Where the mind is (filled) with fear !

"Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high 

Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments 
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way 
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee 
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake."

Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Togore wrote this poem to make Indians awake to overcome fear and gain knowledge - the knowledge of truth.

While recollecting the poem with great admiration I am saddened by the fact that the spirit of this poem has very little impact particularly on a cadre which is called Inspector of Posts. The fear factor in the minds of the majority in IP cadre is such overwhelming that the stream of truth has lost its way into dreary desert sand of old habits- the habit of pocketing insult silently without mustering courage to speak out truth. Consequently the opposite has happened contrary to what poet Tagore had exhorted us to become. As thought and action is narrowed down under the impact of fear, freedom- of expression -of thought and action - remains a distant dream. And there is also deliberate attempt from Govt. side suppress the opposing voice whatsoever.

Fear – of facing departmental proceedings on flimsy ground – of not getting promotion in time – of getting superseded by so-called juniors – of untimely transfer to unintended stations –  keeps the minds IPs occupied to such an extent that the majority think that it is better to pocket the insult silently rather than to raise any voice. Thus, injustice has its field day. This fact can be realised in the context of the most important issue – the issue of upgradation of GP of IPs.

Posts analogous to IP cadre in other Departments of Govt. of India got the upgradation  of GP to `4600/- in November 2009. When IP cadre demanded parity, the Govt. opposed it mentioning that IP cadre which was not in pre-revised Pay of `6500-10500 as on 01.01.2006 is not entitled to upgraded GP. After this argument of the Govt. became weak on the face of the conflicting information, Govt. has now come up with new stand that unlike Inspectors of CBT/CBEC, the IPs were not in pre-revised scale of  `6500-10500 before 01.01.2006. What a nice way to subvert justice! Thanks to the effects of MACP, now IPs and Overseers of Mails are on same Pay Band and same GP. But the Govt is only worried about having adverse cascading effect on ASP and PS Gr.B cadre if IPs are allowed GP of `4600/-. Merger of IP and ASP cadres consented by Association notwithstanding, Govt. moves in a direction of not allowing upgradation of GP at any cost.

But IP cadre cannot do anything because of the all pervading fear factor. And Govt. knows how to control the opposing voice. A sample is already shown in Odisha Circle where attempt is made to shunt the Circle Secretary out of Circle headquarters station so as to create obstacles on the way of carrying out trade union activities effectively. One attempt is failed but several other such attempts are likely to follow.

And IP cadre continues with its age-old characteristics of not raising any voice, no matter how much humiliation is there to be inflicted by the administration. As per existing pay structure it takes at least 20 years to reach GP of `4800/- from GP of `4200/-. Will the heaven fall if someone loses `600/- differential GP in 20 years? You are not eligible to get differential GP of `200/- because you are inferior to your counterparts in every other Department. But you must achieve the targets given to you besides your normal duty. You have no family, no friend, no social custom or obligation to follow, no leave, no Sundays and holidays but only work and only work and only work. You will get a maximum of `40/- a day for invigilation duty while your counterparts in other Departments will get not less than `250/- a day. You are writing and writing and writing to the highest authority of your Department. Now you will be crying and crying and crying. But is there anybody to listen to you? You have no self-respect. You cannot die once but you are dying 100 times to do whatever your boss wants you to do.

Let my cadre awake to understand these realities with senses active and open!

B B Mohanty

CS, AIAIASP, Odisha Circle