T-Hub, Hyderabad-based business incubator, is certainly one public-private enterprise that has lived up to its tagline of ‘enabling and empowering an ecosystem hungry for innovation’. Established in November 2015 as a partnership between the Government of Telangana, three academic institutes viz. the International Institute of Information Technology, the Indian School of Business and the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research as well as the private sector, it has grown enormously to be a fount of inspiration even for babus. It is not every day that one gets to hear that bureaucrats want to up their game. Following a visit to T-Hub, recently IAS officers sent messages of appreciation and made excited calls to Minister K T Rama Rao.
One of the bureaucrats’ messages read quite matter-of-factly:”In the world of bureaucracy, innovation is the word that we do not hear often. After our visit to T-Hub, we are also excited to elevate our game. To also bring in innovation angle in the sphere of our work, so that we can contribute more to the state that is growing brilliantly”. While some sent texts, a few like special CS Rama Krishna Rao made calls, and, after citing a few figures on GSDP, said that they are kicked up to bring an element of innovation in their sphere of work. Arvind Kumar even did a live tweet when an official meeting was held on the lawns of T-Hub. Of course, the host Jayesh Ranjan also took feedback and sent them to KTR, who was all praise for the IT Secretary.
Whispers take officials by surprise
Amidst the heavy movement of heavy-weight legislators from one party to another for reasons that are never disclosed, people and official circles do become curious when X or Y is specified by lobbyists as the presumptive chief minister, much ahead of the next Assembly elections. Some official circles were taken by surprise when Bandi Sanjay’s name figured as the ‘CM face’ of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Telangana. Whispers in the corridors, a magazine run by a lobby of incumbent and retired bureaucrats across the country, put out on October30: “Bandi Sanjay is likely to be the BJP CM face in Telangana Assembly polls. He is the president of BJP Telangana State unit”.
Bureaucrats are divided over the implications of this, with some seeing no chance for a quick rise of another leader and others pitching for either Kishan Reddy or Eatala Rajender. Amidst all this, one thing is clear: the officials have zeroed in on BJP as the key, if not the sole, contender against TRS.
Can Vikas Raj handle Assembly elections?
The long-drawn-out declaration of the result of the Munugode by-election has triggered a hot discussion on whether Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj can handle the upcoming Telangana Assembly elections. Due to the tantalizing delay in releasing results at the end of each round, apart from previous issues on symbols, the role of returning officers has come under lens, raising eyebrows. Political circles were discussing how bureaucrats tend to switch allegiances based on changing political equations.
However, during a press conference, when Vikas Raj was specifically asked if there was any political pressure on him, he denied it — for obvious reasons. Asked whether the ECI had intervened as the CEO could not take action, Vikas said they never reached out to CEO and went directly to ECI. Logically he might sound correct, but media circles are expecting high drama related to CEO post in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Patience in awaiting posting pays
“Intezaar ka phal meetha hotha hai”, goes a Hindi maxim, highlighting the virtue of patience for those who evidently deserve a befitting position. Milton put it beautifully: “They also serve only stand and wait”. Harichandana Dasari, though deemed to be a dynamic officer, is yet to get a posting. After being moved from her position as Collector of Narayanpet, she is yet to be given a posting. It is going to be one month since she was asked to report to the General Administration Department.The buzz is that Harichandana might be taken into one of the portfolios handled by Minister K T Rama Rao. Noticeably, the officer has been posting some heartwarming videos, posts on Twitter.
IAS and IPS officials do not see eye
to eye on cycling tracks
Fitness regime is fine as long as it does not multiply one’s routine policing duties disproportionately. Both IAS and IPS officers in TS are known to be fitness enthusiasts. Yet, when it comes to the prospects of providing enhanced amenities in the city, there is a growing tussle between top IAS and IPS officers, especially with regard to the cycling track. A little bird told us that all the three Commissioners in the city are not keen on the idea of a cycling track as they cannot deploy sufficient manpower along the track. Besides, they have to cope with the complications occasioned by the reduced width of the roads. Even though lower level officials of civic and traffic wings are being blamed for systemic inefficiencies, it is the top bosses who have locked horns.
-Yours truly
