The magic of giving a free hand to no-nonsense babus

Given a free hand and left to their own devices, babus committed to their tasks can bask in their own glory, leave alone reflected glory as officials who loyally implement political diktats. In Telangana, certain no-nonsense senior bureaucrats are in the limelight now for doing their job in a visibly captivating manner. Coming as it does in just eight months of the Congress rule, at least three significant initiatives have emerged as game-changers, garnering widespread public support. The buzz in political circles is hard to miss: the diligent inspections by the Commissioner of Food Safety in Telangana, the high-profile Anti-Corruption Bureau raids, and the hair-raising razing operations of HYDRAA have become the talking points, more so among Congress leaders and cadre. With celebrated officers leading the charge -Ranganath (illegal structures), CV Anand (corrupt officials), and RV Karnan (food safety), the talk in official circles is that this trifecta of authorities with a free hand is helping the government shore up its image. The subtext is that IPS officers outnumber IAS officials when it comes to the areas of operations that are changing the status quo. Congressmen are quick to point out that these initiatives have struck a chord with the public. VC Sajjanar, who was at the wheel when the Mahalakshmi scheme (free bus ride for women) was launched, perhaps set the tone for showcasing administrative capabilities predicated on the maxim ‘Where there is a will, there is a way’. All told, these officers have proved that administration, if let unhindered, can work wonders. Kudos to the government of the day will then be a natural consequence.