How good are you — and how much do you work? The Narendra Modi government is asking these questions of senior bureaucrats and planning to put in a new appraisal and working hour system.
Bureaucrats are being quietly appraised on parameters like their project delivery record, neutrality and dedication to work — plus, the Narendra Modi government is set to change a 29-year-old rule instituted by the Rajiv Gandhi government to ensure government officials put in more hours at work.
At least two senior officials in know of the developments have told ET that formal orders could soon be issued extending work hours from the existing limit of 40 hours a week. "This could be done by making each Saturday or alternate Saturdays working days," one senior government official said on condition of anonymity.
Appraisal could be basis for reshuffle for officials
"An alternative could be to stick to the 5-day week system but extend the daily work hours on the five working days from 8 am to 6 pm or even 8 am to 8 pm. The matter is being discussed," the official added. At present, the working hours for central government officials, as per an order issued in 1985, are 9 am to 5 am with a 30-minute lunch break and each weekend being off.Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Personnel, Jitendra Singh, said he would not reveal if any move was afoot to increase the working hours for bureaucrats. "There is no official circular by us yet. If something is issued, we will duly inform you from the Prime Minister's Office," Singh told ET.
Asilent appraisal of top bureaucrats is also on that could be the basis for a reshuffle in secretary-level and other senior positions soon. An official of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) aware of this exercise said bureaucrats are being assessed on four parameters: Past performance, quickness of delivery, dedication to work and neutrality.
"Past performance of a period of over a decade is being taken into consideration as well as achievements specific to quick delivery of targets. Dedication to work is a key parameter and bureaucrats devoting time to hanging out at clubs or page 3 activities may find themselves out in the cold in this government," this official told ET.
"Neutrality or political non-allegiance" is another key factor being analysed for bureaucrats who are holding senior positions in the government, the official quoted earlier said. Many bureaucrats right now in secretary-level and other senior positions are perceived to be close to the erstwhile UPA government since it was in power for the last decade and had appointed all of them to these posts. Modi has met all secretaries to the government on Wednesday evening to lay out a policy map for the bureaucracy.
"What is being checked is whether the bureaucrat is neutral in his work and does not let his political preferences cloud his decision-making activity," an official said. Modi himself works nearly 18 hours a day and his "I-mean-Business" approach is already percolating down the bureaucracy with most secretaries and other senior officials arriving in their offices sharp by 9 am and working late till 8 pm these days, very much like the new ministers. The changeover from a 6-day week to a 5-day week happened in 1985 - an initiative by the then prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi. A May 21, 1985 order had stressed a 5-day week was important for "improving the efficiency of the administration."
Source:-The Economic Times
No comments:
Post a Comment