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
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My dear Ravi garu,
I also read Arun Shourie's book which is very interesting as he is a gifted writer. U may also like to read a book called BABUDOM by TR Subramnyam who retired as the cabinet Secretary the ultimate aim of all IAS officers.
However I would like to add that i had personal contact with a good number of IAS officers. I can assure u that most of them are wise, well read, knowledgeable and very competent. We may crack many jokes about them but we cannot deny them their due. I have a lot of respect for most of them.
Unfortunately they are not allowed to function by the bumbling politicians and petty politics. If u visit any Diostrict Collector's office any day you will find a tent pitched outside and at least 100 people on fast or relay fast or to give long winded submissions to the Collector. They dont let him work in peace even for a few minutes.
He is also the ex-officio president of all societies in the District headquarters and invited to various meetings and functions and to give a speech on any subject under the sun. Poor guy never gets time to do his own work.
If India is holding together and functioning today a lot of credit must go to the IAS officers who form the backbone of the administration. Without them the politicians with their quarter baked knowledge would have landed us in greater mess than what we r in.
Of course there are some black sheep and these few r bringing a bad name to the fine lot.
Not all Ministers are efficient like Arun Shorie and Maj Gen Konduri of the Golden quadrilateral fame. The others have to be guided by the IAS guys.
Ramarao.
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phew...the height of bureaucracy...ha ha
madhvi
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