" Why not have a woman Cabinet Secretary, this time? ”
Whispersinthecorridors.com has been regularly throwing up names of probables for appointment as union Cabinet Secretary. This would make the job of PM easier in selecting the right person for the job without gender bias.
Women have held key portfolios in the past. Madam Indira Gandhi as de jure PM, President of India, an Italian lady as the de facto PM of India during the UPA era, Speaker (LS), Governors of States etc.
But, all in political domain. None as chief of Indian bureaucracy.
Regrettable. Country’s successive CEOs failed to locate a woman officer to fill the position of union Cabinet Secretary ? Whether the omission was inadvertent or a conscious decision, one wonders? But, this surely, reveals the deeply ingrained misogynistic mindset of successive Prime ministers.
Are women officers less competent , less manipulative, less pliable, more difficult to handle than their male counterparts?
Let us go down the memory lane. Recall super sessions of senior civil servants like Ms Roma Majumdar , Ms Reva Nayyar and Ms Sudha Pillai despite their relative merit and inter se seniority vis-à-vis male aspirants. Ms Sarla Grewal was , appointed as Principal Secy to the then PM- Rajiv Gandhi, but not as Cabinet Secretary.
One hopes. PM Modi takes the call by allowing merit-based, out-of-turn promotions of a lady officer when the extended tenure of P K Sinha ,present Cab Sec, expires in June 2019. No UPA trick. Let no one keep the seat of cabinet secretary warm for facilitating the posting of a junior favourite of the male specie.
Recall, how Senior-most IAS officers were even shunted out as Chairpersons of Trade Fair Authority of India with status and pay scale of Cabinet Secretary. Motive : to plant a favourite, otherwise junior, as Cabinet Secretary.
The wind seems to be blowing in favour of Modi returning as PM after 2019 elections. The exercise must begin before EC’s Code of Conduct comes into operation so that the new incumbent could work as under-study to present CS.
If, PM Modi wishes to postpone selection of new Cabinet Secretary on ethical consideration till his re-election, it is his prerogative.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)
Expenditure on Advertisement by the Modi Government
The news on the issue is misleading. It needs to be clarified that the expenditure quoted mainly includes expenditure on the advertisements related to public awareness and promotion of public interest. Incomplete information amounts to lie.
A K Verma, ISS (Retd.)
Electorate may prefer NDA at centre
Doubtful. Results in 2 states were very narrow almost a hairline margin and the electorate of these states may prefer NDA at the centre because of the good work of PM and the Government.
Srinivas
BJP win means nation’s progress
BJP win in 2019 means nation’s progress. I pray for their success.
Jitender Singh
