Terror of Unaccounted Vigilance, Part-III: “Paving Road to Perdition!”

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What Must be Done-These are Extraordinary Times-Gamed Policies

We have been giving many suggestions. We compile them here and add a few more in light of recent developments. The objective has to be twofold:

  • #Quality of decision making must improve given the extent of #investments and falling of #safety.
  • #Honesty must be protected; #decision-making should be seen with respect and given a premium.

All CVOs and Dy.CVOs must be interviewed by #CRB, their career profile put on website to inspire confidence in their #credibility. Minister for Railways (#MR) must interview CVOs.

PED/Vigilance was removed in recent past due to intelligence inputs which found that he was indulging in acts of #corruption. Detailed investigation in to assets and benami properties must be investigated thoroughly.

It is learnt that #DRMs are also now subjected to detailed enquiries in light of unfortunate incidents involving two DRMs. However, can the background check be trusted or should there be institutional mechanism which weeds out the manipulators?

Best way is to make rules which subject the leadership triad (DRM-GM-Members) to highest level of personal conduct. Small tweaks in the rules can weed out #manipulator types.

Policy change for creating institutional mechanism for weeding out manipulators

Highest code of ethical conduct for officers occupying top 100 leadership roles

Residence-retention policy which unethically, illegally gives non-taxable and corrupt favours to those posted in top hundred leadership roles, viz., #DRM, #GM, #Members need urgent scrapping.

There are existing rules of Government of India which permit #retention of house for minor school-going children of government employees. However, Railways’ #Policy locks out the finest and priciest residences. Not just this, a little analysis reveals that this is not just unethical, it is corruption.

One of the reasons why institution of DRMs in crumbling #IndianRailways management stands out is that these positions have element of #rotation built in.

It is difficult to make sweeping changes to apply to thousands of officers and lakhs of employees. The government should hence start with just the top (less than) hundred roles of DRM-GM and Members and hold them to the highest ethical standards.

We have argued for #rotation because this does not allow local linkages to develop. Retention of the house is a sure way to signal that we are here and will always come back.

For officers posted as General Managers, there are only two paths-either they move to New Delhi in Level-17 or retire. So why should they hold their residences in previous place of posting? If they do get Level-17 in Delhi, they would in any case get nominated-earmarked accommodation.

For DRMs the feedback we have got is that, those who have manipulated the system to remain in one city for 15-20 or more years should be debarred. This will create disincentive for #manipulation to avoid implementation of #transfer-policy in its true spirit.

Secondly, DRMs should not be allowed to retain a house unless a minor dependent needs to complete academic session.

Reckless residence retention even after transfer for full tenure has defeated the very purpose of transferable employment while creating networks of connivance.

We examined some of the aspects of this in “The Curse of Supporting Self-Seekers in Leadership Triad of Indian Railways” on 31 December, 2024 and “Railway gives heavy non-taxable incentive to higher officials“ on 03 January, 2025.

…Contd. as we suggest what should be done by new team of Railway Board Vigilance which appears to be a group of sane and decent people…