To Streamline Decision Making, Streamline Levels

S. Kunjabihari Singh *

Not all civil servants are honest, their integrity often cast to doubt. This class considers it wise to be at terms with the political bosses rather than confront, to the satisfaction of both. Some are steadfast in their brief and advices to the elected representatives. Most ministers too are increasingly exceeding their briefs and more often than not, dictate terms not compatible with the laid down procedures. In the result some fell prey to the hegemony while some had to face the ignominy of being shunted out.

The primary concept of civil service was perhaps to advise the elected representatives on the lines of the laid down rules and regulations and thus help in checking the whims and fancies of the politicians.

This would enable them to ensure check and balances in the affairs of governance. In this combination of bureaucrats and the politicians, there is an emerging need for creating a congenial coordination through a set of enforced procedures and regulations for empowering both actors to work towards a new work culture, the objective always being ensuring good governance, transparency and delivery.

PM Modi is often known for taking fast decisions and often charged of reaching the periphery of being controversial. Though opinions strongly divide, he is known for his brand of decisive governance while heading the Gujarat state prior to his reign in New Delhi since 2014. Decisive persons, of course, face the displeasure of being disputable. Modi is no exception.

And yet, he remains acceptable to his colleagues, to the people in general, not so much for abhorrence but for his ambitious intention for delivery and his zeal for a proactive work culture. His fast and strong decisions of course are molded and nurtured by a pack of hand-picked bureaucrats known for their steadfast fascination and inbuilt competence for delivery and achievement. Not surprisingly most of the PMO’s select-team in New Delhi are imported from Gujarat where he teamed up with most of these with remarkable success during his command for over 10 years.

The hold that Modi exerts on his cabinet colleagues often termed absolute has its implied ramification on the similar hold he wields on the entire bureaucracy, a solid determinant for delivery. His style could be termed unique in that while he gave a long rope, he also put across a message that he wouldn’t tolerate any form of dereliction.

And yet, this ‘tribe’, called bureaucracy has also its own organized pulls and pressures strong enough for this group to withstand any new onslaught on their might and right. There is a pressure group formidable enough to counter any such inroad in an area whose undisputed masters are themselves. Except for very insignificant instances or situations they could hold fort undaunted by any external aggression however formidable.

One can recall the never-ever-happened incident in Delhi where almost all senior bureaucrats of Kejriwal government went on casual leave, a kind of mass casual leave protesting the suspension of two Special Secretary level officials on the fall out of the new venture program of Delhi government ‘odd-even’ traffic flow. While 200 strong Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Island Civil Service officers sought mass casual leave, over 70 IAS officers struck work from 9am to 2 pm. Protesting AAP government’s action against the two Secretaries. This is the unwritten strength of a composite unity of this tribe.

One of the policy initiatives authored by Modi soon after he held the PM’s office to bring about good governance and fast delivery was to empower the bureaucracy. With an eye to curb the rampant interference by the political bosses in important issues, like the 2-G or 3-G cases or the Coal Block scandal of the UPA government, the PM was quick to formally write to the Secretaries of important Ministries to bring about any such cases of undue pressure by the Ministers to his notice.

Going ahead a step further, he encouraged the Secretaries to feel free to bring to his notice any such uncomfortable situations either personally or by a formal communication. This step is indeed a shot on the arms of the bureaucracy and could have simultaneously emboldened them and their junior colleagues while dampening the might of the Ministers in charge of the Ministries.

The Standard Rules of Business prescribes a Secretary to the Government of a Department to bring to the notice of the Chief Secretary matters in his department where the Minister tries to dictate terms or unduly interferes which according to him, is in contravention of the standard practices or rules of business. The CS after analyzing the situation would seek the intervention of the CM.

More often than not, in such reference to the CM, the CS would avoid being very candid or give much of an observation against the decision of the Minister of the Department. It is mostly an endorsement to the CM for his direction. Had such an OM as issued by Modi now, happened to be those days, things would have been far more different, either the Minister preferring to intervene or the CS acting strong by noting down his specific advice to the CM.

The recent OM of the PMO where matters of placing the IAS officers under suspension by the state governments or the central ministries should invariably be brought to the notice of the PMO is again another shot on the arms of these cadre officers. This itself would greatly embolden the bureaucrats to work more independently and righteously, an essential initiative for good governance and effective delivery. While these are some of the measures to encourage officers to work more upright, law-abiding and more importantly with integrity. The officers are not left to themselves to decide everything, go as they wish even though under the standard practices.

The Babus are now asked to spell out what they have achieves from foreign conferences, meetings or in brief foreign trips. Gone are the days when senior bureaucrats took it easy while in foreign trips with families hanging around on a sight-seeing trips siphoning some of the days to devote to work. This new move comes against the backdrop of persistent feeling in many quarters that these trips ostensibly meant to earn insight sand knowledge or gain experience, often turn into pleasure mini-holidays.

Instances of stretching the duration of stay at the discretion of the officer, visiting and stopping at places not intimately connected with the stated purpose and occasionally including officers more than absolutely necessary are common knowledge happening around. We had our own experiences when on foreign trips to attend international conferences or workshops for two weeks or around, we did manage to have private time for purposes other than official. We did submit a report, however, on arrival. Things have changed and really seriously.

Government officials undertaking official foreign visits since 2013-14 will have compulsorily to submit details of the outcome of such tours. Note the word, ‘details’; and Modi’s ‘details’ could be far more comprehensive than other ones normally required by any other government. These details have to be uploaded on website created exclusively for this purpose by December.

And mind you, Modi or his PMO could ask for a ‘power- point presentation’ for about 15 or 20 minutes in the presence of the tenacious glare of PMO officials, followed by questions from senior officers. That itself can be considered as a not-too-happy development. More menacing could be that the summary reappraisal could ultimately be brought to the notice of the PM. This development indeed is not an easy supplement and most wouldn’t relish it. But this is inevitable now.