Yashwant Sinha releases book, says Indian bureaucracy lost its ‘steel frame’

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 21

Indian bureaucracy has now lost “the steel” with which the frame was made, claimed former bureaucrat and politician Yashwant Sinha, who along with former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit released a book: “From Inside The Steel Frame: The memoirs of an Administrator”, written by IAS officer Ashok Pandey (Retd) and published by Palimpsest.

Speaking on the occasion, Sinha, while travelling down the memory lane, described how during his stint as District Collector of Bihar district he used to be responsive to the needs of people.

“But now, the service has degenerated to an extent that it is difficult to find officers standing alone among people and listen to their problems and find solutions. My take on the issue will be either to improve the situation or leave it entirely to the elected representative,” he said.

Claiming that she represents a mix of both – a politician as well a bureaucrat as she is the wife of an IAS officer, Dikshit said, “Unless there is a perfect blend between political class and administrators, larger public good can’t be achieved.”

Suggesting that the book by Pandey was engrossing as she could relate it to many incidents described in it.

Pandey, while describing his stint as an IAS officer and also the trigger that produced the book, said, “I work with only one motto. Either I convince somebody or get convinced. My appeal to all aspiring civil servant is that to follow this motto and you will not find your job difficult.”