Secretariat, Raipur

After joining the service in 1971, I entered the state secretariat for the first time on January 1, 2001 as the Principal Secretary in General Administration Department of Chhattisgarh Government. I had the dubious distinction of serving under a senior officer of 1965 batch Mr Arun Kumar as the first chief Secretary of the new state. He was an easy going officer enjoying the perks and privileges of the offices wherever he was posted. I remember him working as the Collector of Raigarh district in the erstwhile Madhya Pradesh government in 1974-75 when I was the Sub Divisional Officer of Jashpurnagar. He was fond of playing cards in the rest house during his tours. It was a shocking event for a person like me who abhorred the idea of wasting time in such a way while in service. In the newly formed state there were very few officers and the staff well-versed in rules and procedure to be followed in the Secretariat. Since it was my first posting in the secretariat I had a tough time with this gentleman who was not willing to work hard and guide the subordinates. Rather he used to be rough with those who didn't toe his line and look after his mundane interests. I was literally shocked at his routine in the secretariat. He used to read magazines like Femina, Stardust etc during office hours. Files used to get piled up on his desk for days and months together without disposal. The only files that were cleared promptly were the ones dealing with the tour programmes sent by the secretaries from time to time. All other important files were untouched and returned to me in G.A.D quietly in person one fine morning after about two-three months without any noting or decisions on them. Sometimes the files meant for the Chief Minister too were returned without action. The slow disposal of files continued till the end of his tenure despite rebuke from the active chief minister Mr.Ajit Jogi. His style of non-performance was duly reflected even in his posting as the Advisor for.Administrative Reforms, a post created to accommodate him after his retirement after much persuasion from many quarters. Not a page of noting on reforms was produced at the end of his tenure of one year or so. But one would be surprised to see his ACRs written by his superiors including some chief ministers in glorious verbiage. I am not surprised why the working of governments in this country has not improved and ensured development in the last six decades after independence. It is also true that a small percentage of officials at the top are laborious and sincere although the output is not up to the mark in quality and quantity. Many a time the postings and promotions of officers have ended up with round and square pegs and holes in a mismatch. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++