PM Modi’s decision to haul up top Railway officers for negligence in UP rail accident, is praise-worthy.
Ironically,the Railway services officers have benefited the most from cadre reviews (CR).Accelerated promotions without raising accountability standards, increase the comfort zone of bureaucracy.
Let us take the cadre review debate furthe.
GOI is mulling over 25% job cuts in its strength, screams one prominent daily. Whispersinthecorridors.com regularly monitors progress of cadre review ( CR) proposals of organised Gr A Services.
What about various Gr B services that face the brunt of the cuts. The country needs a slim, trim and bureaucracy, fully committed to work instead of idling away time due to lack of work. The job cut plan of GOI, If, inspired by the objective of curtailing bludgeoning government office expenditure , it deserves appreciation.
What is the ground reality?
The reality check will uncover the covert plan of top bureaucracy. DOP&T along with cadre controlling authorities increase number of top posts through the charade of Cadre review,which is a a tool to fulfil the expansionist designs . This results in an inverted pyramid of top bureaucracy with bulging middle standing on effete bottom.
Some mathematical formulation and checklist are used by the CR div of DOP&T,to justify creation of top rung posts. A simple clerical check. No application of mind.
The trick employed by smart cadre controlling authorities to make the cadre review proposals “budget-neutral “, is to abolish posts at lower rungs and show savings matching savings, at times notional.
Career progression of top officers involves creation of additional posts without reference to workload requirement.The role of Staff Inspection Unit (SIU) in MoF was gradually diluted by UPA govt before finally scrapping it. Thanks to the wisdom of the then successive Finance ministers Pranab Mukherjee and P Chidambaram. Worse, in the anxiety for quick promotions at par with the IAS, in cases, where eligible candidates were not available due to non-fulfilment of conditions contained in Rectt Rules, promotions were made on ad hoc basis.
Situation in some ministries has become topsy turvy . Jobs earlier performed by Director-level functionaries are now handled by ADG and DG level officers.This is how bureaucrats create work for each other.
Instead of addressing the public concerns relating to cutting down on bureaucratic obesity , the GOI, as a ritual, announces its decision, year after year, to inject fresh blood by hiring private sector professionals for top management positions in PSUs and government bureaucracy.
This is one way to impress business houses. The induction experiment,one may recall, has already failed due to differences in work-cultures in private and government sector. Imprudent decision.
Though, PM Modi has attention for details, but, he cannot be expected to devote time on micro- details.Top bureaucracy,instead of briefing him truthfully, grabs the opportunity to suppress details of negative implications of carrying out cadre reviews in organised services.
Elevated incumbents in several ministries are searching for work; others are prompt in demanding additional facilities (as per new entitlements) like fully-furnished bigger rooms, independent chauffeur- driven cars, new furnitures, TV sets, additional back-up manpower supports etc. This adds to office expenses.
Did the GOI in MoF ever think of quantifying the financial implications of such seemingly innocuous cadre review exercises and increase in concomitant expenses ?
The Indian Economic Service, cadre-controlled by MoF,is the biggest beneficiary. Both IES and the ISS,its sister service ,got immense benefits by creating top posts in respective cadres,without assessment of workload justifying creation of new posts by abolishing posts at lower rungs.
Other organised Services particularly the IPS, IRS (IT), IRS ( Custom & Excise), Telecom, Railways etc have grown top heavy by virtue of cadre reviews.
More officers, more corruption.Some elevated officers without adequate workload serve as devils’ advocates.
Disciplinary action is often cited to do away with dead wood,the non-performing human assets
The CVC has hit the roadblock as government deptts are withholding sanctions to prosecute 84 corrupt officers . These 84 officers are reportedly involved in 45 cases of alleged wrongdoing. Some cases have been pending sanction for up to five years despite the political leadership pushing for strict action against corrupt government officers. Horrible state of affairs.
A word about non-performing officers. PM Modi has been persistently stressing upon the importance of finalising disciplinary proceedings against Group A officers.One wonders whether the CVOs in ministries, PSUs, Banks ,are taking their jobs seriously. Investigations move at snails’ pace. PMO must reprimand the laggards.
Media reports that 138 graft cases attracting Prevention of Corruption Act, have been pending in Supreme court due to delay in deciding appeals, some as old as 15 years
PM Modi, one trusts,is honest and incorruptible.But,his blind reliance on bureaucracy ,is a matter of concern.He may guard against it .
PM is urged to take action on the following lines:-
(a) keep all cadre review proposals in abeyance ;
(b) Revive SIU or a similar professional body in MOF for scrutinising manpower demands of ministries and deptts of GOI ;
(c) Subject all cadre review proposals to scrutiny by SIU on workload basis.