‘Bureaucrat’s pragmatism plays important role’
| Date :06-Jul-2020 |
By Vikas Vaidya :
When a candidate is selected through Civil Services Examination after clearing all the phases, he or she is sent to respective training academies. All the candidates first have to attend the training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration at Mussoorie. Those selected for Indian Administrative Service have to complete 18-month training at Mussoorie. Those who opt Indian Police Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Revenue Service, etc., have to go to their respective academy after spending six months at Mussoorie. ‘The Hitavada’ approached some bureaucrats with two questions -- Is there any need to change the training format in existence in the academy and during British era the ICS was termed as Steel Frame. What is its status now?
Bhushan Gagrani, now Principal Secretary to Maharashtra Government said, “As per the requirements the changes are brought in the training format. I am of 1990 batch. Then only computer was introduced and we got well-acquainted with it. The changes in the outer world were incorporated from time to time. Secondly, the faculties are excellent. People from outside are invited to deliver their expert lectures. From President, Prime Minister everyone comes there. Value imparting is done in a proper way. The training module that they have prepared is good enough.
They have case studies, data bank, library is very good. Focus is on personality development and value system.” Gagrani has handled several posts and positions in bureaucracy in a well manner. A lean and well-maintained Gagrani is known for his pragmatism and simple nature. “Academy is not supposed to train the candidate for each and everything. It makes the candidate ready through orientation. For example it is not told how to conduct election. It is the prudence of that candidate. Academy is not the training institute. The candidate comes out after training, becomes Assistant Collector, Chief Executive Officer at Zilla Parishad and goes on occupying higher post.
Experience teaches him or her everything. Of course, if somebody fails to handle the particular situation, the blame does not go to Academy and should not,” pointed out Gagrani. Britishers wanted to create Steel Frame for regulatory administration. They wanted to use that for their own purpose. It was then like not falling prey to anybody’s influence. That steel frame is of no use of ours now, added Gagrani. But Gagrani pointed out a loophole came out of computerisation and too much use of internet. “The younger generation says there is lot of computerisation because of which personal interaction has got reduced.” For example, the batchmates of Gagrani used to have kind of interaction. They did continue that touch still. It helps while taking crucial decisions. It is badly missing now.
The pragmatism plays very important role. Nobody had thought about Covid-19 situation but it is the bureaucrats that are handling everything. Dr Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay, Commissioner of Police feels the concept of policing has changed. More stress should be given on community policing, public orientation and public trust. “Public orientation towards abiding by the law is an important factor. Secondly, we have to stress upon community policing that is taking shape. Then lathi used to do its work, that is of no value now. People should feel police is their friend. That type of training should be imparted to police so that he or she can create that kind of impression among public,” said Dr Upadhyay.
“We need to incorporate training of earning trust of the people. It is there but we have to stress more on that. Today nobody has the fear of stick. The reason is people have become more aware about the democratic rules, they started realising their rights. Overuse of mobile should be stopped. Police should go out, get mixed with people, talk to them. It is real policing. I don’t prefer surveys and all. We can see how a big country like America failed on that count. They should not rely more on mobile,” pointed out Dr Upadhyay. According to Dr Upadhyay, Steel Frame is still there because administration or police is the machinery that implements Government’s decisions. Government does not go out and implement. Anoop Kumar, now Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development Fisheries, Agriculture Products has played versatile roles whilst in Nagpur. He was Vice-Chancellor of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University and also of Maharashtra Animal Fisheries Sciences University.
He was instrumental in starting some new cultural activities in South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC). Anoop Kumar was Director General at YASHADA. He also prepared State policy of training, attended several training programmes at VANAMATI in Nagpur. According to him, peer learning is very important, campus growing is another important part. He insists on cultural conditioning of the candidate. Training does not mean classroom teaching. It also involves cultural conditioning. Field training should be made in a structured manner, added Anoop Kumar.
According to Anoop Kumar there is a difference between the term Steel Frame in British era. “We don’t need to go back into the history. We should move ahead. The concept of that Steel Frame is no more exists now. It is altogether different period.” ‘Today’s definition of Steel Frame is different’ Some other bureaucrats who did talk to ‘The Hitavada’ on the issues especially on ‘Steel Frame’ on condition of anonymity said, “Decisions are taken by the elected representatives with the help of bureaucrats and they insist those to be implemented by bureacrats. They come out with some decisions and ask bureaucrats to implement. If one feels that Steel Frame should still continue then it is not in good sense. We also have to see, whether the politicians have that capability to understand the issue, the repercussions of the decisions, else it will be total chaos.”