Age No Bar: Even older Indian bureaucrat is now eligible to take up Myanmar post

Nearing 60: Thinking About Myanmar...

IT’S like a desperate situation for the government of India to spot the right bureaucrat for a deputy secretary-equivalent post in mystic land of Myanmar. In the last six months, the DoPT has issued three circulars asking applications from the suitable candidates for the post of first secretary (development) at Indian Embassy in Myanmar. Now, even the Central Secretariat Services officers can apply for the post. Also, older bureaucrats are eligible now, as the age bar of 45 years...
is no longer a mandatory condition but only a desirable eligibility criterion.

Every time, the circular says the officer is required on an urgent basis. Also, the deadline is continuously being extended. The last circular was dated April 12, 2012 which was in fact a continuation of two earlier circulars dated November 28, 2011 and February 16. This one of the few non-IFS posts in Indian foreign missions. Originally, it was expected that a large number of IAS and group A officers would apply for the post, but it seems the DoPT received a very cold response.

The possession of prior experience in the field of project management and willingness to take up the post immediately are the two mandatory conditions now. The posting is on a deputation basis for a period of three years.

It seems, the bureaucrats who lobby hard to get a posting in US or Europe are virtually shying away from shifting base to Myanmar which has been battered by military rule of over 50 years. Yet, democracy is slowing retuning to the nation with whom India shares a 1643-km long border. US is ready to shed some sanctions and secretary of state Hillary Clinton described the recent election victory of Aung San Suu Kyi’s party as a “dramatic demonstration of popular will”. Also, companies around the world are looking at Myanmar as a potential market for oil, gas, timber and consumer goods. Even Indian government a few months ago extended a USD 500 dollar (Rs 2500 crore) line of credit to Myanmar.

But where is the man who is supposed to deal with daily matters in advancing India’s economic interests in Myanmar?

IRS officer debarred from taking up foreign post

Ms Sulekha Verma, a 1990 batch IRS-IT officer, has been debarred from taking up any post under Central Staffing Scheme for five years as she failed to join as director in the department of sports even after she was offered the post. According to an office memorandum dated April 9, 2012, she would not get cadre clearance for taking up any foreign posting or consultancies during the same period.

Action and Appointments

a) Neeraj Mittal, a 1992 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS currently working as director in the ministry of petroleum and natural gas, has been elevated as a joint secretary in the same ministry in place of DNN Raju, a 1984 batch Karnataka cadre IAS.

b) Manish Tripathi, a 1998 batch IDAS officer, has been appointed as OSD to minister of state (independent charge) for statistics and programme implementation Srikant Jena at the rank of a deputy secretary.