by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Exclusive report
PM determined to reform ‘Babus’
Lateral entrants hiring begins
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Nov. 8
As the bureaucracy continues to function in its own stubborn style, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is introducing a “target-oriented and ground-to-earth” work culture in the system.
with the bureaucracy continuing to work in silos and creating one hurdle after the other, the PM has already introduced the Lateral entry route for recruitment of officers at the level of the Joint Secretary who is the backbone. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has already recruited nearly a dozen Lateral entrants in the rank of Joint Secretaries as Domain experts. Now the NITI Aayog and DoPT are set to hire 50 officers through this route. But these will be in the rank of Deputy Secretaries and Directors, a step below the JS. The last date of seeking application by NITI Aayog is November 17 and 50 Domain experts will be hired in the rank of Deputy Secretaries and Directors. “All these new recruits outside the regular IAS and other Central Services routes will herald a new era in the Indian bureaucracy and administration,” said a senior officer in the Department of Personnel under the Prime Minister.
He said that the Prime Minister is tired to reforming the monolith bureaucratic culture ever since he came to Lutyen’s Delhi in May 2014. They opposed the bio-metric system for all. Then they all wanted to have two hour lunch break and evenings free for parties. At least 30 such administrative reforms were brought in. Yet, the culture hasn't changed.
The PM himself gave a clue of his utter dislike when he addressed ‘combined foundation course’ for 400 young officers that young IAS officers should go to people, and change the legacy of colonialism. He was addressing the 'combined foundation course' comprising 400 young officers from various services including IAS officers in the in the 'tent city' of Kewadia in Gujarat, “We don’t expect status quo from you. The presence of silos and hierarchy does not help our system.”
The PM had directed that all senior officers must stay for at least one week in a backward district to understand their problem. But he also found that the officers didn’t have the heart in the job assigned. The PM has already shown the door to at least 30 secretary level officers for their poor showing until now. The PM’s sermon is that officers are service providers and its their duty to increase the ease of living of the people.
