IAS trainees to put in 3 months at Centre before big district postings
Sobhana K Nair in New Delhi mirrorfeedback TWEET @MumbaiMirror
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New Delhi
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In a change from the established norm, freshly-minted IAS officers will have to first work for three months in overcrowded Union ministries as assistant secretaries, instead of being posted across the country as district collectors after completing their introductory training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Musoorie.This latest order from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) says IAS officers from a fresh batch need a `holistic overview of the functioning of the central government', and they will be attached to joint and additional secretaries who will mentor them.
The new batch of 180 officers is expected to start their three-month stint in central government departments from August 22. Sources said PM Narendra Modi felt that IAS trainees were given too much power and space all of a sudden and space in district postings.
“Central government experience at an early stage would equip the officer with greater knowledge of policy formulation, an appreciation of the country's diversity and result ant challenges, and exposure to the best practices from different parts of the country,“ a letter by DOPT secretary Sanjay Kothari to all chief secre taries reads.
The DoPT order, though, hasn't gone down too well with the young IAS officers. “It would be a total waste of time. We will be spending time in the company of central civil service officers of desk officer and under-secretary rank. We are not going to learn anything. Rather, we will miss out on field experience,“ a trainee IAS officer, who declined to be named, said.
The trainee officers, who were expecting generous accommodation in the districts they would have normally been posted in, are not upbeat about having to live in state guest houses in Delhi. The government is not willing to give them space in the Lutyen's Zone as well.
“The proposal has originated from the Prime Minister's Office. It was suggested that the training period at the Centre should be for a year. Later, it was reduced to three months,“ a senior DOPT official said.
“I think it is a good move. Young officers will get a top-down view and learn about Centre-State relationships. More importantly, it will help them in not getting carried away,“ said former Delhi chief secretary Shailaja Chandra.
The DOPT is awaiting a reply from the state governments, a few of whom have expressed displeasure at losing their new officers.
The new batch of 180 officers is expected to start their three-month stint in central government departments from August 22. Sources said PM Narendra Modi felt that IAS trainees were given too much power and space all of a sudden and space in district postings.
“Central government experience at an early stage would equip the officer with greater knowledge of policy formulation, an appreciation of the country's diversity and result ant challenges, and exposure to the best practices from different parts of the country,“ a letter by DOPT secretary Sanjay Kothari to all chief secre taries reads.
The DoPT order, though, hasn't gone down too well with the young IAS officers. “It would be a total waste of time. We will be spending time in the company of central civil service officers of desk officer and under-secretary rank. We are not going to learn anything. Rather, we will miss out on field experience,“ a trainee IAS officer, who declined to be named, said.
The trainee officers, who were expecting generous accommodation in the districts they would have normally been posted in, are not upbeat about having to live in state guest houses in Delhi. The government is not willing to give them space in the Lutyen's Zone as well.
“The proposal has originated from the Prime Minister's Office. It was suggested that the training period at the Centre should be for a year. Later, it was reduced to three months,“ a senior DOPT official said.
“I think it is a good move. Young officers will get a top-down view and learn about Centre-State relationships. More importantly, it will help them in not getting carried away,“ said former Delhi chief secretary Shailaja Chandra.
The DOPT is awaiting a reply from the state governments, a few of whom have expressed displeasure at losing their new officers.
