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| Railway Probationers |
FOR the last several months now, a section of Indian Railway officers have been engaged in a major debate in an unofficial site of IRTS (Indian Railway Traffic Service) officers where it is argued whether IRTS could be termed as IAS of the Railways or not, meaning they are a superior service in comparison to their sister railway services such as IRPS (Indian Railway Personnel Service) or IRAS (Indian Railways Accounts Service). One of the officers, understandably an IRTS officer himself, wrote in the high voltage online debate, "IRTS officials are truely the cream of all the railway services. The IRTS cadre was once the exclusive birth-right of the English before Independence. Now it is thrown open to all through the UPSC exam. Looking at the scope of this cadre, it is definitely the IAS of railways. If IRTS officials are periodically trained in fundamental engineering aspects of Railways, it would enable them to get deputations abroad and hold higher posts," he said.
Why should IRTS be called as IAS. Here is one argument by an officer in the site, "Calling IRTS is probably the only Central Service with a mandatory 1-2 year stint at remote area locations as coordinating field officer/area officer. The only parallel, here would be that of IAS and IPS probationers who are posted as SDM (sub-divisional magistrate) and SDPO(sub-divisional police officer) at tehsil level. Many IAS and IPS officers,who have interacted with IRTS officers during their field postings have a high regard for IRTS, having seen their coordinating skills and task-oriented working style."
There are others who feel they are superior, but argue at the same time that equating themselves with IAS would mean lack of confidence and pride in their cadre. "IRTS is IRTS and not IAS.Calling IRTS as IAS of railways amounts to lack of confidence in oneself and lack of pride in our job. Railway officers in general and IRTS in particular are doing their job in a much better and superior way than any IAS can do. We are much devoted, loyal to the public cause, and hard working. IAS has been responsible for all the rot, corruption and waste we see all over. Yes, IAS enjoys much preference in the society, has more perks and privileges, because they guard their perks and privileges very jealously, while railway officers, even though they had all the resources under their own control, never cared for them and always worked in public spirit," another officier argued.
If you have any any thought on the subject, write at babu.blogger1@gmail.com, or click on "comment" below and post your views.
Read: Railways’ Sari cadre inspires Sarkari brigade (July 31, 2009)
Ex-Babu Tracker: Former IAS & MD of IL&FS IDC to joint World Bank's HQ in Washington
O P Agarwal, former Assam cadre IAS of 1979 batch and currently Managing Director of IL&FS IDC is likely to join the World Bank as senior transport specialist. Mr Agarwal, who left the IAS to join the corporate bandwagon two years ago, is likely to be based out of World Bank's headquarters in Washington.
He is credited with drafting the National Urban Transport Policy in India when he was a joint secretary in the ministry of urban development. His appointment in the Bank's global transport team is significant in the backdrop of the World Bank's proposed $5 billion loan to India's urban sector which is likely to have a major transport component.
A masters from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Mr Agarwal left IAS first to join Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC) in August, 2007, before moving to IL&FS later. He is also the MD of Urban Mass Transit Company (UMTC), a joint venture between Union ministry of urban development, Andhra Pradesh government and IL&FS.
Mr Agarwal's earlier international exposure included his stint (March 1993 to March 1995) as ministry of finance's trade adviser in Republic of Seychelles.
A NUMBER of railway officers have opened their hearts and minds in response to babu blogger’s request for all officers to share their story of campus life at Railway Staff College. Read: “Sorry sir! Life is fun at Railway Staff College, Vadodara” dated August 2, 2009.
Here is the byline of Mohan Menon, IRPS and currently chairman, Railway Recruitment Board, Thiruvananthapuram. And the dateline? 13th Feb, 1988, Vadorara. Mr Menon remembers his first day at the campus:
When we set foot on Pratap Vilas palace, Lalbagh, Rajeevan and myself were not a pair of greenhorns, but battle-scarred probationers, as it turned out, bankers-turned railway bureaucrats! The old hostel in the 55- acre compound that housed us during the two subsequent years of centralised training, reminded us of the trappings of colonial grandeur when we stepped in those days. However, the hostel caretaker blew away any such misplaced notions or delusions of grandeur. During an informal chat, he disclosed that the "old hostel" housed thoroughbreds from the royal stables, with a disdainful look, which read 'Guys, in place of those horses, you’ve well and truly arrived.
…Our PT instructor, a middle-aged man, while physically demonstrating the "oopar Thali bajao" exercise, left enough chinks in the armour, one in which we had to take off from terra firma, with legs spreadeagled like an inverted V and simultaneously bring both hands together, well above shoulders and give a resounding clap. During such graphic demo acts, momentary lapse of alertness let some of the more enterprising guys standing behind, to perform the "houdini act", from prying eyes of the PT master. They used to disappear in to the woods close by the square, with a few peacocks and stray monkeys who bear stoic witnesses to the "great escapades from PT", only to surface at Labha, a small restaurant outside RSC, for a steaming cup of morning tea!
An excellent post Mr Menon. I am sure you have made many of your fellow railway babus nostalgic and romantic. I have mere four words to add: Party hard, work harder!
Nominations for Web Ratna Awards to close on 15th August Web Ratna Awards, which recognize those ministries and departments of the Centre and states which have made significant contributions towards the implementation of electronic governance, will close for nominations by next Saturday. Who is eligible: All Central and state government ministries, departments, offices, institutions, district administrations and Indian Missions abroad How to apply: All entries should be submitted online through Web Ratna Awards website http://webratna.india.gov Award Categories Citizen Centric Service Public Participation Initiative Outstanding Web Content Innovative Use of Technology Comprehensive Web Presence-Ministry/Department Comprehensive Web Presence-State Last Date: 15th August, 2009
WITH women officers beginning to dominate the Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS), those in the sister railway services have coined a new informal name to the cadre – Sari, which incidentally is the reverse of the abbreviation – IRAS.
For those not so familiar with Indian culture, Sari is an elegant dress worn by Indian women (see picture), and is made popular abroad by Bollywood actresses.
It’s learnt that most women now prefer to join this service, and at times weigh it above Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS), Indian Railway Personnel Services (IRPS) etc. In fact, the leadership position of the IRAS has also been with women officers. Sowmya Raghavan, financial commission of Indian Railways at the rank of secretary to the government of India, is currently the top IRAS officer.
Though officers of other cadres might call it “Sari”, but the first IRAS officer recruited in 1930 happened to be a man -- C T Venugopal. Also, the first IRAS financial commissioner (K S Bhandari in 1939) and the first IRAS officer becoming secretary to government of India (Y T Shah in 1944) were both men. The first lady IRAS officer was Priya Prakash of 1957 batch, and the first woman IRAS to become financial commissioner in Indian Railways was Vijayalakshmi Viswanathan.
Significantly, the government has repeatedly said now that it would encourage more women to join it. According to a census, 9.68% of Central government employees were women in 2004. The census was conducted by the directorate general of employment & training under the ministry of labour and employment.
Pati, Patni & … stands correct The appointments committee of the cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal to appoint Anjali Prasad, a 1983 batch IAS of Uttarakhand cadre as joint secretary, in the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP), in the pay band of Rs 37400-67000, (PB-4) plus grade pay of Rs 10000, for a period of five years from the date of assumption of charge of the post or until further orders. On July 16, babu blogger in his post “Yet another Pati, Patni & Post tale: Anjali Prasad to replace her husband as DIPP joint secretary”, wrote that Mrs Prasad would get the post which has been lying vacant after her husband N N Prasad, a 1981 batch Uttarakhand cadre IAS joined Geneva-based world intellectual property organization (WIPO) a couple of months ago. Action & Appointments a) The proposal of the ministry of home affairs for extension of inter-cadre deputation of Chitrangad, IPS (UP, 1996) from Uttarakhand to Uttar Pradesh for a period of two years beyond August 25, 2008 has been approved. b) Akshay Kumar Rout, an IIS officer of 1984 batch has been appointed as director general (information education & communication) in Election Commission of India at a joint secretary level for five years.