Koppula Raju: Know more about the ex-bureaucrat in Rahul Gandhi's team

THREE years after joining UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi-headed think tank, National Advisory Council (NAC), the IAS officer of 1981 batch, Koppula Raju, has turned a trusted lieutenant of the Gandhi family. Raju who quit IAS recently, is now one of the backroom boys of…

Babus in Demand: Junior officials wanted for Sonia Gandhi-chaired National Advisory Council (NAC)

AFTER appointing 1974 batch IAS Rita Sharma as secretary to Sonia Gandhi-chaired National Advisory Council (NAC) and Koppula Raju, a 1981 batch AP cadre IAS as joint secretary, the government has now issued a circular to fill up 10 junior level posts on deputation basis.

In an office memorandum, dated June 15, the department of personnel and training (DoPT) asked the CSS and CSSS officials to apply urgently for the posts of desk officers, PS and PAs. The willing officers may also contact CS-I division of DoPT in person, according to the circular.

For details, click the DoPT OFFICE MEMO, dated June 15, 2010

DoPT again advertises for NHAI chairman’s post

The DoPT has again advertised for the post of chairman of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for which a number of secretary or secretary equivalent officers had applied a few months ago. But the selection process got scrapped after it was found that a member of the search committee was himself an applicant. Significantly, both the incumbent NHAI chairman Brijeswar Singh, 1975 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS and transport secretary Brahm Dutt, a 1973 batch IAS of Karnataka cadre were contenders for the post when it was advertised a few months ago. Significantly, NHAI’s chairman post is a lucrative one after the Cabinet raised the retirement age from 62 to 65 a few months ago. The deadline for submitting application is as early as June 30.

Secretaries In Action

a) Union home secretary GK Pillai has invited the chief secretaries of Nagaland and Manipur for an emergency meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss the steps to be taken by the two state governments to keep NH-39 open.

b) DIPP secretary RP Singh, a 1976 batch Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS, is on a week-long tour to China and Japan now, mainly to generate interest among investors about Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project. He is accompanied by DMIC Development Corporation CEO Amitabh Kant. 

Imagine a bureaucrat earning Rs 4.5 lakh extra by saving govt money; Canada launches pilot projects on save and earn

A BUREAUCRAT in Canada can now earn up to $10,000 (Approx Rs 4.5 lakh) if he succeeds in saving government money. Announcing this innovative incentive scheme for the Canadian civil servants, Treasury President Stockwell Day said that bureaucrats who come up with ideas that lead to measurable savings will be rewarded with incentives worth 10 per cent of the savings in the first full year of implementation, media report said.

In fact, the performance management division under India’s Cabinet Secretariat too is believed to have worked out a formula that the bureaucrats of performing ministries will receive incentive bonuses if his ministry reins on expenditure. The formula, being evolved by Dr Prajapati Trivedi’s team in Cabinet Secretariat is yet to get final nod from the government.

In Canada, the two-year pilot programme may soon begin in eight government departments though big-spending bureaucracies such as defence, public works and industry have not figured in the first list.

Action and Appointments

a) The ACC has approved in-situ upgradation of Balbhadra Nayak, CSS, presently director, department of health and family welfare, as joint secretary in the department of health and family welfare.

b) Koppula Raju, a 1981 batch AP cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary in the National Advisory Council (NAC). Already, retired secretary of 1974 batch, Rita Sharma was appointed as secretary to NAC which is being chaired by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

c) The ACC has approved the proposal for inter-cadre deputation of Diprava Lakra, a 2005 batch Punjab cadre IAS from Punjab to Jharkhand for period of three years or until further order.

d) Ms Preeti Madan, a 1981 batch IES, has been appointed as joint secretary in the ministry of women and child development.

e) UN Panjiyar, a 1973 batch Bihar cadre IAS and secretary in the ministry of water resources will hold additional charge of the post of secretary in the ministry of parliamentary affairs during the period of absence on leave of Anil Kumar, a 1973 batch UP cadre IAS from June 19, 2010 to June 27, 2010.

f) Depinder Singh Dhesi, a 1982 batch Haryana cadre IAS, has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of commerce.

Gehlot directs top bureaucrats to simplify appointment rules

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot directed top bureaucrats to simplify rules and procedures for appointments as Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) is finalizing a calendar of job openings. For details, read Insider’s post in http://www.jobcorridor.com/