Field visit, it will fast forward transformation...

 

The more i go to the field visits the more i am convinced that if we all 

form a habit of starting the day with a field visit, it will fast forward transformation in indian administration and the way we serve. 

It’s a simple written order needed to be issued to all officers  by the governments at helm in India. 

We in Puducherry have done it. 

And officers  are visiting and evening reporting. 

But once its also from the central govt, dept of personnel, and reaffirmed in all trainings it shall sustain and then become a part of work culture nationally. 

Honble PM has been saying so several times in his speeches. 

My morning visit to Valrempate lake today. (Feb 14, 2021). 7 am. part of morning round 261, Reaffirmed this need. 

By going there i am informed the swatchta staff and the public works department worked over time to clean up the surroundings. 

But for the visit it would not have got  this attention. 

Going there gave it a fresh lease of life. 

We went there with interns and volunteers. 

The lake was in good shape. Flourishing aquatic life. 

The residents showed me the fish catch of good size and were so proud of it. 

The road side stalls run by women, were selling fried fish too with hot tea and coffee. They were doing business.

We went biking around it. By doing so we could cover the entire circumference of the lake. 

Areas which appeared to have been cleaned up in anticipation of this visit was visible. 

But for this visit the road around that portion of the lake may have remained blocked. 

While pedalling we stopped by to see the saplings of palm trees we had sown along the shoulders of the lake by hundreds of NSS Students and volunteers. 

They all had sprouted. And we could see the green shoots. 

Once all grow up the lake would have a skyline of tall palm trees. 

A win win situation for all. 

My gratitude to Puducherry for the experience it’s given me. 

Thanku.

False Accusations of Blocking Rice Schemes during Co-Vid19

I have been informed that there is a news trending in local media that LG had blocked rice to COVID affected people of UT, on the basis of LG’s speech in Governor’s conference.

I wish to affirm that it is factually incorrect. 

Some vested interests have their own personal reasons for doing so. 

Instead, I had pleaded to the Govt of India for a direct transfer of money (DBT) to COVID affected populations so that people could buy groceries directly. Which is Rice and other food items as and when they want and need. As supplies are being ensured by the dept of civil supplies and the traders working together. 

It is for information. 

Click this Link to Watch A Glimpse of Governor's Video Conference. 

However Government of India has asked UTs to distribute rice and pulse to BPL families (Below Poverty Line) as COVID assistance. 

The Administration is working on a strategy to distribute rice and pulse in a fair and transparent method, maintaining social distancing and with minimal involvement of field staff. 

The Chief Secretray and Secretary (Civil Supplies) are working out a Standard Operating Procedure and shall be put in place as soon as the Government of UT finalises it.

Dr Kiran Bedi 
Lieutenant Governor, Puducherry

Completed three and half years today in Puducherry

Dear Puducherrians.

I complete three and half years today in Puducherry. This is my longest tenure at anyone posting in my public service starting as a lecturer in 1970.

And joining Indian Police Service in 1972.

I wish to thank the Government of India for giving me an opportunity to serve here.
I thank each and  every one of you for providing me an opportunity to learn and serve Puducherry with all its small regions.

I have been blessed to receive huge acceptance, respect and support from several sections of society, which I can and will continue to return by ensuring total dedication and integrity in my given responsibilities, without any expectations of appreciation or rewards.

I believe in the message of Lord Krishna.

“Your duty is do your KARMA with FAITH in ME’....
Wishing you all a Happy New Year  and Prosperous Puducherry, which is green, clean, healthy and safe.

Your friend in RajNivas/ People Nivas.
Kiran.

A call to leadership.

A call to leadership.
**********

We talk of rights and responsibilities.
The police officers have a legal responsibility to protect life and property and enforce respect for the law and lawful directions. They are trained to do.
Failing to protect is neglect, cowardice or complicity.
When Police men and women perform their duty fairly, firmly, fearlessly and responsibly, they need to be protected by their seniors.
More so when their actions are open to full enquiry ,always, which is why the police departments have exclusive departments of vigilance and departmental enquiries.
Hence it is the duty of the department itself to scrutinise their acts of omission and commision in a rigorous manner.
This is when the role of leadership comes. It is their duty to ensure no one is prejudged and humiliated for doing their bonafide duty.
Never drive men and women in uniform to the wall and let them lose faith in their own service and own seniors.
They must trust their seniors that while they do their duty they shall be defended, protected and heard before being judged.
Something of this kind cannot go amiss.
We the people will suffer in the long run if we weaken this responsibility.
People cannot have a diffident force.
We need a decisive force for all round protection. Crisis will come and go. It’s the way of the world.
All police acts can be categorised as Malafide or Bonafide. This is why disputed actions require urgent inquiry. But not premature humiliation in any form. It hurts them and self respect of their families. Most of all their children. Police leadership needs to be sensitive to this.
Such actions are the defining moments of police leadership...
As mine did in Jan 1988. We then did not have video virals.
Technology now speaks and provides evidence for and against.
There are Lessons to be learnt for all, from this incident yet again.
Key is are we willing?

An Open Letter for Puducherrians.

Reference the news reports in the papers today on the subject concerned.

Here is an enumeration of the following actions or initiatives (or ‘interference’ in day to day administration) by the Lieutenant Governor’s Office in the last three years (nearing completion on May 29th).
——-

Beginning with cleaning of beaches , streets, drains and canals. Rewarding Swachhata workers, Municipal and PWD workers and Volunteers for their cleaning and maintaining the same.

Encouraging and promoting the habit of cycling amongst the youth. Inspiring and encouraging volunteerism.

Responding to all public grievances reaching Raj Nivas through open house or otherwise.

*Opening up of RajNivas to the general public or visitors who were keen to see 250 years old Majestic RajNivas.

*Guidance to Dept of Power and Municipalities and others on recovery of pending financial loans and arrears by name and shame and improve technology and internal management with the help of Secretary Power.

Seeking judicial intervention for dealing with errant private medical colleges extorting exorbitant fees from poor aspirants for medical seats and fighting long drawn legal battles to provide permanent relief with the help of strong support of Mr Sridhar, Private Secretary most very knowledgable about legal processes.

*Increasing vigilance on the land grab mafia. Providing relief to vulnerable citizens, senior and French nationals with the help of Collector.

*Promoting and advocating the use of helmet wearing as a measure of road safety. ( to not much avail still)

*Facilitating the improvement in water table through a movement of Water Rich Puducherry through CSR in desilting.
Also cleaning of the urban drains to avoid flooding of the city with sound support of all departments of the government of Puducherry.

*Using incognito road safety and night round to check on women safety.

*Mentoring of officers for improved administration by practical training and self study. With able assistance of my own Secretariat.

*Promoting and propagating the value of  field work for improved direct public connectivity and sensitivity in expeditious resolution of public grievances led by Team RajNivas.


*Promoting the need for sustained quality communication internally within one’s own department and externally with people for better administration. To provide to speed  and inclusivity in administration.

*Installing collaborative measures by greater use of technology by HODs (inter and intra) with the help of National Informatics  Centre.

*Putting in place control and close monitoring to be accessible 24x7 for any any one. Through close monitoring of the Control Room system by a Chief Grievances Officer Of the rank of Superintendent Police.

*Striving towards appointments on merit cum seniority. Also expediting long pending disciplinary service matters or rules formation or clearing back log of promotions. Putting a halt to back door entries ably assisted by the Secretariat.

*Taking all possible measures of Financial prudence to save Puducherry from falling in a debt trap. And that the administration observes financial discipline in managing its over 7500 Crore Budget for its 14 Lakh population by strictly following General Financial Rules as approved by President Of India. Ably assisted by the Chief Secretary and the Finance Secretary.

*Taking the responsibility of Countering misinformation in public domain for people to make better informed choices with the help of PRO and RajNivas.

*Ensuring Raj Nivas maintains a methodical documentation, publications and proper use modern tools of communications with the help of Creative Team at RajNivas.

*Seeking the replacement of the former Chief Secretary by an officer of highest integrity with sound professional skills.
Thanks to the Government Of India.

*Giving people the right to information of files being cleared by Lieutenant Governor’s officer every week by the OSD , Mr Theva Neethi Dhas.

*Observing Public Celebrations ans Leadership series through invited speakers at RajNivas inviting all sections of society, age groups and faiths.
Ably assisted by Comptroller RajNjvas.

*Grooming interns for exposure to administration and inspiring them for ethical leadership.

*Most of all connecting Raj Nivas to the people of Puducherry and making it accessible in all respects including a monthly message on DoorDarshan Jointly with OSD for translating in Tamil.

*Promoting Puducherry as a very hospitable and clean destination for over 14 Lakh Tourists visiting Every year.

*Last but not the least, inspiring officers to be self-driven and the public to become more responsible towards citizens duty.

These practices and more  if sustained will keep Puducherry a favoured destination for all round prosperity of Puducherry.
It does not matter who does. And how much. Key is that we do and the needs are met. Ideally all work together to give people holistic good administration. 

People have to be served. Their needs cannot cannot wait.
With best wishes.
Yours Sincerely
     Kiran Bedi.               May 1. 2019.

An open letter for the Puducherrians.

Last two and half years RajNivas has tried to work for the betterment of Puducherry, to make it cleaner, safer, greener, healthier and water rich for agriculture, drinking water and sanitation and more.
At times this was resisted by certain vested interests, yet we persued it for the benefit of Puducherry as a whole.
Efforts were also made to strictly work within the allocated budgets passed by the Legislative Assembly so that we do not borrow more (within limits) which shall have to be payed back by our children after some years.
We, used all moneys correctly for the poor and never allowed any diversion.
We were supported the Chief Secretary and the Finance Secretary in doing so.
However where there is no money allocated where do we give from?
We had to raise donation support in kind for filling up irrigation channels for our farmers, cleaning drains to prevent flooding, or else the poor in low lying areas would have lost their belongings, meet women’s and school children’s needs, like computers, stationery, story books, footwear, insurance policies for poor people and even their recreation .
We raised rewards and medical checks-up for the deserving poor women in sanitation work. All were gifted with sarees by traders and donors.


( All by raising resources in kind not provided for in our budgets. )

Rajnivas has worked closely both with people in rural and urban areas.
All weekends mornings, by now 216 weekends were spent with them looking at their grievances and resolving them.
We thank people of Puducherry for the respect and regard they given me personally.
We have also tried to ensure that money meant for the poor and needy is not diverted. And whatever is available be correctly used.
We have actually prevented diversion of funds. After a long time staff in Tourism corporation have receives over one Crore of rupees of their provident funds saved because of our proper financial  administration. This has benefitted the lower classes the most. Or else perhaps they would have never ever got.
Also gratuity for ATF without work for so long , and others will be given their gratuity because we had saved their moneys from grant in aid.
We are bound by Grant in aid financial rules which were being violated all along and now stopped.( it is this which has disturbed the CM the most).
I wish to point out that because of the good administration of CS, FS and Lt Governor Office, money’s were saved to give the poor rice or else some portion of it could have been diverted. Details are not known to public. But can be made public in case need arises.
Friends many things we do silently and does not come to public notice. As we do not hold every weekend press conferences.
However I am open to discuss all issues in an open public forum where HCM, his cabinet colleagues and members of the public are present along with Chief Secretary and the Finance Secretary and others on financial issues raised by any one to inform the common people how we have carefully worked to save money for the poor, be it for rice, wages of AFT or Swadeshi Mills, Sugar Mills etc. and Even on issues of road safety due to large number of fatalities. It is to save a common man’s earning member of the family dying by road accident. 

More later.

Look forward to our meeting with HCM and his cabinet colleagues and our concerned secretaries on Feb 21 at 10 AM. Hopefully by then the road will be cleared for public use.
I apologise for all inconvenience caused to you all by road blocks, and mournful drums beaten at night in and around the RajNivas. Those drums have been seized now. But the main Raj Nivas Road is still not Open. 

Our 211th Weekend Morning Round

Today on our 211th Weekend Morning Round, as part of our Mission Water Rich Puducherry, we revisited areas which were earlier bone dry, to check their status and the difference in water table. (Tsunami Quarters, Pondicherry University & Pondicherry Engineering College located in Kalapet area)

It was observed that there is an increase of about 4 mtrs in the level from 27 Mtr deep to now hover at about 23 Mtrs deep.
Likely to show more improvement with water flow to come towards the direction.
To sustain the momentum of Water - Rejuvenation, following key points were made for further follow up.
- To Caliberate the Ground Water table area wise, for specific area policies.
- Agriculture department + Public Works + Local Bodies to work together. As consumers and providers of water
- To encourage incentive based change of cropping pattern by farmers to ensure water availability round the year.
- To encourage use of recycled surface water instead of ground water for cooling and vegetation.
- To have an Inter state Co-ordination to reduce drawal of ground water by water industries situated in TN at border areas
- Percolation ponds created in Tsunami Quarters under CSR by Shasun Strides was seen. To be expanded.
- Pondicherry Engineering college to establish Water Treatment Plant & create 9 more Rain Harvesting structures and roof top harvesting.
- Asked the Engineering College and Pondicherry university to involve students in creating water pits or get in the alumni to support to save scarce government resources.
- And more.
- See pictures of the difference made.
Before and after. 👆👆