Will Narendra Modi government redefine the collector’s role, abolish divisional commissioner’s post?

Collectors-in-Making

IN WHAT could be described as a hint that Modi Sarkar may step towards re-defining the role of the district collector, all state governments have been asked to study the recommendations of the 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) which had called for “realigning the functions of the deputy commissioners/district collector” and also recommended those IAS officers with 10 to 12 years of experience as collector in “complex and problem-prone districts”.
In a written reply to a question asked by Rajya Sabha MP Husain Dalwai, minister of state for personnel and PMO Jitendra Singh on Thursday said the following:

Narendra Modi downsizes ministries; Is he taking a cue from 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission?

Narendra Modi in a Gandhi exhibition (File photo)

IN A late night communication on Sunday, prime minister-designate Narendra Modi confirmed through social media sites that “various assembled ministries will be transformed into organic ministries for quicker pace of work and better coordination between departments”, a recommendation made by the second administrative reforms commission which the alliance-dependent UPA government had failed to implement during the last five years. In the 13th report of Second Administrative Reforms Commission titled “Organizational Structure of Government of India” which was published in April 2009, it was recommended that the number of ministries should be brought down to just...

Govt adopts liberal benchmark for ST, SCs in empanelment of JS, addl secy & secretary; No provision for reservation as yet

THE government has reiterated that there is no provision of reservation for SCs/STs in posts of secretary, additional secretary, joint secretary and director etc. which come under Central Staffing Scheme, but added that at the time of empanelment, every effort is made to empanel officers belonging to SC/ST and are at times liberal benchmarks are adopted as compared to officers from general category. Minister of state in the ministry of personnel, public grievances & pensions Prithviraj Chavan in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Wednesday gave this information. Currently, out of 88 secretaries in government of India as on December 11, 2009, there are four STs (4.55%) and no SC. Similarly, out of 66 additional secretary level officers, there is only one ST and one SC officer. In case of joint secretaries, out of 249 officers, 13 are SC and 9 are ST officers. There are currently 31 SC directors and 9 ST director level officers. Related Story: Centre tries to attract minorities by offering government jobs (July 11, 2009) ARC's recommendation on capacity building for OBCs The 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) in its 7th Report called “Capacity Building for Conflict Resolution – Friction to Fusion” recommended that government might work out the modalities of a survey and take up a statewise socio-economic survey of the “Other Backward Classes”, which could form the basis of policies and programmes to improve their status. It has also suggested that the government needs to formulate and implement a comprehensive scheme for capacity building of OBCs. The recommendations are under consideration of the government now. It was stated by the minister of state in the ministry of personnel, public grievances & pensions Prithviraj Chavan in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Action & Appointments a) Sundeep Kumar Nayak, a 1985 batch JK cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary in the ministry of mines. b) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Election Commission of India for appointment of Vinod Zutshi, a 1982 batch Rajasthan cadreIAS, presently in the cadre as Officer on Special Duty (joint secretary level) in the Election Commission of India. c) Suresh Chandra Gupta, a 1986 batch Sikkim cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of chemicals & petrochemicals. d) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the ministry of home affairs for inter-cadre deputation of C Sita Rami Reddy, a 1987 batch Punjab cadre IPS from Punjab to Andhra Pradesh for a period of three years, as a special case. e) Dr Nazrul Islam, a 1981 batch West Bengal cadre IPS has been appointed as Executive Director (Security) in the Railway Protection Force for a period of five years or until further order. f) Central deputation tenure of M Rajamani, a 1982 batch Orissa cadre IAS has been extended as senior Deputy Director General (Administration) in the Indian Council of Medical Research under the department of health research for a period till December 31, 2009. g) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the pre-mature termination of appointment of Jiji Thomson, a 1980 batch Kerala cadre IAS, joint secretary in the department of agriculture & cooperation, on his appointment to an appropriate position in the administration of the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games 2010 under Rule 6 (2) (ii) of the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954, on deputation basis. h) Anindo Majumdar, a 1985 batch UT cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of agriculture & cooperation for a period from the date of assumption of the charge of the post till the completion of his Central deputation period of 7 years, i.e. upto October 15, 2013 or until further orders. i) Sat Pal, a 1979 batch CSS has been appointed as secretary, National Commission for Safai Karamacharis (joint secretary level) under the ministry of social justice and empowerment. j) The appointment of Inder Jit Singh, a 1985 batch Kerala cadre IAS as joint secretary in the department of higher education has been cancelled. He has now been appointed as joint secretary in the department of science and technology instead. k) Inter-cadre transfer of Ms R. Nishanthini, A 2008 batch West Bengal cadre IPS from West Bengal to Kerala has been approved. l) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the regularization of the period of overstay of Ms Raji P Srivastava, a 1992 batch Punjab cadre IAS for a period from November 2, 2008 to May 5, 2009.

Indian state bureaucrats may be asked to improve conditions of doing business

INDIAN bureaucrats stationed in various states may be asked to play a larger role to facilitate business and help India gaining its ranking in the global survey of ease of doing business. The message may be given in a meeting of state industry secretaries to be held on October 30 in New Delhi as regulatory issues pose as hurdles in starting a business in most parts of India. The meeting is convened in the backdrop of a recently commissioned study by the World Bank on "Doing Business (DB) in India" comparing major Indian cities in terms of ease of starting and operating businesses. While there is a need to simplify and reduce regulatory procedures, there are a number of best practices developed by different states which can be replicated without much difficulty and without significant allocation of resources, the study found. According to the study, if each state/city were to adopt the best practices available within the country, India’s rank would improve by as much as 55 positions in the global ranking, a department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) release said. The meeting to be held on coming Friday is expected to engage state bureaucrats in accelerating the process of industrial reforms in the country. From Old Files The Grace Commission, set up in 1982, was a major initiative of US President Reagan for securing government reform as desired by the private sector. It interviewed some 2000 businessmen to find out how wasteful and mismanaged they perceived the federal government. Some 2500 specific recommendations were provided by the Grace Commission for getting rid of wasteful programmes, removal of red tape, and divestiture of assets of the federal government, etc. which, it claimed, would save the government $424 billion in three years. These recommendations were controversial. However, the White House claimed later that 80% of the prospective savings could be achieved. (Reproduced from a report of India's 2nd Administrative Reform Commission) No personal comments in BoI BoI (Babus of India) will not provide a platform to pass personal comments on any bureaucrat. In response to babu blogger's post on "Who are ‘officials in the Indian Railway Board’ who took dollar bribe?" a number of anonymous comments were received in which senior officials were directly attacked. There were mentions of officials being solicited with prostitutes when they were on foreign tours. Those comments were rejected as they were not suitable for publication. It's hereby requested that no such comments should be sent, though anonymous comments on issues related to bureaucracy are always welcome.