To overhaul the bureaucracy, the State Government replaced Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain with ex-Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar on Friday. By doing this, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has sent a message to the bureaucracy to either work or be ready to face dire consequences. Sources said that Bahuguna, who has been facing consistent pressure from the opposition, made this change in view of upcoming general election-2014. Jain has been transferred as chairman of Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam limited (UJVNl) and chief investment commissioner.
Sources said that Jain could not handle the secretariat employees’ strike efficiently. The strike continued and is believed to be one of the reasons for the Congress losing the Tehri lok Sabha bypolls and local body polls. Whenever employees’ union representatives approached him with their demand, he used to refuse their demands so agitation continued longer. Despite being a chief secretary of the State, he could not come out from the mindset of Finance department. For instance, Reviewing Officers (RO) were sitting on protest with a memorandum containing seven demands since April 10. Instead of addressing their grievance, Jain refused to review their demand so ROs became incensed and raised slogans against Jain. They later ended their strike with an assurance that the Government would consider their demands. The question being asked now is whether the employees would have supported the Congress in the local body polls had the strike been resolved before local body polls. During the Tehri lok Sabha bypolls, ministerial employees’ union was on strike and later they ended their strike with an assurance only. The question being asked is why Chief Secretary Jain let them continue with their strike. Meanwhile, sources said that the State government has categorically directed its officers to first try to avoid creation of such situations by addressing their demands or deal with iron hand to avoid embarrassment for state.
Sources said that before replacing Jain, the State Government had long discussions with all prospective candidates for chief secretary post, including Principal Secretary Rakesh Sharma. Thereafter, they reached the conclusion that Subhash Kumar would be the best choice because under his tenure, protests, especially within the secretariat, were fewer than now. The question being raised is that if Subhash Kumar is capable of handling the situation, then why was he removed from the chair last year or if Jain was not capable, then why he was appointed as chief secretary to Uttarakhand in 2012.
Sources further said that chief secretary Kumar is very good in follow-up and Principal Secretary Rakesh Sharma is very good in creating new avenues for the departments which he leads. Realising the potential of both IAS officers, Bahuguna has assigned new tasks to the duo.
Principal Secretary Industrial Development, Technical education, civil aviation, information technology, high education, infrastructure development commissioner and SIIDCUl MD Rakesh Sharma has been given additional responsibility of Finance and relieved from higher education, IT and MD SIIDCUl; Principal Secretary and Forest & Rural Development Commissioner (FRDC) Bhagwati Prasad Pande has been given additional responsibility of Power, Alternate energy, watershed Management, chief project director of Watershed Management; Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, PWD, Power, Alternate energy Dr SS Sandhu has been relieved from power and alternate energy and Principal Secretary Finance, Election, Excise and Chief Electoral officer Radhu Raturi has been relieved from Finance and given additional responsibility of higher education, food & civil supply, IT and Commissioner Food.
Secretary food & Civil supply, Irrigation, cooperative, Panchayati Raj & Commissioner Food Kunal Sharma has been relieved from Food & civil supply and commissioner Food; Secretary to CM, Jail, watershed management, Revenue, Sainik Kalyan, Disaster Management, Jail IG and chief project Director Bhaskaranand relieved from Secretary & chief project director watershed management and Additional Secretary Technical education, Industry, Director Technical education, Training, Employment, Mining Shailesh Bagoli has been given additional charge of MD SIIDCUl.