IMG operations come to standstill under Jacob Thomas

KOCHI: The new state training policy being implemented at the prestigious Institute of Management in Government (IMG) by Director-General Dr Jacob Thomas has almost stalled the functioning of institute. Majority of the training programmes at the institute have been cancelled for nearly two months now. IMG is the apex training institute of the Government of Kerala established in 1981 with the objective of “developing managerial skills, organisational abilities, leadership qualities and decision making skills among different categories of employees of government, private and public sector.”

However, at a meeting chaired by Dr Jacob Thomas on last July 18, he had said that in view of the new state training  policy approved by the government, IMG will conduct training for only the top management and in the changeover phase of two months, for the middle level staff as well. “Training for operational staff and supervisory staff shall be decentralised and conducted at the district/sub-district level in collaboration with other training institutes,” he said.

“The freed-up time of IMG faculty will be devoted to preparing the training plan, starting research, ToTs, network building, e-portal etc,” the minutes of the meeting revealed. It added that faculty of IMG will prepare a comprehensive plan to operationalise the same.  “All faculty members should engage in action research. The input of action research shall be used in building capacity of departments,” it was decided at the meeting.

“Normally 1,250 training programmes are conducted every year covering different grades government staff in 55 departments, at the three IMG centres in Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram which have very good computer labs. This training has been crucial in equipping majority of government officials to do their job efficiently as there are no other training programmes for them and crores of rupees are allocated for that,” said a government official preferring not to reveal identity.

“This process has been hit after the change and there is no research also happening at IMG. Well paid officials at IMG including regional directors do not have much job now. Top management officials in government being given training now are those who are on the verge of retirement, who are ironically found important for training by IMG DG,” said the official.