How to mentor a Deputy CM: IAS Sudhir Kumar appointed as principal secretary to Tejashwi’s dept

Sudhir Kumar, 2nd from right (file photo)

Sudhir Kumar, a 1982 batch Bihar cadre IAS and the one who as OSD to Lalu Prasad helped the Bihar politician taking credit of Indian Railways’ turnaround between 2004-2009, was on Wednesday given a new assignment – Bihar’s principal secretary of the road construction department, one of the three departments being handled by Lalu Prasad’s younger son and state’s deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. Meanwhile, Sudhir Kumar who is set to retire on March next year, has been elevated the rank of a…

Over 30 NDA MPs move privilege notice in Lok Sabha against Bihar IAS Sudhir Kumar; 10 Things to Know

Kumar (2nd from right), Lalu Prasad (left) among others (File Photo)

IN A rare instance, over 30 MPs of the BJP and its allies from Bihar moved a privilege notice in Lok Sabha against 1982 batch IAS officer Sudhir Kumar, now member of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), alleging that the senior bureaucrat “insulted” the law makers over a discussion on the condition of Bihar’s road projects. Kumar, 59, in his capacity as officer on special duty (OSD) to the then railways minister Lalu Yadav during the UPA-I, played a key role in the Indian Railways’ “turnaround” saga. Here are 10 things about this new Neta-Babu row:

NETAGIRI: Bureaucrats are good servants, but poor masters, says Lalu Prasad

Lalu Prasad: During Golden Days

“Bureaucrats may be good servants but they are very poor masters” — is what former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad said recently in a public rally at Panchanpur near Gaya, according to local media reports. Prasad’s anger was however not directed against bureaucrats per se, but…

Should IAS Sudhir Kumar rewrite his book on railways turnaround?

CALL it bankruptcy to millions rather than billions! Should Sudhir Kumar, influential 1982-batch Bihar cadre IAS officer and ex-OSD to former railway minister Lalu Prasad rewrite his much talked about book “Bankruptcy to Billions: How the Indian Railways Transformed” if current railway minister Mamata Banerjee's white paper painting the turnaround saga in black, comes true? Will Harvard University which too did a case study on Indian Railways' financial success now review its conclusions in the backdrop of the white paper's claim that a cash surplus of nearly Rs 90,000 crore ($18 billion) during Lalu Prasad's tenure as railway minister, was an inflated figure thanks to the changes made in accounting methods. The introduction of a concept called "investible surplus", also inflated the cash reserve by another Rs 23,584 crore ($4.7 billion), the paper said. The question is now whether Sudhir Kumar who was OSD to Mr Prasad from September 1, 2004 to May 22, 2009 will rewrite his book, explaining his side of the story. Mr Kumar who has been a joint secretary in the ministry of power since May 22, 2009, attracted quite a lot of enemies in the Rail Bhawan because of his handholding in all important events of the ministry. No wonder, Indian Railways with 1.4 million employees is one of the very few government ministries which are not headed by all powerful IAS officers. Reacting to babu blogger’s earlier post on why Sudhir Kumar should help Lalu, never known to be a mathematical wizard, in recalculating Rs 90,000 cr surplus in railways, one of the readers commented, “Could it be a case of Alice in Wonderland?”. Post your comments too. Earlier Post Sudhir Kumar should help Lalu recalculating Rs 90,000 cr surplus (July 13, 2009) Action & Appointments a) A Didar Singh, a 1976 batch Punjab cadre IAS, presently Member (Finance), National Highways Authority of India, has been appointed as secretary in the ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in the vacancy of K Mohandas, a 1974 batch Kerala cadre IAS who is the new shipping secretary. b) Pradeep Kumar Pujari, a 1981 batch Gujarat cadre IAS has been appointed as Executive Director (North) in the Food Corporation of India (joint secretary level), under the department of food and public distribution.

Gopi Arora will continue to inspire public servants in the time to come, says PM

PRIME Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has condoled the passing away of former civil servant Gopi Arora and said he would continue to inspire public servants in the time to come. In a condolence message to his wife, Dr Singh said: “It is with great sadness and a sense of personal loss that I learnt of the passing away of your husband Shri Gopi Arora. Gopi was an exceptionally brilliant civil servant who served the country with great distinction. In his long and distinguished public career, he held many important positions and excelled in each one of them. Gopi’s powerful intellect was matched in equal measure by kindness and generosity of spirit. Ever helpful, he will be remembered with deep affection and respect by all those whose lives he touched. His career will continue to inspire public servants in the time to come. I extend my deepest condolences to you and other near and dear ones of Gopi in this difficult time. May God give you the strength to bear with your loss. I pray for peace of the departed soul." Though most politicians want bureaucrats to be behind-the-curtain actors, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who himself began his career as bureaucrat (he was DEA secretary) gives due recognition to civil servants quite publicly. (Picture: Dr Singh going round an exhibition at the inaugural session of the 3rd Civil Services Day, in New Delhi on April 21, 2008)

Railway recruitment: Exam could now be in local language Railway minister Mamata Banerjee has sacked chairmen of all 20 Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) across the country who were appointed during Lalu Prasad's time. A senior railway official is appointed in the post of RRB chairman for a three years' period. Whereas conducting railway recruitment exams in Urdu was already announced, some media reports suggested quoting unnamed sources that the recruitment was likely to be held in other local languages too to make it easier for local youth geting jobs. Currently, railway examinations are conducted only in English and Hindi.

Sudhir Kumar should help Lalu recalculating Rs 90,000 crore railway surplus

SUDHIR Kumar, influential 1982-batch Bihar cadre IAS officer and ex-OSD to former railway minister Lalu Prasad should help his former boss re-calculating accounts of the ministry in the last five years after current railway minister Mamata Banerjee questioned the claims of Rs 90,000 crore surplus funds in the interim budget presented by Mr Prasad before the Lok Sabha elections. Mr Kumar who co-authored the book titled “Bankruptcy to Billions: How the Indian Railways Transformed”, wrote in details about the secret of railways’ success to position itself as a cash-rich organization. In fact, Ms Banerjee, who is now coming out with a white paper on funds with the railways, said that a corpus of just Rs 8,361 crore remained after expenditure of Rs 13,600 crore on account of Pay Commission award last year and Rs 2,600 crore this year. The issue became complicated further when Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had refused to give Mr Prasad, his former cabinet colleague, a clean chit and said the proposed white paper promised by the railway minister would uncover the reality and clear the air. Significantly, Lalu Prasad who is known for his political sharpness and wits, is not a mathematical wizard to find the railway books right. Nor will railway officers who were forced to take a backseat during his tenure would come forward to help the Bihar strongman by doing some accounting wonders! In fact, a number of railways officials were then perturbed by the fact that an IAS officer, Mr Kumar, was virtually running the show as Mr Prasad gave him a free hand to initiate any policy change and micro-manage everything to make Indian railways profitable. Mr Kumar was then so powerful that many Rail Bhawan officials including railway board members became virtual rubber stamps endorsing Mr Kumar’s line of strategy. Also, Mr Kumar remembered by heart many of the accounting figures and played a crucial role setting yearly target for the railways. Significantly, the Indian Railways with 1.4 million employees is one of the very few government arms which are not headed by IAS officers.

Jai Ho: Railway officials finally break free from an influential IAS

SENIOR officials at the Rail Bhawan have finally discovered that they are no longer under the dominance of an IAS officer. With former railway minister Lalu Prasad’s all powerful officer on special duty (OSD) Sudhir Kumar (See Picture) leaving the Rail Bhwan to join as a joint secretary in the ministry of power, top railway officials have regained the lost ground and become hyper-active to demonstrate their abilities to the new railway minister Mamata Banerjee. In fact, Indian Railways with about 15 lakh strong employees is the only government department which is not controlled by an IAS officer. Yet, during the last five years, the minister bestowed all power to 1982-batch Bihar cadre IAS Sudhir Kumar who in turn acted like a CEO of a company and micro-managed the show. In fact, he took many a bold decision to script the turnaround saga of Indian railways. Whereas Mr Prasad just monitored the macro issue and took only the politically sensitive decisions such as not hiking the passenger fare, it was Mr Kumar who remained a backseat driver to achieve a profit of whopping Rs 90,000 cr (about $18 billion) for the railways during the last five years. Along with Shagun Mehrotra, Mr Kumar finally penned a book titled “Bankruptcy to Billions: How the Indian Railways Transformed In Four Years” to share the secret of success. As the new minister has already zeroed in a Central services officer as her OSD, the Rail babus don’t need to worry a repeat of an IAS dominating the Indian Railways any longer.

Babus in demand: Job at Central Electricity Authority The Central Electricity Authority under the ministry of power urgently requires the suitable candidates for filling up the post of Member (Planning) and Member (Economic & Commercial) in the revised scale of Rs.37400-67000 with a grade pay of Rs 12,000. They would be given ex-officio status of additional secretary to the government of India.

Babus find it tough to work with Chidambaram but enjoy Kamal Nath's company

A BUREAUCRAT may not have any option to choose his political master, but a right minister always motivates his babus and increases their productivity manifold. If the feedback that I have managed to receive from several top bureaucrats in Delhi is any indication, bureaucrats by and large don’t enjoy working under current home minister P Chidambaram as much as they would have been under say railway minister Lalu Prasad or commerce minister Kamal Nath. As Dr Manmohan Singh is finalizing the list of his cabinet colleagues for the 15th Lok Sabha, BOI (Babus of India) has short-listed some probable ministers in the next cabinet and tried to figure out whether they are babus’ choice or not. Pranab Mukherjee Sure to get one of the key portfolios like external affairs or finance. Bureaucrats working under him don’t enjoy much but those who would build a good personal rapport with the most important man in the cabinet after the Prime Minister, may surely expect to reap benefits for the next five years if not more. P Chidambaram Unlikely to get back his pet portfolio – finance. Yet, he is likely to remain in the North Block as the country’s home minister. He is not at all popular among his own bureaucrats as he likes to go into the nitty-gritty of every issue. Babus in his ministry lose their independence, and at times need to bear with his shouting. Montek Singh Ahluwalia Current deputy chairman of Planning Commission and a close confidante of Dr Manmohan Singh may get the finance portfolio during this difficult time of the global economic meltdown. I have interacted with him a number of times during the last five years, and have witnessed how efficiently he uses his key men. He is popular among bureaucrats as he always respects their views but never allows them to formulate any policy against the broad theme that he has okayed first. Kamal Nath He is the darling of India Inc who wants him to be the finance minister this time. Yet, he is unlikely to be in the North Block though he has a chance to be the country’s next external affairs minister if Pranab Mukherjee is made the finance minister. He always makes good personal rapport with bureaucrats and is extremely popular among them. Disclaimer: This analysis is based on my own assessment and on the feedback that I have received from bureaucrats and politicians working closely with them.

Railway officials upset over Lalu’s inability to fly to Kolkata for a day

RAILWAY minister Lalu Prasad’s inability to take a day out to fly to Kolkata amid the electoral battle has led to the uncertainty over holding of the Railway Week this year where railway employees including officials are awarded for their distinguished services. This has made many railway officers upset as Mr Prasad, who is termed as the railway turnaround man for realizing a profit of Rs 90,000 cr (about $18 billion) during the last five years, has ignored repeated requests of the organizers to take some time out for attending the big annual event. Though the annual function, which is always attended by the railway minister in addition to the chairman and members of the railway board, was originally scheduled to be held on the first week of April in Kolkata, the organizers are now convinced that only the next railway minister would preside over it. No wonder, speculations have begun in Rail Bhawan in Delhi on who could possibly be the next railway minister considering various post poll permutations and combinations of political parties.