A Story for Sarkari Executive Kids
Part- 1
A government job is full of challenges thrown up not only by the works
but also by the workers
generally known as ‘Babus’. To achieve the objectives set by the policy makers,the newly
inducted executives have to identify these elements who are involved fully in putting obstacles
in the working of the system and take them along to make it work as a well oiled machine in spite
of their support!
In a governmental organization,there are officials in the habit of negating any proposal-the
abominable no men-who know how not to do any work quoting rules and regulations to justify
their stand; there are also babus who find ways and means to avoid doing any job- the
shirkers - asking every time why a specific work need to be done by them since others are
supposed to do it; there are also the ‘money makers’ who lose no opportunity to make money
while the going is good.
The limited few of the species actually moving the wheels of the government machinery are the ‘sincere silent workers’who believe in the dictum that ‘work is worship’.
The need is therefore to identify,control and manage these abominable no men,shirkers and the money makers so that the silent workers can peacefully carry out the works and achieve the targets.
The good old story of the mother bird and the little ones living in an uncultivated field is relevant here as it brings out how the attitude of people involved to carry out a work reveals whether the work would be done at all or not.
The story begins with an old farmer accompanied by his sons coming to the field and asking them to prepare the field next day for sowing.The little birds ,overhearing the conversation,are scared of getting thrown out of their nest once the works start; but the mother assures them that nothing would happen for some more time to come as evident from the attitude shown by the farmer’s sons.After a lapse of many days, the old man, failing to get his sons doing the job ,decides to come next day to prepare the field himself .The mother bird then asks her young ones to get ready to shift to a new location, as the work was certain to be executed.
Moral:
1.Self help is the best help.
2. Do not keep for tomorrow what you can do to-day.
Many generations after,the new age mother bird with its little ones had its nest in a wooded area far away from fields.The story begins with a Revenue officer accompanied by his subordinates visiting the place to plan a road through the area to connect two villages.Showing the location,he tells them to come with some labour the next day to remove the bushes and mark the road alignment.
“Open a file on the subject, get the necessary approvals and start the work without any delay”,he told them.The juniors did not appear to be enthusiastic about the job murmuring that being a forest area it was the job of the forest officials to make the road.
The birdies, listening to the conversation were certain that the mighty government officials would throw them out the next day.The mother consoled them saying that the party would not come for a couple of months because the junior’s expressions indicated that the officials fell in the category of ‘shirkers’.
The mother’s reasoning proved true as no one turned up for days together.
Moral:
1.For starting any work in government,a file is to be opened, just like the Ganesh worship before attempting any venture.
2.In government,one should be well-versed and thoroughly knowledgeable about the duties others are supposed to do,so as not to get drawn into doing unnecessary work.
The newly opened file moved at snail,s pace between Revenue department and the Forest department and from one official to another to decide as to who should do the job.Fortunately both had officials ,who had expert knowledge about what others were supposed to do.Ultimately, the Chief of the Forest department agreed to get the job done by his officials.
generally known as ‘Babus’. To achieve the objectives set by the policy makers,the newly
inducted executives have to identify these elements who are involved fully in putting obstacles
in the working of the system and take them along to make it work as a well oiled machine in spite
of their support!
In a governmental organization,there are officials in the habit of negating any proposal-the
abominable no men-who know how not to do any work quoting rules and regulations to justify
their stand; there are also babus who find ways and means to avoid doing any job- the
shirkers - asking every time why a specific work need to be done by them since others are
supposed to do it; there are also the ‘money makers’ who lose no opportunity to make money
while the going is good.
The limited few of the species actually moving the wheels of the government machinery are the ‘sincere silent workers’who believe in the dictum that ‘work is worship’.
The need is therefore to identify,control and manage these abominable no men,shirkers and the money makers so that the silent workers can peacefully carry out the works and achieve the targets.
The good old story of the mother bird and the little ones living in an uncultivated field is relevant here as it brings out how the attitude of people involved to carry out a work reveals whether the work would be done at all or not.
The story begins with an old farmer accompanied by his sons coming to the field and asking them to prepare the field next day for sowing.The little birds ,overhearing the conversation,are scared of getting thrown out of their nest once the works start; but the mother assures them that nothing would happen for some more time to come as evident from the attitude shown by the farmer’s sons.After a lapse of many days, the old man, failing to get his sons doing the job ,decides to come next day to prepare the field himself .The mother bird then asks her young ones to get ready to shift to a new location, as the work was certain to be executed.
Moral:
1.Self help is the best help.
2. Do not keep for tomorrow what you can do to-day.
Many generations after,the new age mother bird with its little ones had its nest in a wooded area far away from fields.The story begins with a Revenue officer accompanied by his subordinates visiting the place to plan a road through the area to connect two villages.Showing the location,he tells them to come with some labour the next day to remove the bushes and mark the road alignment.
“Open a file on the subject, get the necessary approvals and start the work without any delay”,he told them.The juniors did not appear to be enthusiastic about the job murmuring that being a forest area it was the job of the forest officials to make the road.
The birdies, listening to the conversation were certain that the mighty government officials would throw them out the next day.The mother consoled them saying that the party would not come for a couple of months because the junior’s expressions indicated that the officials fell in the category of ‘shirkers’.
The mother’s reasoning proved true as no one turned up for days together.
Moral:
1.For starting any work in government,a file is to be opened, just like the Ganesh worship before attempting any venture.
2.In government,one should be well-versed and thoroughly knowledgeable about the duties others are supposed to do,so as not to get drawn into doing unnecessary work.
The newly opened file moved at snail,s pace between Revenue department and the Forest department and from one official to another to decide as to who should do the job.Fortunately both had officials ,who had expert knowledge about what others were supposed to do.Ultimately, the Chief of the Forest department agreed to get the job done by his officials.
It was the turn of the forest officer this time to go with his
assistants to plan the road in the locality where the birds lived.”Since it has
been decided that we have to make the road,you come with labour to start the
work tomorrow,” he told his juniors.
The assistants did not appear enthusiastic about the proposal.”we do not have the expertise nor the budget for this sort of work,”they murmured.”When the Public Works Department has engineers to do the job,why get into other’s territory and get bad name for a work which is not ours .We have none to check the quality of the works even.”
The officer was convinced of their stand.”We would take up the matter with the PWD for their action,”he said. “In the meanwhile, we have to clear the bushes tomorrow so that the engineers can start the work early”.
The little birds who overheard the conversation urged their mother to shift to another locality before the foresters axe their little dwelling. “Nothing to fear,” she consoled them.”The facial expressions of today’s officials indicates that they belong to the category of abominable- no- men type and they know how to negate any proposal.”
Her words of wisdom proved to be true.For a couple of months,none came to inspect the place since the snail-paced file was getting thicker with notings,minutes of meetings ,interdepartmental correspondence etc. Finally, the forest men could convince the concerned authorities that PWD alone is responsible for the job as per ‘allocation of business rules’ circulated by the government to all its departments.
A couple of months thereafter,the file landed on the chief engineer’s table
Moral:
1.Everything is fair in love (for rest) and war (threatening rest).
2.The officials of the same mind-set,flock together.
3.An excuse a day can keep the work at bay.
Next came a group of engineers and contractors for inspecting the site. They decided to come with labour the next day to start the work.The little birds were not worried this time since they knew that as the monsoon rains had begun, no one could start the work.But the mother bird told them to get ready to shift since those present belonged to the ‘money makers’ category.They believed in the adage that ‘make a way while the rains pour’since road works in monsoon offered more repair jobs and hence more money.
Threatened by a possible eviction,the birds shifted to a safer haven immediately thereafter.
Moral:
1.Where there is a way (road),there is a bill (money).
2.A contractor reaps (money) from what he shows (as repairs).
3.All that glitters (in monsoon) is not road(but water in potholes).
The story can continue with many more such examples,the idea being to locate the sincere ones from different categories of officials. Once this Herculean task is achieved, it would then be possible to take up any work and achieve the set targets
The assistants did not appear enthusiastic about the proposal.”we do not have the expertise nor the budget for this sort of work,”they murmured.”When the Public Works Department has engineers to do the job,why get into other’s territory and get bad name for a work which is not ours .We have none to check the quality of the works even.”
The officer was convinced of their stand.”We would take up the matter with the PWD for their action,”he said. “In the meanwhile, we have to clear the bushes tomorrow so that the engineers can start the work early”.
The little birds who overheard the conversation urged their mother to shift to another locality before the foresters axe their little dwelling. “Nothing to fear,” she consoled them.”The facial expressions of today’s officials indicates that they belong to the category of abominable- no- men type and they know how to negate any proposal.”
Her words of wisdom proved to be true.For a couple of months,none came to inspect the place since the snail-paced file was getting thicker with notings,minutes of meetings ,interdepartmental correspondence etc. Finally, the forest men could convince the concerned authorities that PWD alone is responsible for the job as per ‘allocation of business rules’ circulated by the government to all its departments.
A couple of months thereafter,the file landed on the chief engineer’s table
Moral:
1.Everything is fair in love (for rest) and war (threatening rest).
2.The officials of the same mind-set,flock together.
3.An excuse a day can keep the work at bay.
Next came a group of engineers and contractors for inspecting the site. They decided to come with labour the next day to start the work.The little birds were not worried this time since they knew that as the monsoon rains had begun, no one could start the work.But the mother bird told them to get ready to shift since those present belonged to the ‘money makers’ category.They believed in the adage that ‘make a way while the rains pour’since road works in monsoon offered more repair jobs and hence more money.
Threatened by a possible eviction,the birds shifted to a safer haven immediately thereafter.
Moral:
1.Where there is a way (road),there is a bill (money).
2.A contractor reaps (money) from what he shows (as repairs).
3.All that glitters (in monsoon) is not road(but water in potholes).
The story can continue with many more such examples,the idea being to locate the sincere ones from different categories of officials. Once this Herculean task is achieved, it would then be possible to take up any work and achieve the set targets
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