Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is having a hard time with delays in implementation of orders by his state bureaucracy. Recently, he was publically critical about the poor performance of bureaucrats and threatened action against non-performing babus.
Apparently, an internal survey disclosed that at least 30 per cent of the senior babus in the state are behind in the implementation of the government’s various initiatives. Following this, state chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya also held a long meeting with senior babus to discuss ways to improve performance.
Mr Fadnavis is also facing another challenge from the bureaucrats. Many babus have been reportedly exploiting their political connections at the Centre to seek better postings, bypassing the established procedures of addressing their concerns to their immediate superior officer, or other high authority.
Sources say that senior babus and departmental secretaries have been directed to spend at least two days every week monitoring implementation of government schemes. The message is: Perform or perish.
Crackdown continues
This column had earlier reported that the Modi government is not willing to look the other way when Indian Administrative Service officers overstay on foreign assignments or otherwise remain on “unauthorised” leave for long periods of time. After announcing its intentions, the government has begun taking action against these errant babus.
It had cracked the whip on Sanjeev Ahluwalia, who was “deemed to have resigned” for continuing on foreign service beyond the officially approved period.
Another IAS officer Shishir Priyadarshi, too, was deemed to have resigned for being on unauthorised leave for nine years!
The crackdown continues. Joining this “select” club now is 1997-batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre Rita Singh. Ms Singh has been on official leave since 2003, and she has been deemed as having resigned for being absent without authorisation with effect from May 2007. According to sources, a few more heads are expected to roll. Guess that pleases some and worries some.
Love them, hate them ignore them at national peril, is the babu guarantee and Dilip’s belief. Share significant babu escapades dilipcherian@hotmail.com
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