Realty firm pays CS’ adviser
Sources said many officers are peeved at the role of the ‘Super Chief Secretary
By : Gilvester Assary
Update: 2015-07-16 05:51 GMT
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A master’s degree-holder in International Marketing from the Indian Institute of Business Management (IIBM) is holding a key position in the Chief Secretary’s office, but strangely he draws salary from a private agency.
Ajay Padmanabhan has been functioning out of the Chief Secretary’s office in the secretariat as Consultant – Strategic Initiatives. At the moment, he is part of the core team of CS office and directly associated with projects like G2G, Operation Anantha, GAIL pipeline, tracking and monitoring of mega projects, new policy initiatives, modernisation of CSO and communication and digital initiatives. “I am working voluntarily at the CS office projects,” said Padmanabhan.
When asked about his salary, he refused to divulge the amount but on being asked whether it was close to Rs 1 lakh, he didn’t refute. Though it is a full-time job at CS office, he draws salary from a private agency. “Yes I draw my salary from Trivandrum Connect Foundation.” Interestingly, Padmanabhan is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation. Padmanabhan has been part of the core team of CS office for the past five months. “I accompany the Chief Secretary on his tours across the state especially in connection with strategic initiatives,” he said.
Sources said many officers are peeved at the role of the ‘Super Chief Secretary.’ City Connect Foundation is associated with real estate developers, chartered accountants, tourism sector, IT companies and other groups. “Though the government seeks help from consultants, they come in and go. But such an arrangement where they officiate out of the Chief Secretary’s office is unheard of. Moreover, Trivandrum Connect is associated with various interest groups. This raises several questions. How much access does he have to crucial government files and documents? All these issues need to be discussed,” said a former bureaucrat.