Sunday, February 22, 2009

Creamy layer? really?

The debate on leadership initiated on the blog has really not taken off. I wish there were some young bright officers and also some not so young senior officers expressing their views.
What I had stated earlier in my post was that there are problems but there is no reason to be cynical. There are several people who when they were young were very good subordinates and have now turned out to be very good senior officers. The vice - versa is also true. I did not wish to turn the debate to IPS vs cadre. The reference to IPS was made because the first post on the matter had eulogised them and also many of the junior officers also keep eulogising them. I wish that the officers do come up with real grievances and suggest solutions to them instead of simply making a sweeping statement that all senior officers or all junior officers are bad or not up to the mark.
For a start let us list out the grievances that they have with their seniors. Let us be objective while doing so and also analyse whether the actions of senior officers in addressing those grievances were driven by ill motive against the officer concerned or they had some constraints?

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Seminar On Leadership

Good luck to our creamy layer as they gather to join their heads. I wish they hear themselves with clarity and feeling of accommodation. For me the issue is clear-the direction come from directors and not from managers and workers . The topic is both -a ‘gimmick’ and also a ‘serious issue‘- depends how we behave and how individuals take it. I can visualise the proceedings -‘Some of them behaving merely as 'Individuals' and a few of them behaving as 'institutions', both- to my horror, wasting time! I can bet that none would come prepared, except the steering rod-trying to make a dent.(number game)- the only endeavor we indulge in. I wish the seminar was only for the volunteers irrespective of the rank. I wish all volunteers were requested to post their presentation a week earlier for steering committee to chart out the course of discussion- to bring out a paper at the end. Since there is not sufficient time left for the stirrers to redesign the chain of detonation i request some assertions and facts could be circulated and the feedback could be compiled without discussion in form of 'Ayes', 'Nos’ and ‘Neutral'-without names and signatures of delegates. For simplifying my viewpoint i am exemplifying an assertion and a fact. Assertion 1- The issue of evolution of leadership in BSF is neglected one and BSF officers themselves are to blame for their status.Fact 1- I always ensured that dignity earned ‘in uniform’ would earn me respect in BSF circles in my post retirement days. It feels hollow to realise that such issues are echoed in discussions only. On ground there is hardly any clue reflecting the sincerity of ‘Command‘. I am suggesting some lines of thoughts for the seminar. I wish they could be read over in the discussion for a crisp start and a ‘cause’ and to make this ‘Head Count exercise‘ worth it. Kindly remember that in Forces the System is ‘Seniors‘.* Commandants and above behave more like ‘Babus’ rather than a Commander. Only a few have wisdom teeth. Majority provide mass to ‘stamps’ of clerical staff. * Most of the Commandants and above still use inspections as a coercive tools.* Many DIGs harbored a grudge against allotment of the sidelined rooms in all ranks during their career progression in Jammu Mess. And they carried the legacy when they had chance to improve.* The only benchmark of progression is age and clean record. The system do not require quality. Many of us never deserved to be where we are. And we never cared to evolve a system. * We still have a chance. We must not forget that after all these years we should have some experience that could benefit the system and the juniors.* There is no use discussing IPS vs. BSF Officers. Why do we expect from outsiders. What have we done to be recognized and to be emulated by Juniors.