Railway Minister Gives Important Clarification on IRMS
Hon’ble Minister for Railways has made a new beginning, this is major relief to young railway officers who were confused about their careers
On 5th November, during his visit to Varanasi, Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw gave very important clarifications on IRMS while addressing officers in the VIP lounge in Banaras Station.
His approach and tone was very different this time. He started his speech to all Branch Officers (BOs) by stating that he wanted to clarify all doubts about IRMS, Selection Procedure of Junior Scale (JS) etc.
He stated that department and specialisation, and also expertise are key to Railway working. It is Indian RailwayтАЩs uniqueness and strength also. He also stressed that a seasoned civil engineer will be required for Construction post always, dispelling the rumour that the post of CAO/Construction will be made ex-cadre. He clarified that IRMS at present will be applicable to Board Members and Zonal GMs. May be implemented to AMs and DRMs later.
In another major clarification, he mentioned that induction in Junior Scale will be through UPSC and notification will be out in a few months. The promotion of Additional Member (AMs) level is delayed due to a hasty decision to implement IRMS at that level too. Which is now reverted for the time being.
This is a major relief to young railway officers who were confused about their careers. Also, a major concern in engineering graduates that recruitment of engineers to Indian Railways was stopped has been addressed.
Indian Railways is the top choice in Engineering Services Examination (ESE). It is very magnanimous of Railway Minister to acknowledge that there was an unwanted hurry in taking decisions on several aspects of IRMS.
These clarifications should have come in routine from the Railway Board, however, Railway Minister had to take initiative to reach out-showing how dysfunctional Railway Board has become.
The Railway Minister is interacting with officers and staff and engaging with them directly. This dialogue he has done at Jaipur also during his visit recently. This is a very good sign and also marks the weakening of the grip of KMG on the person of the Railway Minister.
Railway Minister should likewise work on boosting morale of the organisation which is sagging due to long delayed postings, system of adhoc arrangements, bull dozing by elements who are in advisory role, system where chosen few are favoured, use of vigilance to wreck career of officers.
Management-101 says, “trust the voices of people who have skin in the game – it is posted officers who have accountability, not the advisory persons”. When officers get bulldozed, many create parallel notings, recording on conditions in which the decisions have been taken. These are hidden time bombs which every leader should be careful about.
The old Congress method of setting up a committee and getting pre-decided recommendations can also not save people from prosecution.
Purchasing of excess material, specifications which are not aligned to railway needs, not doing proper review of older specification before fresh purchases, overlooking manipulation of eligibility criteria, playing selectively between Stores and Works tenders are all red flags.
When decisions are taken by ad-hoc Board level leadership on cases piloted by officers who have been granted big favours, serious questions arise on probity of process.
When decisions are taken in environment of bullying by persons who are not in official chain of command, this would surely create problems later when todayтАЩs decisions are reviewed – a certainty as massive investments are being made.
Many officers plead Minister for Railways, to restore the time tested method of check and balances which every government ministry of following scrupulously. Every government officer who is properly screened will keep his ideology aside and implement policies directed by the political leadership-practices of ‘Khan Market School of Management’ that would not be needed in such a condition.
Hon’ble Minister for Railways has made a new beginning, he has acknowledged the role of engineers who come from a highly competitive examination, he has for the first time given clarity on IRMS – something which Railway Board should have done earlier.
How checks and balances have been affected due to KMGтАЩs philosophy of “рд╕рд░рдХрд╛рд░ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдХреА рднреА рд╣реЛ, рдкрд░ рд╕рд┐рд╕реНрдЯрдо рд╣рдорд╛рд░рд╛ рд╣реИ!”, will be covered in next part…
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