When Odisha’s new Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi was gifted the top administrator’s chair, he made some routine statements like “My first job would be to ensure that Government schemes are implemented sincerely.” That was like a barber saying, “My foremost job would be to remove stubble from my master’s face to make him look clean.” The CS would have caught people’s imagination if only he had said just once that not a single Government scheme would remain unimplemented in a strictly time-bound manner after making the beneficiary communities aware of what’s coming their way and how they can keep a watch to monitor quality and report back errors and aberrations to the higher authorities so as to hold the erring officials as well as vendors, contractors and service providers to account eventually to have them hauled up or penalised exemplarily.
The CS job is one with a sword hanging over the head as Chanakya has made clear centuries ago. The supporting administrators need to be told too well that they must conduct themselves as supreme quality servants of the people, never as masters.
An administrator, no matter how high, is the critical deliverer of goods and services to being the masses relief and joy. To serve the masters well, administrators have to appear at workplaces on time, set delivery targets realistically and remain prepared to pay penalty to the people for delay and deficiency in service. The IAS-cadre officials are indeed sharp in thinking and planning as proven by the way they have cleared tough exams beating thousands of competitors. But somehow or the other, most of them assume a larger-than-life image to consider themselves far too superior to State service cadres and tend to override them even when the latter present brighter and more practicable ideas or plans. Only a miniscule number among the IAS cadre is humble and decent with people without power or money. The community by and large is haughty and inaccessible to the disadvantaged, non-vocal poor. They avail for themselves big bungalows, an army of servants on duty 24x7 and more than one vehicle. for all of which the people pay. Post-lunch reappearance, which occurs after 5 pm, is plain cheating and dereliction of duty. low-level staff members are forced to serve the super masters on a night shift because they have to keep job, no matter if efficiency is at lowest level.
The IAS community members, barring an ethical few, manipulate systemic loopholes to keep half a dozen orderlies at home as slaves. Heartless wives and badly-brought up grown children use these helplessly non-vocal creatures as personal servants. These are some of the public anxieties the Chief Secretary has to fix without delay. Most of these donkey-jobs, low-end employees are expected to discharge public duties elsewhere. Similarly, the top bureaucrats have to become extremely people-friendly like Injeti Srinivas and Taradatt. Injeti is now making waves as a performer par excellence in the capacity of Sports Authority of India Chairman as well as the top administrator of the Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority.
He has roped in Taradatt into the South Asian Games to be held in Guwahati. What the Odisha people have never got to know is the fact that when the Government of India authorities lost hope to being able to put up the Commonwealth Games Delhi, badly messed up by Suresh Kalmadi and the gang, some bright brain persuaded Taradatt, then on deputation with the Central Government, to rush to rescue and save the face of the nation. Very strangely, the IAS community probably is one of the haughtiest to promote a 'wives’ outfit' to organise numerous showoff events through which husbands assume a larger-than-life image. later on, other professional communities took cue to make presence felt though in vain. Interestingly, lady IAS officers would shamelessly tag in husbands illegally. The community never named the outfit 'spouses’ association' rather than 'wives'.
The whole idea of discussing administrators is to remind them that most of them need to improve their conduct on the people a friendliness front. Being big Babus is no more possible like in the feudal times. They also need to know they are under constant watch. Modern communication tools and instruments have put them in glasshouses which makes all that they do visible. So, they have to perform or face the worst cacophony.
When Adityababu became Chief Secretary, he expressed joy saying he has got the most coveted post. little did he realise that the position is one of highest responsibility, expectations, and it attracts bitterest public criticism even in very small failures. He proudly promised that all Government schemes and policies would be implemented by him sincerely. So, let him have the SAT disbanded; gutkha and polythene banned, Jagannath Temple servitors deprived of hereditary service rights; the chariots of the deities be permanent to save forests. He should not also forget that the Niramaya shelves are perpetually empty and the ordinary farmer does not know how to get his crops insured. Above all, bureaucratic efficiency and integrity improved remarkably. Being honest is not only saying 'no' to bribe. Not being quick in taking decisions to give relief to the ordinary citizens is also being corrupt. Sitting over files for long yet grabbing the hefty salary is the worst form of corruption. That's robbery of public money. Adityababu will not be held in high esteem if he only keeps the executive happy. He has to ensure the masters comprising ordinary citizens are satisfied and in good humour. Adityababu would be demigod if he implements the recommendations made by Taradatt in the matter of discretionary land allotment.
People are keen to know everything. The Indian bureaucrats should not fail to realise the fact that being in top-level administration is being king; it's being the perfect servant of the people. Slightest laxity today can land them in deep trouble tomorrow, thanks to RTI and the failsafe social media. The people of India today know too well that the best civil servants are considered stubborn and difficult. Khemka of Haryana and Durga Nagpal of UP have been harassed being branded difficult. Being both upright and efficient appears difficult to the power centres which need puppets. The Chief Secretary must wake up to the realities and protect the best performers, no matter if his lofty chair is taken back. Jugal Kishore Mahapatra is remembered fondly by all for being spotless and efficient. Adityababu must maintain the tradition to occupy space in eulogy chapters of history books. He is expected to instil the spirit of selfless service among the colleagues to please the masters in an acceptable measure. Civil servants will become masters only after they get out of the fold. So, they better wake up!