Servant Leader - A.T.I. Newsletter (April-May,2007)

Voices from the News Desk

"Charaiveti, Charaiveti', Upanishad says. Change is the essential constituent of growth. Whatever on the face of earth grows obviously grows through change. However, what changes may not always register growth but decadence either, like what happens  in  case  of the inanimate objects. Every living organism needs to ensure that the process of growth keeps rolling and that too in the positive direction - for survival and for excellence. Stopping to move and ceasing to grow is a synonym for death. 

Every man has enormous human potential latent within him which got reflected in the famous saying of Swami Vivekananda, " Education is perfection already in man". Perfecting this potential for those who are already assigned to serve is all the more a difficult and challenging task. Many of them develop over years a kind of mental inertia showing signs of aversion to grow. Here steps in the importance of training and capacity building for the service providers wherever they are, i.e., in Government, semi-Government, Panchayats.

Administrative Training Institute being the premier training Institute of Government of West Bengal has been shouldering this onerous task of brushing up potential of public servants (the elected representatives are also public servants) by providing quality training since 1980-81, suitably guiding them to learn to serve. In keeping with the stride of time and necessity to change ATI has oriented itself to changed circumstances through a consistent and continuous process of growth and is now ready to be accredited as a Center of Excellence.

From now on it will be our constant endeavour to keep our colleagues in the administrative and training outfits in West Bengal and other States and all others concerned including members of general public inquisitive about training activities, informed of this process of growth of ATI through publication of Newsletters as the instant one, at regular intervals.

We stand committed to be frank and to bring before our readers not only the success stories but also to apprise of the areas and approaches where we may have failed to reach the target line with the honest hope of eliciting constructive suggestions for improvement.

The 'Servant Leader' concept differs from other leadership approaches emphasizing collaboration, trust, empathy and the ethical issues of power. The individual is a servant first and his drive is to lead because he wants to serve better, not because he desires increased power. This classical wisdom of ancient India propagated in recent time by Swami Vivekananda has been the professed ideal of ATI for imparting training lessons since inception.

Necessity of 'Value Based Administration' and ATI initiatives

Inputs on "Values" have occupied since long a very important role in administration.

We as trainers are well aware of the old debate, "Whether 'Values' can be inculcated through training". The common counter argument that comes in the way is, "Training can by and large address the areas of 'knowledge' & 'skill' and the 'attitude' portion is liable to remain silent".

'Values' in administration becomes all the more important when we are faced with a situation where we are to address areas like 'corruption', 'discrimination', tyranny' etc.

The human face of administration needs 'values' to be placed at the root of administration without which it becomes a mockery.

With the enactment of Right to Information Act, 'Value Based Administration' is expected to become a reality. Transparency, responsiveness and accountability in the working of public authorities are no more a dream idea hard to be reached in reality.

Individual 'value' may now directly reflect on administration through this RTI Act and, of course, with further enforcement by introduction of 'citizens charter' for every organisational set up, both Government and non-Government.

We are conducting various training programmes on 'Values in Administration'. The module developed by ATI is highly interactive and less dependence is placed on 'lecture'. More emphasis on 'case studies and discussion' methodology is eliciting better response from the trainees.

Various 'case studies' have been developed and are being used for training on "Value Based Administration".

In each and every training programme, we are keeping sessions on "Values" without which the "Skills" and "Knowledge" components become useless and disastrous.

During 2005-06 & 2006-07, ATI conducted courses on 'Ethical Issues in Administration' and imparted inputs on 'Values' to 256 participants.

Apart from the above, we are keeping at least 2 sessions on "Values" in each training programme conducted here. The RTCs (Regional Training Centers) of ATI are also conducting regular courses on "Values".

Making People Aware of Their 'Right To Know'.

The Right To Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) got the assent of the President of India on 15.6.2005 and was published in The Gazette of India on 21.6.2005. It applies to whole of the country except the State of J&K w.e.f 15th June, 2005. The West Bengal Right To Information Rules, 2006 were framed by the Administrative Reforms Cell of Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department of Government of West Bengal and published in the Kolkata Gazette Extraordinary on 29.3.2006.

The RTI Act, 2005 is the culmination of responses generated at different corners of the country including the Government at the Centre, to people's demand for right to know initiated by Mazdur Kisan Shakti Sangathan in 1990 in a sleepy village named Devdungri of Rajasmand district of central Rajasthan. From 1997 onwards in several landmark judgments Supreme Court of India and High Courts of different States observed that Articles 19(1) and 21 of Constitution of India, i.e., right to freedom of speech and expression and right to life and liberty include right to information. Right to live loses much of its meaning if a citizen's right to information is denied. In the preamble to the Act this has been widely acknowledged as a necessity by way of commitment for creation of an informed citizenry, to contain corruption and enhance accountability and transparency in the working of every public authority.

To spread this message with due emphasis, to make people at all levels aware of the importance of RTI Act, 2005 as a primary tool for good governance UNDP, in collaboration with the DoPT of Government of India has started a project named " Capacity Building For Access To Information With Special Reference To RTI Act, 2005" in twelve pilot States of the country including West Bengal. Under the Project every State has selected two Districts. Paschim Medinipur and Malda are the two pilot districts of West Bengal. ATI as the State Implementing Agency for the Project is working upon all the major project components, viz., Training and Capacity Building, Research and Documentation, Mass Awareness Campaign etc. with special thrust in these two districts and due emphasis in the remaining districts..

Though the thirty month Project officially started from the month of January'2006, in West Bengal actual implementation of the Project had to wait till June'2006 for two reasons. General Elections to Bidhan Sabha had to be over in all respect and the Rules under the Act were to be framed and published by the nodal department, i.e., P&AR Department which took some time. However, such activities like preparation of training modules, selection of ATI representative for the Steering Committee, selection of a Nodal Officer for the project, formation of a RTI Cell of ATI  had started in right earnest well earlier.

The activity of ATI, WB as State Implementing Agency for the UNDP assisted Project started with two programmes at ATI in June, 2006 for training and capacity building of SPIOs, Resource Persons, NGO representatives and other officials liable to deal with and to disseminate information under the Act. Both of these were three day programme each, the first being attended by 26 and the next by 20 participants. The highly evaluated three day training module indigenously drawn up is the standard module prevailingly used at ATI for training of nominated trainees though there is also a 5-day programme, specially designed in appreciation of the necessity of ground level officials like GP Secretaries and Executive Assistants who have been designated as SPIOs and Appellate Authorities by the P&RD Department. Two such 5-day programmes have been held at ATI for those Panchayat officials of two pilot districts. Besides these, 04 (Four) out reach training programmes by faculty from ATI have been held so far at Purulia (For participants of Purulia and Bankura), Barasat (For participants from North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Howrah), Malda (For participants from Malda, South Dinajpur and North Dinajpur), Berhampur (Mainly for elected representatives of Panchayats, Municipalities, NGOs, Civic Forums and Govt, officials also of Murshidabad). One similar outreach training programme was held at Darjeeling with faculty support from YASHADA, Pune (NIA) for participants of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar. 18 senior level participants were nominated earlier by ATI to undergo a three day training programme at YASHADA, Pune.

ATI, West Bengal as SIA has trained till now 332 Govt, and semi Govt, officials, representatives from Panchayats, Municipalities, NGOs, Media and Civic Forums. The other activities so far to make service providers and stake holders aware of the importance and utility of RTI Act, 2005 include distribution of display boards covering important provisions of RTI Act, advertisements in Bengali dailies, on Doordarshan and two other private TV channels, on INCODA TV at all metro stations and AIR, Kolkata for a continuous period of one month each, one Information Fair for 12 days in January, 2007, three seminars on RTI, talking doll shows on RTI theme at remote places of the two pilot districts, preparation and exhibition of a training cum publicity film on RTI, translation and distribution of the Act and Rules in Bengali and establishment of a help-line for RTI related queries and assistance through PUBLIC, a leading NGO of Kolkata

Grooming the Young and Old Bureaucrats

The Joint Induction Course for IAS, WBCS (Exe) and WBPS officers is usually held in the month of November or December.

The Foundation course for WBCS (Exe) follows the Jt. Induction course. Duration of these courses is about three months. The aim of these courses is to introduce the officer-trainees to various aspects of the State Administration and the social, political and economic environment in which they would be required to work. The courses also acquaint them with the basic tools and techniques of administration and management. Attempt is made to inculcate appropriate attitudes and values for a government servant. Jt. Induction course also aims at developing a good camaraderie among officers of various services, a perception that although their specific roles may be different, they are partners in the wider enterprise of public service to the development of the people and the State of West Bengal. WBCS (Exe) officers of 2005 batch and WBPS officers of 2005 batch will report at ATI on 19.04.07 for the Jt. Induction course. IAS officer-trainees are not in a position to join the Jt. Induction Course   due  to   late   appointment  of WBCS   (Exe).

It takes about 14 years for a WBCS (Exe) officer to become an S.D.O. and 20 years to become an ADM. They hold different assignments before being posted as SDOs or ADMs. Many of them have not had close touch equally with the regulatory and development administration. To enable them to perform effectively as SDOs and ADMs it is necessary to refresh their memories. Keeping this in mind the training courses on "The Effective SDO", and "The Effective ADM" have been introduced from the year 2006-07. A course on "The Effective SDO" will be held from 11.06.07  to   16.06.07.

IAS and WBCS officers get a little scope for equipping them with managerial inputs in their service career. They function as SDOs and ADMs. The role of SDOs and ADMs is vital for effective delivery of services to the public. The ATI has felt that the efficiency of the officers who become SDOs and are conversant with some managerial inputs. The ATI will conduct a training programme on "Advanced Management Development programmes" from 09.04.07 to 13.04.07.

While the animal kingdom owes is origin to the unicellular animal (protozoa) and the plant kingdom has evolved from the unicellular plant (Thallophyta), the world of the inanimates has come into being through the combination of elementary particles obeying certain natural laws. The evolution of the animate-world and transformation of the world of the inanimates are still on. The modern civilization, an embodiment of human imagination nurtured through ages, will also undergo changes in course of time in conformity with the vision of the modern Homo Sapiens. We are thus under a moral obligation to strive for making the world better for those who are here and also for those who are yet to come. So, in consonance with the basic principle of progress through continuous improvement, we have been marching towards our goal of making ATI a better place to live and learn.

(A)    Infrastructural Scenario

(i) Different wings of ATI are housed in imposing buildings interspersed with visually opulent gardens, Bakul-grove and lush green meadows.

(ii) The Air-conditioned Seminar halls have been provided with modern technological facilities.

(iii) In order to accommodate new wings, 'Centre of Excellence Building', & New Hostel Buildings are coming up.

(iv) A lift meant for the physically challenged persons is nearing completion.

(v) To conserve energy, we are in the process of installing solar lights & solar heaters in our Institute.

(vi) We are on the way to harness the benefits of rainwater harvesting.

(vii) A guest house with all modern facilities has been renovated  and  will   be  put  into  service  soon.

(B) Academic   Innovations   :

(i) In order to groom the officers into effective 'Servant Leaders', inputs on values are invariably incorporated in all training modules through the tools e.g. Case-Studies on 'Values', Transactional Analysis, Yoga etc.

(ii) A good number of "Monographs' on different topics have been published by ATI to meet the specific administrative needs of the officers and also to inculcate in them the right spirit and attitude to work.

(iii) With a view to enriching the WBCS (Exe.) probationers with a sound background in Public Administration, MA (Public Administration) Course under the Netaji Subhas Open University has been introduced for the WBCS (Exe.) Probationers effective from the WBCS (Exe.) Probationers-2003 batch. The course fees are borne by the State Government.

(iv)   In order to equip the would-be ADMS & SDOs, Courses like 'How to become Effective ADM' & 'How to become effective SDO' have been introduced at ATI.

Topic for Next Issue

  • Managing Disaster - Discussing Strategies and Making Aware of the Challenges

  • Managing Urban Issues and Planning for Better Living

  • Training the Trainers

  • Capturing Vibrating Thoughts in Print

Assert Your Right to Know

  • Right To Information Act, 2005 has come into effect from 15th June, 2005. It applies to the whole of India except Jammu & Kashmir.

  • Under the Act all 'public authorities' as defined under section 2(h) are liable to designate for all administrative units or offices Central Public Information Officers or State Public Information Officers to receive and dispose of requests for information within thirty days from the date of receipt.

  • Similarly, Assistant Public Information Officers are to be designated at sub-divisional levels or offices by such 'public authorities' to receive application for information or appeal and to forward such applications/appeals forthwith to the CPIO or SPIO.

  • Information concerning life and liberty of a person shall be furnished within forty eight hours.

  • To ask for information a person only needs to be a citizen of India.

  • Information that cannot be denied to the Parliament or State Legislature cannot be denied to any person.

  • For seeking information a person does not require to state any reason. He is to furnish only his contact details (name, address, etc.) and particulars about the information sought for.

  • To seek information a person has to submit a written application on plain paper in English or Hindi or the official language of the area. There is no prescribed form for application.

  • In case of a person who cannot write, the CPIO or the SPIO shall arrange to reduce the oral request to writing.

  • Request for Information can be sent by e-mail.

  • Persons belonging to BPL category need not pay any amount as application fee. APL category persons are to pay Rs.10/- by court fee at the time of filing application for information.

  • For any grievance regarding his/her request for information a person can prefer his/her first appeal to the departmental appellate authority after expiry of thirty days from the date of filing application or the date of receipt of information from the CPIO or the SPIO. The appeal requires to be filed not later than thirty days. A second appeal against the departmental appellate authority can be filed in a similar way before the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be.The time limit fixed for the purpose is ninety days. In both the cases the appellate authority or the Information Commission can relax the time limit.

  • The RTI Act, 2005 confers also the right to inspect office records, take extract and/or notes, inspect works and obtain certifified sample of documents.

    For any further queries contact Nodal Officer, SIA at the address given below/ or Secretary, State Information Commission, Bhabani Bhavan, 2nd Floor, Alipur, Kolkata-700027, Phone:(033) 2479-1966/2008

    Inserted in public interest by the RTI Cell of Administrative Training Institute, Government of West Bengal, FC Block, Sector - III, Kolkata - 700 106. Phone No.: (033) 2337 - 3818/4015/0647/0120/4043

    Edited and published by Gautam Sengupta WBCS (Exe.), Dy. Director, Administrative Training Institute , FC Block, Sector III, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700 106, Phone : 2337-0120, 2337-4043, Fax : 2337-4015

    E mail : dirati@vsnl.net, Printed by : The Tradelink, Kolkata - 700 006, Phone: 93310 54369