IAS officers who get empanelled as joint secretaries years after their IAS colleagues get, don’t find themselves eligible for applying in some of those programmes because of the upper age criteria. Further, the board that selects officers for foreign training is always dominated by senior IAS officers.
“Is the IAS a twice born service and the IAS officers dvijas? Are all the non-IAS officers belong to the lower varna of the Civil Services society? This minimum service qualification promotes the ancient varna system in the Civil Services society…There is an urgent need to amend the DFFT Scheme Rules to end this apartheid being followed by the IAS lobby,” Prasant writes.

20 comments:

  1. Phew... I knew that the DFFT scheme favours the IAS but never realised that the discrimination is so stark. Thank you for the information. I only hope this young officer is not targetted by the IAS lobby for daring to raise the voice and fight the injustice. Modiji please do something before such things go out of hand.

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  2. This year's DFFT training programmes have been cancelled, on the plea about less budgetary allocations, even when these trainings have been organized for last some many years. And even the trainings cancelled are those in which non IAS officers were nominated. Sach hai IAS ke liye acche din hamesha rahete hai.

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    1. The circular cancelling the DFFT trainings for this year has been withdrawn from DOPT website.

      Is this in consequence of this article?

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  3. Modiji has a better option of calling this brave officer on deputation to PMO!

    Civil services should select only two services IAS and IPS. All Central government departments can be manned by IAS (except for Police for which IPS is suitable). Then such blogs will not be required.

    And medium of examination to be made English only.

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  4. The DoPT Order No.12037/9/2014-FTC dated 06th June 2014 cancelled short-term training programmes under the DFFT Scheme 2014-15 due to budgetary constraints. Out of the 43 officers nominated for these programmes, 35 are non-IAS officers and only 8 IAS. So programmes where more non-IAS were nominated were cancelled easily. It was also mentioned in the order that these officers will be placed in the reserve list and will be given preference for subsequent programmes. I am sure all these 8 IAS officers will be accommodated in susequent programmes and the non-IAS will be left. What a cunning ploy by the IAS lobby.

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  5. It is not a ploy , but destiny for non-IAS

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  6. All non IAS making comments over the supremacy of IAS must first introspect themselves on how & what treatment they give to their sub ordinates and Juniors. In fact they must learn from IAS that how after them they look after the State Civil Services & Tehsildars. After the collector, its only the ADM or SDM or Tehsildar who is the key function in administration. Even an SE or EE rank officer of works department has to follow the guidelines of ADM or SDM or Tehsildar and no other department can interfere in their functioning. Non IAS people only make complaints about the injustice to them but what about empowering their own sub ordinates.

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  7. Bravo Satya Prashant! Most of us have been knowing this, you have backed it up with data! More, please!

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  8. This disparity is also there in deputation to State Govt.& PSUs. While AIS can opt for other state deputation even after 5 years, all other Group-A services are eligible only after completion of 9 years service. Even the senior time scale, which has to come automatically after 4 years is being given to non-IAS after 5 to 6 years..I request Satya Prasanth to write an article on these issues. Thank you satya Prasanth and Babus of India for bringing these issues to common public notice.

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  9. I only hope the 7th Pay Commission and Modi Government takes note of this discrimination and rectifies the situation before there is an open rebellion even from the Group A officers. What will happen if the entire IRS lobby goes on confrontation mode? The IRS has the capability to cripple the government. Simple if the IRS go slow in collection of taxes then the government will be on its feet. Nothing will happen if IAS officers go on strike. Come on all non-IAS show your might, show some spine. Throw this IAS hegemony out of the country and save the country.

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  10. Non-IAS are not making comments about IAS but only writing Truth.

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  11. it is high time that hegemony of IAS to be given up to run the modern india based on equity efficacy no more efficacy levels are preserve of one colonial service infact it is otherway round each public service to be governed by respective technical experts with generalistic skills proved through TIME TESTED UPSC pass outs

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  12. Apparently it appears to favor a particular cadre and is highly unfair . .
    But this also brings into focus the lack of transparency within the IRS itself when it comes to such trainings. Earlier the information about the trainings was available on cbec website... However it no longer is put up there and there seems to be kind of secrecy involved to keep the information of such training to select few officers in the know of Delhi. . . . Can we expect some corrections here. It is like putting the house in order before pointing fingers. .

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  13. The circular cancelling the DFFT trainings for this year has been withdrawn from DOPT website. Is this in consequence of this article?

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  14. What has IRS contributed so far ! To day that the volume of revenue has enhanced multiple time is just like to say India is growing in terms of population . Has the big army of IRS able to enhance the tax paying segment . We all know how corrupt is revenue dept both be it direct tax as well as indirect taxes . If such people will have say they will start auctioning secretary level posts also as it is done in many of the so called creamy postings both in customs as well income tax . Time is to keep contributing and stop making allegations and counter allegations and asserting for secretary level posts without having proper experience and credentials . After reading the arguments of mr prashanth of IRS it's like one applies for IITJEE and allotted Archi or chemical dept and accepting and taking admissions and later sitting in IIT campus and demanding electronics dept with the logic that all gave same exam . I fear the system anywhere in the world doesn't work that way .

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    1. This is complete non sense by this IAS officer. Everybody knows that IAS are the most corrupt lot in the country. Just look at the number of scams over the last 10 years. Only IAS are involved in them not IRS. Just do not make meaningless comments and cast aspersions on IRS. The country is reeling under poverty even after 65 years of independence because of IAS hegemony. IAS are the most inefficient bureaucrats in the world. They are also the most corrupt in the world. You do not have any right or standing to comment on IRS. Just go and find out from the CBI how many IAS and IRS are booked for corruption cases. You will be forced to bite your tongue.

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  15. First of all I am not an IAS officer but have worked closely with them as well as IRS both customs as well income tax. With my experience I can say and it's not a general statement that IAS officers are way ahead and better in terms of their vision and project execution capabilities . They have a sense of pride for what they are doing for the people . I agree there may be corrupt officers in IAS also but by and large if there is one service which has withstood the challenges from all quarters it's is this service and I a business person have deep respect for those people . Whereas for customs as well income tax I found them more concerned about just the cuts. So my experience dealing with customs as well income tax officers has been very bad . They are a greedy lot and it is so pervasive in both the departments more so in customs . Even our people don't respect IRS people!

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    1. take anonymous route and praise one Service and criticise the other. Wah!

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    2. The vision and project execution capabilities of IAS officers is very apparent from the continuing high rates of poverty, employment, corruption, divisive politics, illiteracy, etc. You need not brag about those qualities here. It will only reveal your true qualities. So I guess this IAS-cum-businessman minds his words.

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  16. To succeed in life in true sense, one need not be an IAS. How many IAS are the father of IAS children. Almost 90% IAS officers parents were non IAS.'

    One should do his job to get job satisfaction.

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