Will the Ministers of the Raghubar Das Cabinet, except Randheer Singh, forget the lessons they have learnt so far in their public life during three-day training session at prestigious Indian Institute of Management, AhmedabadIJ The assumption seems true if words of the senior most and one of the most serious politicians of the State, Saryu Roy are read between the lines. Roy posting his takes on the three-day leadership training programme at the IIM, going to conclude with an outstation exposure trip on June 29, has tried to scratch this a bit.
“Question is being raised what would the Ministers of Jharkhand learn here at IIM-AIJ For me, the question of greater importance is what we would forget during our three-day stay here,” writes the outspoken Minister through his social media profile on Monday.
Roy is considered as the one who dares to speak against the establishment and even against his own Government and the latest expression itself reiterates the apprehensions expressed by the commoners over the ‘junket’—that is persisting in the minds of many. However, an official of the Department of Personnel and Training maintained that the tour is for providing training about ethics, good governance and leadership skills to the Ministers and the need has been felt for the first time in Jharkhand.
“No such programme has been planned for the Ministers in Jharkhand ever and also in Bihar. That is why the Government decided to go for the best and not even considered IIM, Ranchi for this job. Their faculties are not competent enough. Comparing IIM, Ranchi with IIM, Ahmadabad would be like chalk and cheese,” said a Deputy Secretary. The Department has sanctioned Rs 24.52 lakh for the training programme for the Ministers and it is expected to accumulate over Rs 5 lakh more since one Minister in the form of Heath and Family Welfare’s, Ramchandra Chandravansi was added later on into the original list of trainees.
“We had sought assent from all the Cabinet Ministers about attending the training programme. Ramchandra Chandravansi was to go to the US but due to visa issue his trip got cancelled and he agreed to join the team. Randheer Singh citing his prior engagements declined to be a part at the beginning itself,” informed the official of the Department whose head and Principal Secretary Nidhi Khare after consulting the management of the institute had coined the idea that was approved by Chief Secretary Rajbala Verma and finally by Chief Minister Raghubar Das.
Interestingly, all the Ministers have been allowed to accompany one of their personal secretaries throughout their stay at the city and barring labour Minister Raj Paliwar, all the other eight decided to gleefully avail the facility. “Staying, food and lodging expenses of the personal secretaries of the Ministers would be in addition to the amount sanctioned so far,” explained the source.
The training session would end with excursion to Bharuch in Gujarat after the folks learn lessons on good governance, leadership, service delivery and so on. After three months of the programme, the IIM-A would again organise a feedback programme for the ‘batch’ and this would be interesting to see who fairs how and how much bad governance have they forgotten—as wished by Saryu Roy. Moreover, many are not complaining.
“This is going to benefit Jharkhand itself in terms of good governance and leadership. Jab ye sab sikhenge to fayda to hoga hi,” feels Urban Development Minister CP Singh but not before the Opposition taking a jibe. “It is unfortunate for Jharkhand that they have been sent for training after two and half years,” laughs senior Congress leader and former Union Cabinet Minister Subodh Kant Sahay.