Training plan for bureaucrats may fail

An ambitious plan to re-train bureaucrats at the cost of public exchequer is at the risk of falling flat. The programmes, it seems, have been seeing sub-optimal utilisation of resources because the IAS officers fail to turn up at the courses.

An ambitious plan to re-train bureaucrats at the cost of public exchequer is at the risk of falling flat. The programmes, it seems, have been seeing sub-optimal utilisation of resources because the IAS officers fail to turn up at the courses. The Department of Personnel and Training last week told all departments and states to follow the rules and let them know in advance if officers will not be able to attend the mid-career training course at the first opportunity. But this exemption will only be provided in exceptional instances if the officers concerned have a valid reason for exemption.

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Minister too quick for his staff to keep track

A group of reporters waiting to meet telecom minister Kapil Sibal at his Sanchar Bhawan office on Wednesday witnessed an unusual scene. Sibal's office was empty, but his aides insisted he was in. The staff went on a quick reconnaissance mission, tracing the minister to a room. As one official quipped: “Sibal is too quick even for his staff to keep track.”

Division of work to avoid confusion

Few ministers in the cabinet can claim of three PSs; but multiple men in attendance can also be a coordination challenge.

Kapil Sibal — minister for human resource development, telecommunications and information technology, science and technology and earth sciences — has one PS in each ministry. To meet the coordination challenge, Sibal sticks to a schedule — HRD ministry work on Mondays and Tuesdays, science on Wednesdays and telecom on Thursdays and Fridays.