The current housing scam involving netas, babus and scribes may cause some anxiety to the Orissa government, but it just an example of the politics of patronage found elsewhere too. For babu-watchers, a different kind of trouble is brewing for chief minister Naveen Patnaik. Apparently the government under Patnaik is unfriendly towards people with disabilities. Under fire from activists is the Orissa Public Service Commission (OPSC), which allegedly has been violating the rights of the disabled by refusing their right to employment.
According to sources, the Odisha Disabled People’s Network is demanding reservation for disabled persons for the state civil service exam, which provides for three per cent reservation in the civil services for disabled candidates. But the OPSC’s explanation is that there is no provision in the OPSC Act to cater to people with disability. OPSC special secretary L.N. Mishra says that the commission will now consider the issue, since it was pointed out that even central service like IAS and states governments like Haryana, Punjab, Bihar and Rajasthan have quotas for persons with disability.
Fighting corruption
Given that lokayuktas are in the news, anti-corruption activists in Bangalore were taken aback when the state Lokayukta raided three IAS officers – Siddaiah, M.V. Veerabhadraiah and Mohammad A Sadiq – all within a day! According to sources, the track record of Karnataka’s anti-corruption institution has not been particularly exemplary. Apparently, in the last 10 years, though the Lokayukta police have nabbed nearly 2,400 babus, only five IAS and 6 IPS officers have been raided so far. That may explain why many were surprised by the latest raids.
Interestingly, sources say that there is little transparency within the Lokayukta. While it is mandatory for all government officials to declare their assets, the Lokayukta police chief Satyanarayana Rao and deputy inspector general of police Arun Chakravarthy have not complied so far. But that might change now.
Babu dares Mayawati
Hectic political activity seems to have eclipsed everything else in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh. But the usual business of babudom continues amid the election din. Chief Minister Mayawati’s relationship with her babus has been prickly at best, especially with those who have refused to kowtow to her wishes. In September the state’s senior-most IAS officer Promilla Shankar, who was posted as commissioner in the NCR region cell found herself suspended for invoking Behanji’s ire. As reported earlier in this column it created quite a buzz in babu circles.
Apparently, Ms Shankar has not accepted her fate meekly. Recently, sources say, she has challenged the UP government’s recent decision to extend her suspension, claiming that no officer can be suspended for more than 45 days if no disciplinary action is taken during that period. Over to Mayawati!
