Dilli ka babu
Kabul’s on hold
This column had reported a few months ago about the government’s proposal to send officials to serve in Kabul, Afghanistan, for a year as part of a UN project to train their Afghan counterparts. Expecting some reluctance from babus to serve in the war-torn country, the government offered what to anyone would seem a fantastic annual pay of more than `50 lakhs, all tax-free. But with peace still elusive in Afghanistan, even the humongous salary has not worked the magic it was meant to. Sources say that not a single official has so far shown interest in the job opportunity.
This has created a peculiar dilemma for Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar. India apparently had signed a tripartite agreement with the United Nations Development Programme and the government of Afghanistan and will need to honour that commitment. But wary babus are extremely unwilling to take the bait. Is the government now thinking of sterner steps?
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Poll alert
The appointment of Anoop Mishra as the new chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh is being viewed by observers as a balancing act by chief minister Mayawati, given the complex caste equations that dominate politics in the state. Most observers believe that Behenji is likely to name a dalit officer, Brijlal, as the state police chief when the current DGP Karamvir Singh retires in August. Though Uttar Pradesh won’t go to the polls until next year, Ms Mayawati clearly believes in getting the first mover advantage.
There are other indications that Ms Mayawati is getting in the poll mood, babu-watchers point out. At a recent meeting to review government programmes with commissioners, district magistrates and senior police officials, the chief minister was at her imperial best: she warned them to perform or face stringent action. That’s the Mayawati we are most familiar with.
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Poor shirkers
The government is slowly tightening the screws on shirkers within the bureaucracy. After months of careful deliberations, it has sanctioned a cash incentive scheme for babus, which will now be an integral part of their performance assessment. According to sources, Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar has directed the department of expenditure to work out the methodology for its implementation. Babus who get good grades can now look forward to cash incentives starting fiscal year 2012-2013. The notable feature of the cash incentive plan, according to babu-watchers, is that the scheme is linked not to individual grades but to the performance of the respective departments.
By placing the onus for performance on babus who lead the departments, the government clearly hopes to make babus more performance-oriented and innovative. Could it lead to an actual change in the infamous sarkari style of functioning? It is certainly hoped so.
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