Bureaucrats in Social Media Age: What they wear, where they eat…

IAS Sonal Swaroop: A dress with a cause (Photo: Twitter)

THE bureaucrats who were faceless in pre-social media era now get attention and even wide publicity not just on what they do, but what they wear, where they eat and when and how they are “wrongfully” charged or media-trialled. Sample this. Deputy Commissioner of West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh was showered praise last month by none other than union minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju. “Very encouraging to see young IAS Officer and DC of my home District Dr Sonal Swaroop donning…

Days before retirement, 1983 batch IAS JK Dadoo repatriated to cadre; IAS Manoj Kumar Singh appointed PS to the Power Minister

THE government has prematurely repatriated JK Dadoo, 1983 batch AGMUT cadre IAS and additional secretary and financial adviser in the ministry of commerce and industry to his cadre with “immediate effect”. The order, however, does not mention the reason for his premature repatriation. But significantly, Dadoo will turn 60 on Sunday; so he will retire by the end of this month. He is an MBA from IIM-Ahmedabad and is also a...

Know Your Aam Babu: Decks cleared for SK Srivastava as Delhi’s new chief secretary

THE decks have been cleared for 1980 batch AGMU cadre IAS Sanjay Kumar Srivastava to be appointed as the new chief secretary of Delhi. State chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has reportedly chosen him as the top bureaucrat of the state, prompting the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet repatriating…

Why do Goan Netas hate babus? State politicians demand separate IAS, IPS cadre only for Goa

TENSIONS between Netas and babus in India are well known, but it has reached the climax in Goa where politicians have openly criticized their bureaucrats as inefficient and non-cooperative. Tensions have reached the stage when the government of Goa has begun consultation with the Central government to create a separate cadre for the state of Goa only. Currently, Goa (See picture) is a part of the AGMUT cadre (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories), where bureaucrats are transferred among those states and union territories. But if there is a separate cadre only for Goa, local politicians will have the power to transfer them at their will. State chief minister Digambar Kamat said in a written reply tabled in the assembly recently that the possibility of having an independent cadre of IAS (Indian Administrative Service) and IPS (Indian Police Service) officers only for Goa was being explored in consultation with the government of India. According to media reports, sole Rajya Sabha MP from the state Shantaram Naik had even accused IAS and IPS officers posted in the state of being inefficient and uncooperative, and added that it was very difficult to get rid of bad, uncooperative officers as that comes under the jurisdiction of the Union home ministry. Read "Netagiri & babudom: A new set of instructions issued to help officers communicate with MPs" posted on August 7. Files To Fields Feeling bored at going through the unexcited files! Here’s a smart alternative. Come autumn, a series of sports events will make civil servants working in various Central government ministries and departments of Delhi engaged allowing them to temporality junk files and join their colleagues in fields. Whereas inter-ministry chess tournament will be held at Nirman Bhawan from September 15 to 25, 2009, the volleyball encounter will take place at Brassey Avenue, Delhi from September 9 to 11. And that’s not all. Central civil servants cultural and sports board in collaboration with Gujarat government is organizing another volleyball tournament from October 6 to 8, 2009 at Gandhinagar. Also read, "WATERLOO: Civil servants may show their talent in a Water Polo event in Delhi" posted on July 29, 2009. Action & Appointments 1) R K Jain, a 1981 batch IAS of Himachal Pradesh cadre has been appointed as chief (joint secretary level), National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC) under the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) in the pay scale of Rs 18400-22400 (pre-revised), for a period of three years. 2) K M Acharya, a 1974 batch MP cadre IAS and secretary in the ministry of social justice and empowerment will hold additional charge of the post of secretary in ministry of women and child development from August 29, 2009 to September 6, 2009, and for any extended period of the spell of leave of Anil Kumar, a 1973 batch UP cadre IAS.