gfiles magazine

April 9, 2015

Absence of equality?

...by the way

How is it that the Department of Urban Development in the Delhi government has the most number of Dalit (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) officers? It is surprising to learn that the Principal Secretary, Joint Secretary (Municipal Bodies), Deputy Secretary (Administration) as well as the Deputy Controller of Accounts are all from the Scheduled Caste category. Had it stopped here, the officials could understand the focus of the government. But the Special Secretary, Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary (National Livelihood Mission) and also the Joint Director (Planning) are all Scheduled Tribe officers. The Urban Development Department is a very important one as it not only deals with unauthorised colonies in Delhi but also governs the MLA Local Area Development Funds, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, all Municipal Corporations of Delhi, NDMC and the Jal Board. Nobody is able to pinpoint why all the Dalit officers are being posted in only the Urban Development Department. Not surprisingly,  most of the officers have never lived in Delhi and are not aware of the geographical nuances of the capital. Dealing with unauthorised colonies is the most complex subject of this department. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should take the initiative and reallocate the Dalit officers rather than grouping them in a single department. 



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