DON’T READ THIS IF YOUR HEART IS WEAK

I recall  having written in an earlier blog that Indian bureaucracy is no longer India’s  main problem. Someone read this sentence and immediately sent me an email along these lines.

‘Ravi have  you gone  mad ? How can you say bureaucracy is no longer  our problem ? Has it suddenly improved? Stop writing blogs if you  are not in control of  your senses.’

This was followed by another mail from the same person  ‘Sorry I reacted without reading  the  entire blog .You went on to write that India’s bureaucracy is now a WORLD PROBLEM . Bravo  Ravi’

A day  later I came across this gem from Arun Shourie’s  book.

It appears  some I.A.S officers in the Steel Ministry made notings on files using  red and  green ink. This was in early 1999. T h e minister  was taken aback -- how dare these babus use these inks when the tradition did not warrant this ?The matter was referred to t h e Department of Administrative Reforms [DAR]for clarification—what  is   the rule  in this  regard?

 Detailed research and many meetings and months later came the reply—the matter concerned ink and hence ought to be referred to the Directorate of Printing ! Many meetings later this latter dept gave its considered opinions—there are no orders/instructions/guidelines in respect of use of different inks and the matter may be referred to Dept Of Personnel and Training [DPT]of the Home Ministry. This letter giving this opinion was lying in the DAR for several weeks after which  the matter was referred to DPT. A few weeks later DPT opined that the subject pertains to ‘Manual of Office Procedure’    which is regulated by DAR.  hence this dept may ‘take a view’. The DAR took this line—this matter concerns the longevity of ink hence the right dept to give its opinion may be the Director of  Archives.[DA].The big official in DA said that for fountain pens blue and black inks may be used since these inks are permanent  and for ball pens red, green, blue and black are permanent. DAF was not totally convinced so they referred the matter to  the Ministry of Defence .The latter replied that ink colour is not a question of longevity but of seniority .This dept said that red ink is  used by Ch- iefs of  Staff, green by Principle officers, blue and black by others.

After two years the matter was finally settled !

Need I say more? This may  break your heart.

K.R.RAVI