Whispers Forum

The system in India does not work because the system managers want it to run only when they need it. This is why we do notice major lapses such as Nirav Modi leaving the country in spite of the Modi Government. The respected Finance Minister has raised questions about the credibility of the various players involved, directly or indirectly, in such lapses. This includes a large number of Bank Officials, Chartered Accountants, Auditors, RBI Officials, employees of Nirav Modi, etc. He has expressed surprise as to why no one raised the alarm. On the face of it, it sounds credible to the credit of the politicians, but a deeper analysis will easily show as why the UPA as well as the NDA is responsible for the mess. Respected Jaitely Sir, would you like to tell the nation what you have done to encourage a whistle blower. It remains a fact that in general the system is either non-responsive to complaints or it is vindictive. A random check on the disposal of Public Grievance System reveals that the quality of disposal is highly dismal. In general, a bad note initiated by the dealing hand, be it an Under Secretary or an LDC, is not altered. Senior Officers hardly have time and priority to go deep and they just approve every bad note. The monitoring system has failed because it is not our priority. An independent sample check, at each level, can do wonders. If the system is interested, it may start from the sample check on the disposal of Public Grievances. Respected FM may be surprised to see that in all cases there is just a transfer from one table to another and while doing so no one reads the full case. Similarly, why the Government cannot analyse the large number of contempt cases against it. Why responsibility cannot be fixed for every contempt case? This will not only increase efficiency and make the system accountable, it will also reduce the burden on our judiciary, which is already overburdened. I hope, someone in the system is listening.
A. K. Verma, ISS (Retd.)

With the arrest of Karti, one hopes that action against the corrupt has started. The supporters of the NDA, who voted the NDA alliance to power, did it on the strength of honesty and past record of PM Modi. They expect action against all corrupt, politicians, bureaucrats and industrialists who are corrupt. This arrest and others to follow will certainly boost the Govt image among supporters, who were getting tired of repeated charges without action. The Govt one hopes will go ahead with clean up operations against these rogue elements. Of course Congress and their like will make noises, but it will be futile, as they will have no takers among the voters, except the die-hard supporters of CONGIS and Leftists and some others, who in any case are not supporters of NDA or BJP. Achche din for people it seems has started!
S Chatterjee
Kudos to BEL
This is due to honest, sincere, hardworking, qualified management and employees. Also, there is no casteism, favouritism, nepotism, regionalism in the organisation. Maharatna PSUs should take it as role model.
Rao
Tapan Ray best candidate for Chairman, IRDAI
Tapan Ray is the best candidate for the post of Chairman IRDAI. He has done yeoman's job in GSPC, Gujarat and later on at several important positions including SFIO, IBBI.
P Mukherjee

The Government of India and State Govts have announced with lot of fanfare the launching of "Swaccha Bharat Abhiyaan." To popularise it, sometimes Ministers and even the Prime Minister can be seen with a broom tied on bamboos sweeping a street in groups, as if, only for a photo shoot. Another gimmick is to get catchy short songs recorded on this mission and played on the vehicles of the Bhopal Municipal Corporation. Can such gimmicks make a city clean? If we take only Bhopal an example, has the BMC chalked out a strategy at micro and macro levels and worked out the finer details fixing responsibilities for execution and supervision at each level. Does someone even monitor the progress. The cleaning of the roads and side roads as well as of the storm water drains is left at the mercy of the safai kaamgars who are least committed and only make a casual appearance once a week with just a broom in their hand. They do not carry any wheel barrow or big plastic bags to collect the garbage in them and dump in the garbage bins. They only sweep the roads and throw the garbage either in the green belt or collect in dumps on the roadside . When winds blow the same garbage spreads in all directions once again. The Corporation staff has powers to impose spot fines on citizens throwing litter or making the city dirty by urinating, spitting , defecating in public. This is only in name. There should be teams constituted for each ward which should be constantly moving in the ward areas to deal with the defaulters on the spot and imposing and recovering fines on the spot. Unless , this is done as a mission in the right earnest, catching one or two persons n a month is making a mockery of the whole scheme. A central team recently visited Bhopal to assess the cleanliness of Bhopal. Perhaps the team visited only those areas which the BMC had laboriously cleaned to earn high score. They left and Bhopal is back to square one as per the latest reporting in a leading English daily published from Bhopal .
S C Agrawal
DG Police,( Retd.), MP Bhopal
Pen is mightier than sword
Why particular community got plum postings in Government, investigating agencies, PSU's pub etc for the past three years? I am seeing this site since 2015 onwards that one particular community who perform kalam(pen) puja occupied top slots. I know this community for last 36 years service, they believe pen is mightier than sword, community bonding is most important. They pick up their own caste in promotions and transfers to key positions. Will govt take a note of it?
Prasad

The Appellant sought information in connection with a particular tender - technically sanctioned estimates alongwith all document, Comparative Statement prepared after opening of technical bids, reasons for long delay, decision until its opening and issues related thereto. The CIC noted that the tender process had since been completed. The CIC advised the Respondent to suo-motu disclose all tender related information pertaining to this matter on their website keeping in view the larger public interest involved in such matters. The CIC noted with serious concern that the FAA had also not acted in accordance with the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005 and advised the public authority to be alert and cautious.
Comments
The act of entering into an agreement with any other entity by a public authority is a public activity and every citizen is entitled to know on what terms the Agreement has been reached. The Division bench of Jharkhand High Court in State of Jharkhand v. Navin Kumar Sinha and Anr. held that once a decision is taken in the matter of grant of tender, there is no justification to keep it secret. The appeal against the aforementioned decision was dismissed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
Citation: Mr. M. R. Sonaje v. Office of the General Manager, ISPN in Appeal No.:-CIC/ISPNR/A/2017/191825-BJ, Date of Decision: 02.02.2018
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is the co-author of the books: RIGHT TO INFORMATION – LAW AND PRACTICand PIO’s guide to RTI. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at - http://www.rtifoundationofindia.com/

Delhi's CM action appears to be a preplanned attempt to brow beat the bureaucracy. Unfortunately the bureaucracy (IAS,IPS,DANICS,DANIPS) are not united and the Politicians are taking advantage of it. It is Time that all bureaucrats, irrespective of their service, joins hand and refuse to carry out illegal orders of Political Bosses and their followers. They should not be afraid of transfers. Once a clear message is given that no Bureaucrat will obey their illegal orders, politicians will be compelled to mend their behaviour.
S Gopal

The present system of appointments in Central Universities and Institutes like IITs and IIMs is worse than the system of collegium of judges’ selection. The VC/Director and Head can choose whoever they want, based on half hour interview, without substantive weights to academic records or published research. Many hanky-panky are done. It is unfortunate that this has not changed, and people with backing of faculties are selected. No competition, no appraisals etc. It is a complete incestuous relationship, and people of left leanings still are flourishing, and also creating agitations against this government. The government should not be apologetic, and ruthlessly clean up the system, by having a central level education board etc as existed before independence. Otherwise the present system of nepotism and favouritism will continue and atmosphere will continue to be vitiated.
S Chatterjee

The latest episode of the rift between the politicians and civil servants in Delhi Government exposes how low we have reached in governing this country. That the Chief Secretary should be assaulted for not agreeing to do what he thought was not possible as per SC guidelines by MLAs in the presence of the Chief Minister is so bizarre and shameful. The bureaucracy has been at the receiving end of politicians in this so called democracy we revel in. The more the upstart a minister or a politician is, more obnoxious is his misbehaviour with the civil servants he works with. He thinks and it does happen that people approve of such behaviour because of the image of bureaucracy in the popular mind as being corrupt and unsympathetic .But all civil servants are not in that mould as not all politicians can be painted with the same brush. The way some civil servants work hard even at the cost of their health and family life is never appreciated. Incidentally why should a meeting be called in the middle of night. It is high time such onslaught on the physical system of bureaucracy be stopped .Unless there is an emergency why should people be not allowed to sleep as per natural requirement of their body. Some of the union ministers also indulge in the pastime of midnight meetings to perhaps impress the Prime Minister not realising they are troubling the senior officers and their families too. It is high time a balance is restored in the politician-Civil servants relationship in the interest of better governance.
Aarti Khosla

1. Bring Back Financial Institutions Nominees on Borrowing Companies Board. Independent Directors are neither Responsible nor Accountable.
2. Details of financial dealings of Companies must be part of Annual accounts. Names of Sundry Debtors/Creditors/Loans and Advances, etc must be part of accounts
Abridged Balance sheets were fine when they were printed, now no extra cost to Disclose.
3. In October 1998, RBI under pressure because of Siphoning off Money cases detected by CEIB, had Issued a Circular that no Company can lend money at a rate lower than what it borrows and definitely not at Zero.
4. Auditors if borrowing Companies must be changed every 3 years
RBI should impose this condition as a pre-requisite for approval of loans.
5. Banks/ Financial Institutions should determine extent of Equity brought in by Promoters and manner of funding.
6. Assets acquired by Promoters from Funds from Company should be disclosed in accounts.
7. Special Courts should be set up by MCA for disposal of cases of delinquent promoters.
8. Non Publishing/ furnishing of accounts by Companies be punishable with Stuff Fines.
9. SEBI needs overhaul. It is not proactive in monitoring share transactions. Promoters manipulating share prices be punished with Jail and Multiple penalties.
10. RBI Department of Banking Supervision ought to mandatorily conduct Audit of Bank Branches.
11.Consolidation of PSU banks a must.
Why should every PSU bank have a branch abroad? Hong Kong has 20-25 or more branches of PSU banks, when 2-3 will suffice.
Ajay Agnihotri
Kejriwal as a destructive leader?
History Will remember Arvind Kejriwal as a destructive leader the recent event of manhandling of Anshu Prakash, Chief Secretary, Delhi by the MLAs of AAP in the presence of and with the support of Arvind Kejriwal is a case of conversion of a political party called AAP from the agent of positive change to a party of street goons. It ensures that Sh. Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, will go to history as a destructive leader, who tried to destroy every pillar of the governance. Although, the politicians want all credit to their accounts, the Indian Bureaucracy, in spite of its limitations, is the real hero. It has been credited for successfully operating the government since independence, giving full respect to our federal democratic system. I express my solidarity with Sh. Anshu Prakash, Chief Secretary, Delhi.
Prof A K Verma ISS (Retd.)
SAIL officers’ choice an IAS officer for Chairman !
There is not only a financial crisis but the ethical / moral fabric of the organisation, which was already in a precarious state has been completely destroyed beyond repair, thanks to the mindless use of discretion based on casteism, regionalism, vested interest etc exercised .The entire cadre both executives and non-executives are completely shattered.
Narayan
SAIL officers’ choice an IAS officer for Chairman !
I agree, but there is a person who retired recently as DGM, and is very honest, sincere, highly qualified, and joined in Bhilai as MT(T) and worked in Erection, Testing, commissioning, operation, maintenance, design engineering, finance and personal of all steel plants of SAIL, and his batchmates told him that he would be future chairman of SAIL. He spent 72 hours in plant along with then soviets for commissioning of the first slab caster on July 31st 1985 at Bhilai. Being honest, firebrand in nature, he has been side tracked in promotions. such person is needed for SAIL. he can turnaround SAIL within a year, and he will implement pension, wage revision etc in SAIL. he knows in and outs of SAIL.
A retd Executive

The Raffale deal has evoked heart burn that is worse than crop burning in neighbouring states! But "bidroop ki hansi" has been misconstrued as laughter by the English media in India. It is not laughter- it is bidroop ki hansi meaning it is ridiculing someone you hate for no reason. Leaders are setting examples unworthy of imitation in use of parliamentary language in serious debates. But the biggest cackle is reference to Surpanakha. I also watched the proceedings but her name was not mentioned even once. Why is the press wasting its imaginary editorial space by referring to Surpanakha? Why should they insult Surpanakha (Ravan Ki Bahana) as she was entitled to seek Shri Ram (she only said "to sam purush na mo sam naari). The debate was not about any such matter. Besides the Ramayan has many women characters of high stature e.g. Manthara, Taraka etc. But because the English educated Indians consider it below dignity to read Indian classics, they freely misconstrue the message and quote foreign authors not related to the situation. Didn't Ravan laugh loudly? He was advised by his brother to make peace with Shri Ram but he kicked him out and laughed boisterously, no one crackled, at Vibhishan referring to Ram as Shri Ram. That laughter is still reverberating in the Jagat!!! Jai........
M L Gupta
Rationalise distribution of work
I think to a great extent the problem of the paucity can be taken care of by rational distribution of work. Majority of them do not have sufficient work while a chosen few are heavily loaded.
AP

Politicians are the same irrespective of their party. High time we start electing the better of the lot. Party is synonymous with a gang whichever it is.
ARC Kumar
Civil service needs reforms
I disagree that diplomats and ambassadors are useless and not required in this age of digitization. Without one to one interaction on the ground, no results can be achieved in diplomacy. Diplomats and HOMs/HOPs are a conduit to the policy formation between two nations and also international relations too. Of course, to improve governance system in India, civil service needs reforms and pruning too, so that Government's role is reduced.
Harish Kumar
Scrap SAIL Chairman selection
Appoint a retired DGM level person who is honest sincere, qualified and suffered due to regionalism, casteism, not paying price tag. Other wise it will be another PNB scam.
A Retd Executive