Faith Vs. Frenzy

GOVERNANCE PERILS OF REVERSE MIGRATION p28 GOVERNANCE ICICI BOSS KAMATH UNDER A CLOUD p34

MARK SEDWILL TALKTIME May-June 2020 `200 p48 vol. 14, issue 2-3

gfilesindia.com tablighi jamaat Faith vs. Frenzy

ISSN 0976-2906 GLOBAL SCANp56

Putin’s Balancing Act 1 ELECTION ’09 SPECIAL REPORTS POLITICS GOVERNANCE WANTED: BABUS DISENFRANCHISING THE NAVEEN a K verma m g devasahayam special report special Forest oFFicer’s KILLING FIELDS OF KAIMUR p24 WEST BENGAL: DISTANT THUNDER p22 son rise in FERTILISER : wRONG A LEADER IN THE FRAY THE POOR FACTOR reds here to stay p22 1962 China War p26 loot in Mp p16 VictiMisation in HarYana p24 CONGRESS p34 5 mEdICINE p26 years 5 5 VOL. 3, ISSUE 7 | OCTOBER 2009 | RS 50 years years years VOL. 3, ISSUE 1 | APRIL 2009 | RS 200 R.N.I. NO: DELENG/2007/19719 February 2013 Rs 200 R.N.I. NO: DELENG/2007/19719 RIGHT TO INFORMATION October 2012 Rs 100 vol. 6, issue 11 June 2012 Rs 100 p24 vOl. 6, issue 7 THE SWELLING TIDE p16 vol. 6, issue 3 p18 INTERVIEw p22 AIR CHIEF mandarin INCOME TAX NAK BROwNE matters p22 K n BaKshi THE UNFAIR BURDEN p20 p40 special cHoppers, tHe big business FIRST STIRRINGS p19 p28 gfilesindia.com VISHNU BHAGWAN p28 gfilesindia.com GOVERNANCE: www.gfilesindia.com no jai ho! for bapu ◗ DEFENCE: FIRST STIRRINGS: ◗ big brother’sthe big procurement ears! ks bains quagmire

gfilesindia.com PHOTOS:SAXENA SHARAD oil industry needs surgery Israel INDIa BHAI BHAI?

POLITICSOVer to 36 38 p BJP: RAJNATp H ajit nimBalKar first stirrings ‘speed up’

2007/19719 aK setH, cabinet secretarY on goVernance reForMs p44 First stirrings R.N.i. No: DeleNG/ Vineeta rai BIG BOSS cabinet secretary km chandrasekhar ‘Strong economic recovery by the end of the year’

Gatewayto the Government ofIndIa

gfiles is the country’s first magazine written, designed and produced for India’s civil services—the vast and formidable network of bureaucracies and public sector organisations. A niche market product since April 2007, it reaches 76,000 individuals with a universe of more than 3,50,000 readers. Its exclusive readership consists of the men and women who lead the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), the Indian Police Service (IPS), the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Class I Union Services, as well as a host of Allied Services. gfiles provides not only exclusive news unavailable anywhere else in the media or the Internet, but also focuses exclusively on the future, anticipating events and developments. gfiles contains detailed, extensive and accurate reports about transfers and postings. It features interviews, case studies, snippets, retirement profiles, financial planning advice, political changes, as well as birthdays and alumni tracking. gfileindia.com, a web portal of gfiles, clicks more than 26 lakh hits every month.

Subscription: [email protected] Advertisement: [email protected]

for details www.gfilesindia.com

2 From the Editor

OVID-19 has devastated us socially, mentally, physically, and economically. It has also exposed the instability Cand inefficacy of the governance system. In ‘God’s Own Country’, the policy makers revealed that they lacked the wherewithal to protect their citizens during an extreme and unforeseen calamity. The reverse exodus of millions of poor migrants—from cities to villages—led to the bitter vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 realisation that the country is vertically divided between the haves and have-nots. Anil Tyagi | editor Almost 30 per cent of the population was on the highways, and walked hundreds GS Sood | business editor Sheshadri Chari | roving editor of kilometres to reach their homes. A few died on the way; we have no idea how Abhilash Khandekar | consulting editor many got infected by Covid-19 and other viruses. A few experts, like renowned Alam Srinivas | contributing editor Vivek Mukherji | contributing editor epidemiologist Jayapraksh Muliyil, contend that half of India’s 1.37 billion people Anish Gandhi | consultant, foreign affairs will finally contract the disease. Vibhash Jha | senior editor, chhattisgarh Indians are in a fix. Should they save their lives, or livelihoods? Most have Rakesh Bhardwaj | editorial consultant Sumit Bothra | regional head, tamil nadu decided in favour of the latter as urban streets and roads get crowded by the day. Ramesh Sharma | bureau chief (north india) Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave several messages over the past few months— Nipun Jain | finance “Jaan hai toh jahaan hai” (only if there is life there will be livelihood), “Jaan bhi Gautam Das | legal consultant Bushchat Media | edit & design Jahaan bhi” (lives and livelihoods matter equally), “Jaan se lekar jag tak” (from an Madan Lal | webmaster individual to humanity), and Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (Self-reliant India Abhisshek Tyagi | director Mission). Most of us are unable to decipher the coded language and find it difficult advertising & marketing to relate it to reality. Anil Sood | vice president, marketing According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, 140 million Indians lost +919811639632 PS Sural | vice president, marketing their jobs during the various lockdowns. More than 45 per cent of the households +919873243950 reported a decline in incomes this year. This is the official data. One has no idea of e-mail: [email protected] up: Rajeev Anand | regional head the adverse situation in the unorganised sector, and among marginalised farmers. As +91884 023 9980 +91 99363 58161 per Acuité Ratings, the Indian economy possibly lost `32,000 crore (US$4.5 billion) [email protected] every day during the first 21 days of the complete lockdowns. Raghuram Rajan, the delhi: e-mail: [email protected] Chandigarh: Jangra Complex, Opp Hotel Ramade former RBI Governor, maintained that the pandemic may just be the “greatest Plaza, Ambala Chandigarh Road, emergency since Independence” in India. Former Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Zirakpur-140107, Punjab Mobile +917888591003 e-mail: [email protected] Subramanian said that India would need `10 trillion ($140 billion) to overcome the sales & marketing economic contraction. Although the government announced what seems like a huge chhattisgarh: Prafull Choudhary | state head stimulus package, the actual expenditure is much less. The treasury is empty; the +919109357910 Anil Tyagi, Printer & Publisher Emperor seems to have no clothes. 118, 2nd floor, DDA SITE-1, NEW RAJINDER Clearly, we live in a country that’s divided along several lines—one of them now NAGAR, NEW DELHI-110060 is economic. There is an India, which lives in the cities, owns computers, transport, +All information in gfiles is obtained from sources that the and smart phones, and studies in quality schools. It can speak English, has access management considers reliable, and is disseminated to readers without any responsibility on our part. Any opinions or views to health facilities, and manages three square meals a day. The other is Bharat, on any contemporary or past topics, issues or developments which lives in the villages, and does not have material comforts, or even the basic expressed by third parties, whether in abstract or in interviews, are not necessarily shared by us. Copyright exclusively with amenities like health, food, and education. Those who are in governance are unable Sarvashrestha Media Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction of any material of this magazine in to decide whether they should focus on India or Bharat. This is the biggest policy whole, or in part(s), in any manner, without prior permission, paradox, an insurmountable challenge whose solution is crucial. is totally prohibited. The publisher accepts no responsibility for any material lost or damaged in transit. The publisher In fact, the current debate is whether we need to transform and change our reserves the right to refuse, withdraw or otherwise deal with governance system. More importantly, were we wrong in choosing the wrong socio- any advertisement without explanation. All advertisements must comply with the Indian Advertisements Code. Published economic model in 1991. Instead of growth-driven development, which was city- and printed by Anil Tyagi on behalf of Sarvashrestha Media Pvt. centric, we could have focused more on the 640,867 villages, along with the semi- Ltd at Polykam Offset, C-138, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase I, New Delhi 110028. All disputes are subject to the exclusive urban areas. We had a ready model to follow. The father of the nation Mohandas jurisdiction of competent courts in New Delhi only Karamchand Gandhi advocated that we need to build self-reliant villages as the Contact: [email protected] basis of a free democracy. Even RSS’ top thinker Nanaji Deshmukh was the votary For sales: [email protected] For Subscription: [email protected] of village development. Sops and benefits like MNREGA may help the rural tel/fax: +91 11 2874 4789, workforce avoid starvation and keep up a minimum standard of life. But, in the long +91 99111 10385 run, such welfare schemes aggravate the situation, avoid the problem, and only lead to temporary relief. We can still make it happen; still take a U-Turn and focus on a model founded on ‘Village Republic’, which was visualised by Gandhi. The fact is that India cannot progress without Bharat. Anil Tyagi SCAN and SHARE [email protected]

https://twitter.com/hellogudday https://www.facebook.com/aniltyagi

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 3 CONTENTS

bric-a-brac Finally, BJP needs media; 7 CPM : Let Mamta be defeated first; Dharavi Goldmine; Kingmaker needs flesh

GOVERNANCE Nailing labour to the cross 28

GOVERNANCE Kamath, Kochhar, 34 Kalpana & Others

governance Strengthening Social 40 Enterprise Ecosystem: Need for systemic support from the Government

governance 46 MCX’s Gold Delivery Syndrome

TALKTIME 48 Sir Mark Sedwill, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, UK

global scan The bear flexes muscle 56 Cover Story

bIRTHDAYs of 64 civil servants Tablighi Jamaat: 10 Tracking: Transfers 68 Increasing & Postings BY THE WAY political links Red tapism prevails; 73 KAS : Murmu’s Challenge; Hole in Pocket; PMO overhaul

gfiles inside the government 4 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com Hurrah! years14 new look! gfilesindia.com

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 5 Tweets

Punjab IAS Association delivery. SP Singh ensured that she reached frontline police officials .Scores of @IasPunjab Apr 17 home safe & celebrated the arrival of the Policemen have themselves been infected With the extension of the lockdown, young one with her family. because of being on frontline duties and livelihoods have been affected and great high exposure to the virus. Stay safe too. hardships are being faced by the poor. To IPS Association Retweeted Thanks for great service to mankind. Folded provide urgent support, EC appeals to all Barnala Police @BarnalaPolice hands Folded hands officers to contribute 30% salary for 3 Children are our most valuable resource & months to CM COVID Relief Fund; as per the its our responsibility to keep them HEALTHY IPS Association @IPS_Association call of CS Punjab. @IASassociation & HAPPY. We conducted DOOR TO DOOR Under the leadership of TN DGP JK Tripathi, campaign to create COVID-19 prevention IPS, Chennai Police Commissioner AK District Magistrate South Delhi awareness stressing on importance of hand Vishwanathan, IPS & Addl. Commissioner @DMSouthDelhi washing & wearing mask. #MissionFateh Prem Anand Sinha, IPS @chennaipolice_ 2000 beds of District South’s #CMOpb #DGPPunjabPolice has arranged safe & successful farewell for 10000-bedded Sardar Patel #COVID Care more than 1 lakh migrant workers & Centre & Hospital ready to #takecare of its IPS Association @IPS_Association stranded people so far #IPSCares patients. Sincere thanks to ITBP, Radha IPS Association mourns the demise of Shri #GoodJobCop Soami Satsang Beas and so many sponsors Ved Marwah, IPS, who served as & donors for generous support! #Covid_19 Commissioner of Police (Delhi), Director IRS Association @IRSAssociatio #TogetherWeCan #IndiaFightsCorona General of the NSG & as a Governor to 3 We salute our brave hearts who made the #HealthForAll states. Shri Marwah’s works & life will never supreme sacrifice while protecting our be forgotten. May his soul rest in peace! Our borders. We stand firmly with our Armed IAS Association @IASassociation thoughts are with his family! Forces and their families in protecting the District Administration, Ranchi led by Rai sovereignty & integrity of our Nation. @adgpi Mahimapat Ray, #IAS @rmray adopted @IPS_Association multipronged strategy in fightagainstcorona, ‘Chuppi Todd’ initiative of SSP Raipur Arif IRS Association @IRSAssociation by focusing on containment; mass-screening Shaikh, IPS embraces tech & psychology to The #IRS is proud to have as its part & health services; meals, shelter & transport tackle domestic violence. Victims reached @DrSatyapalMeena for stranded workers. out to Raipur Police via phone & WhatsApp IRS 2007, who first transformed his village & close to 2000 domestic violence cases Dhanora in Rajasthan into India’s 1st IAS Association @IASassociation have been lodged already. #GoobJobCop #SmartVillage and is now trying to replicate Sh Munish Moudgil, #IAS, led #IPSInnovates #NexusOfGood the model in 100 other villages. More power Karnataka’s tech-enabled strategy of tracing to this incredible officer! #COVID19, monitoring home quarantine IPS Association @IPS_Association from the war room to enable State Thank you @BajpayeeManoj for IRS Association Retweeted Administration to respond to emerging acknowledging the efforts of men & women Capt Sanjay Prashar @PrasharSdp May 10 challenges in #fightagainstcorona in khaki. We are all a ‘family man’ and a Retweet = Salute He is DG Shipping, #CoronaWarriors family woman, just that we also have to look Sh Amitabh Kumar (IRS), Great help out as much for our extended family, the to many Seafarers and Shipping IPS Association @IPS_Association citizens #gratitude Companies. He pursued Seafarers being A distraught brother approached SP @ on #Vande_Bharat_Mission flights. He pankajsingh ips from b@DGP_Goa, Quote Tweet manoj bajpayee is an Inspiration. He issued toughest SOP requesting permission for his pregnant sister @BajpayeeManoj for Crew Change and got Seafarers COVID to travel back home to Nashik for her @IPS_Association Excellent work by all the test done.

gfiles inside the government 6 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com Bric-a-brac lock & stock

CPM : Let Mamta be defeated first ! All eyes on assembly polls

est Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is in a fix as only 10 months are left for the state assembly Welections and Covid-19 and the super cyclone Amphan have devastated the state. The problems are manifold. First, Governor Jagdeep Dhankar is reportedly on her neck every day raising one issue or the other. Second, BJP is hell bent on alluring her ministers into their fold as they do not have state leaders within the party. Third, CPI (M) continues to pose a bigger challenge that the BJP as the Finally, BJP needs latter does not have foot soldiers in the state. Fourth, Mamata does not see any hope of an alignment with media Congress till the time Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Ministers instructed to reach out is the face of the Congress. The real worrisome situation is with CPI (M). CPM leader Sitaram Yechury raised the issue of DA 3 or Modi 2.0 has completed one year but free grains and food and MSP purchase the BJP leadership feels it has not created the in the virtual meeting of all opposition Ndesired impact among the masses. First, the parties organised by Narendra media is busy reporting on the Covid-19 pandemic. Modi. What surprised Further, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has his own everybody was that both way of dealing with the media since 2014. It is akin to Sitaram Yechury and one-way traffic; whenever and whatever he desires to Mamata not only shared inform, he does through Twitter or Facebook. It has the platform but also the been observed that he never interacts with any line of action. Political individual or group of journalists. Most of the media observers, however, say that this does not indicate anything, bureaus have written off the PMO beat. The BJP One section of the CPI (M) thinks that Mamata is the biggest believes that the NDA 3 ‘splendid’ work should be enemy, so let her be defeated first, the BJP can be easily communicated to the masses across the country. So, handled later on. The Bhadralok of West Bengal is still not cabinet ministers were advised to speak to the media. tilting towards BJP, despite all-out efforts to mingle with Senior ministers like Nitin Gadkari, Prakash Javdekar, them; they still prefer Mamata. In addition, former President Dr Harshvardhan, Nirmala Sitaraman and Ravi Shankar of India Pranab Mukherjee supported Mamta Banerjee in the Prasad among others have talked to various media last assembly elections but after the Bharat Ratna bestowed houses on a one-to-one basis. Agriculture Minister to him, no one knows where he stands as far as state politics Narendra Singh Tomar has been especially sent to is concerned. Interestingly, Pranab Mukherjee, Sitaram Lucknow to speak about NDA 3’s achievements. Apart Yechury and Mamata all reportedly have links to the same from this, many ministers are also tweeting on various influential Mumbai business house. Mamata is perturbed and issues. State BJP presidents too have been asked to is not discussing election strategies with many leaders as she propagate the Modi government’s efforts to thwart the is totally dependent on the ambitious Prashant Kishore. The coronavirus crisis along with lambasting the opposition. top leaders of the Trinamool Congress confide that though the Cabinet ministers have been assigned to travel to the situation is fluid and competition will be tough, Mamata will different state capitals and brief the media as per Ravi sail through. g Shankar Prasad “Modi’s India”. g

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 7 Bric-a-brac lock & stock

Dharavi Goldmine Kingmaker needs flesh Covid-19 helps developers’ cause Coterie acts in a state

haravi. The moment one hears the name, a picture t is quite intriguing to observe how politicians become of ghastly slums and the den of some dreaded Cabinet Ministers and Chief Minister. They travel Dcriminals appears in one’s mind. Dharavi is Asia’s Ihazardous roads to reach this pinnacle. In due course, biggest slum, covering 535 acres with a population of they meet many characters who shape, dictate, help, and approximately one million and churning out business plan their career. Many are helped by so-called followers. worth `7,000 crore, in the heart of Mumbai. Dharavi Sometimes it also happens that the politician is already an alone accounts for half the slums in the city with nearly established leader but needs a second term as Cabinet 2.33 lakh shanties–the current market price of a shanty in Minister or Chief Minister, but the atmosphere is not this area is up to `12 lakh. This gives us a figure of nearly conducive for the party to win second time. Sometimes a `27,965 crore. Indeed, it is a gold mine for anyone who known coterie which runs TV, newspaper, sugar mill and gets it. Covid-19 appears to be a blessing in disguise for liquor business in the state assure the greedy builders and politicians of Maharashtra. Dharavi leader of dividing the opposition party, has always been in the schemes of every chief minister for funding it, and seeing to it that the redeveloping and rehabilitating residents. But many divided faction gets the desired hurdles exist. First, there is complete opposition by the legislatures to form the residents who do not want to relocate irrespective of the government. The idea is filth and spread of communicable deceases. Second, the implemented. The leader gets opposition and influence of criminals, who easily hibernate elected second time as Chief in any eventuality as it is a godsent abode. The former Minister with the help of the Fadnavis government on June 1 2015, invited faction of the divided expressions of interest (EOI) for its `9,250- crore Dharavi opposition. Now the problem Redevelopment Project (DRP), involving rehabilitating starts. The coterie now starts 57,000 families. “Over 100 companies participated in the demanding their pound of bidding process, but nothing moved due to politics of flesh. It is double edged many stakeholders. Adani infra and Dubai-based Sealink sword. The faction of the Group participated along with 20 bidders but due to the breakaway group share the state assembly elections in Maharashtra, the deal never power and coterie starts actualized. Covid-19 has now set up opportunity as an demanding a share out of the exodus has taken place due to fear and unemployment. state exchequer in the shape Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar are both of advertisements to their TV, experienced leaders and could possibly shape up Dharavi. newspapers, waiver of loans to Stakes are high, so is the life of 57,000 families. Wait and sugar mill farmers, and allotment of liquor shops. Top- watch whether greed will prevail or the have-nots will ranking civil servants soon get an idea about the tide and have a final say. g they also start favoring the coterie. In one state, the Chief Minister is under tremendous pressure to clear even backdated bills of advertisements which his predecessor issued. The coterie gets payment released on priority whereas other vendors keep waiting for months. Not only this, in the era of Covid-19, the power sharing partner mints money by reportedly selling the stock of the liquor from the back door and Chief Minister was forced to control the damage. One has to pay the price for the crown after all! g

gfiles inside the government 8 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com indianbuzz.comindianbuzz.com indianbuzz.comindianbuzz.comindianbuzz.com indianbuzz.comindianbuzz.com

indianbuzz.com indianbuzz.com indianbuzz.com indianbuzz.com indianbuzz.com indianbuzz.com

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 9 is Kama

COVER STORY deep focus

Tablighi Jamaat 1000 years of revenge

Two contradictions are evident. Through April first relates to the global and multiple-level and May this year, the government vilified ramifications and implications of socio-religious Tablighi Jamat, a social organization that claims organizations. Even if they claim to be non- to be apolitical but has deep religious roots. The political, they willy-nilly emerge as major actors, health minister claimed that with 4,000 and actively influence governance, geopolitics, confirmed COVID-19 cases discovered among and diplomacy. the people who gathered around its The second is about the fact that government headquarters, the Nizamuddin mosque in Delhi, agencies – in areas such as intelligence, security, it accounted for 30 per cent of the then 14,000- military, economic offences, and immigration – odd patients. The number looks irrelevant now are completely aware of the range of activities of with 5.50,000 cases in India. such organizations. They have the information, Four days after the March 25 lockdown, the insights, and sources. But either by default or most powerful non-political individual in the deliberately they fail to take proper measures to country, National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar control and monitor such non-state players. This Doval, personally visited the mosque. He was is true, not just of this government, but the past there to urge the Emir of the institution, Maulana regimes controlled by different political parties. Saad, to allow the testing, and possible Institutions like Tablighi, as was the case with quarantine, of the members. It was an act of Rome, are not built in a single day or year. They appeasement at the highest level. It hinted at the evolve, mature, and become full-fledged clout of the Emir, not just in India but across the influencers over decades, and a century. They world. Even Doval could not simply storm into operate freely, and with impunity. Let us not look the mosque. at this as an Islamic problem. This is as true for However, what transpired between the Hindu and Christian organizations. To government and Tablighi is not about COVID-19. understand them, one needs to look at them, It is about two essential facts that we invariably and in a holistic manner. One needs to forget because of the biased blinkers that we understand their history and social context in wear, or the myopic vision that we have. The which they were nurtured.

gfiles inside the government 10 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com This mammoth story on Tablighi Jamat, based n the wee hours of March 29, around 2 am, a on a three-month investigation by Sadia Rehman short bespectacled man with a fairly receding & Vivek Mukherji, is a mere chapter, a case study, hairline with a posse of discreet security men in to showcase the reach of these socio-religious civilian clothes, knocked on the heavy door of institutions. It is an attempt to help the reader the Markaz at Banglewali Masjid housed inside Ithe congested lanes of Nizamuddin in South Delhi. understand how history shapes us, and we He knocked on the door several times without become subconscious participants in historical eliciting any response from inside. He then pulled out events. The origins of Tablighi Jamaat lie in the his mobile phone and dialled a number. In a matter British Empire, and traverse across several Indian of minutes, the Markaz door swung open. The man states, enemy neighbours, and countries in Europe who stepped inside the building was none other than and North America. India’s National Security Advisor (NSA), Ajit Kumar However, remember another crucial fact. What is Doval. The man he went to meet in the dead of the left untouched, either deliberately or otherwise for night was none other than, Maulana Saad, the Emir vested interests, inevitably comes to haunt us, of Tablighi Jamaat. stare us in the face, and terrorise us. The British now face the wrath of the forces they unleashed a century ago, and which led to the birth of Tablighi Jamaat, at their doorstep. America confronts the ill-effects of slavery, racism, and Christian white supremacy today. India too has gone through such travails. Maybe it is time to stop this madness.

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 11 COVER STORY deep focus

Doval went inside the Markaz to convince the potentate of the orthodox religious order to open the gates of the Markaz so that the guests who were holed up inside since the global congregation that was held from March 13-15 could come out for getting tested for Covid-19 and be quarantined if necessary. Five days prior to Doval’s night-time rendezvous with Saad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a country-wide lockdown with just three-and-a-half hours notice to contain the spread of Covid-19 virus. The NSA’s personal intervention in a seemingly trivial matter raised many eyebrows. After all, why did Doval exert himself in the middle of the night to visit a relatively unknown mosque in the heart of South Delhi? What are his link with the head preacher of an orthodox religious order? Was the issue so serious that it was a threat to national security?

s the story unfolded, it turned out that a significant number Aof more than 1,500 people who Sifting through the were holed up inside the Banglewali layers of Ismail’s (USA), Malaysia, Indonesia and Masjid were carriers of the Corona story reveals some several African countries. virus. It was a matter of considerable The Tablighi Jamaat was not built religious sensitivity since Maulana intriguing subtext in a day. The spread and influence of Saad has cultivated a certain amount linked to a the deen took less than 100 years to of political clout with various regimes concerted plan for reach in positions of influence. It’s also at the Centre, including the BJP-led, the story of a simple Maulana, who NDA-3 government. Islamisation of was genuinely interested in educating Mewat, which was the illiterate Muslim nomads in India What is Tablighi Jamaat? then a part of the and faraway lands. Maulana Ismail, The Emir of Jamaat, Maulana Saad, is the founder of the order, was indeed no ordinary man. His outfit, Tablighi princely state of a learned and pious man and was held Jamaat, is networked in more than 150 Alwar and had an in high esteem as a religious teacher. countries, where it reportedly enjoys uneasy relationship As the story goes, Ismail was a man influence among approximately 180 with the Mewatis, of great piety. His life’s philosophy was crore Muslims and is entrenched in the shaped by the teaching of hadith. He power structures in those countries. who were Meo displayed great compassion in attend- The Jamaat has presence in Dewsbury Muslims ing to the needs of the poor, whom he (England), has deep roots in Chicago considered as Allah’s bondsmen. In

gfiles inside the government 12 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com matters in his hand. He felt compelled Delhi. Adjoining the baithak (parlour) that the only redemption lay in teach- of Bakhsh’s bangla (house) was a small ing the Mewatis the rules and princi- mosque, which due to its proximity ples of Shariat and Islam in general. royal residence got named Banglewali Ismail asked the labourers how much Masjid. This mosque was in the cus- they earned in daily wages and made tody of Maulana Mohammad Ismail. an offer of to match their daily earn- Maulana Mohammad lived in a ings, provided they accompanied him house located nearby, on top of the to the mosque. Red Gate of the historical building There he started teaching them how called Chaunsath Khamba (64 to offer namaz and read Quran. The pillars). The Maulana was a pious labourers would receive an amount man and a respected religious teacher. equivalent to their wages at the end Bakhsh revered him, because his sole of the day. The Maulana imparted occupation in life was worship, Zikr daily lessons of deen (religion). Once and propagating the teachings of the

Banglewali Maszid Dewsbury Masjid, London those days, Nizamuddin was more of a they learnt to offer their regular salaat faith and Quran. Ismail returned the thick forest of trees and bushes, instead (prayer), the daily payment was with- favour by teaching the children of his of the concrete jungle that it has now drawn with mutual consent. royal patron. become. Nizamuddin was considered But sifting through the layers of as the gateway to Mewat. his gave birth to the madrasah Ismail’s story reveals some intriguing Every day, Ismail would venture (seminary) at the Banglawali subtext linked to a concerted plan out of the mosque to check if there TMasjid. It became a residential for the Islamisation of Mewat, which was anyone who needed his help. One school for providing instructions in was then a part of the princely state of of the stories seems to suggest that Islamiyat to the poor Mewati labourers. Alwar and had an uneasy relationship one day he met some labourers who Meals for the students were provided with Mewatis, who were Meo Muslims. were searching for work. During the by Mirza Ilahi Bakhsh, who was a By the late 19th century, the power course of the conversation he came closely related to Bahadur Shah Zafar, balance in the sub-continent was to know that they were Muslims from the last of Mughal Emperor, through undergoing radical transformation. Mewat. He also realised that they had the marriage of one his daughters The British Empire was on the rise, no knowledge of Islam and held on to to Mirza Fakhru, the son of the last while the Muslim identity, derived their Hindu past. Mughal king. from the Mughal Empire in the imme- Disillusioned by the lack of knowl- Bakhsh’s dwelling was near the diate and preceding Muslim regimes edge of Islam among the labourers, tomb of Hazrat Nizamiddin, which starting in the late 13th century, was the righteous Maulana decided to take was then considered as the outskirts of waning. It was also the period when

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 13 COVER STORY deep focus

Wahabism and the British Empire

emoirs of Mr. Hempher, The British Spy subjects worldwide. It applied various means to the Middle East or Confessions of a for achieving its goal. They apart from providing MBritish Spy is a document purporting to monetary and military resources for inciting small be the account by British agent, Hempher, of his rebellions of the states within the Ottomon Empire instrumental role in founding the conservative also established an efficient espionage system. Islamic reform movement of Wahhabism, as part The British government held many conferences of a conspiracy to corrupt Islam. It first appeared attended by diplomats and religious men from in 1888, in Turkish, in the five-volume Mir’at Britain, France, and Russia. In these conferences al-Haramayn of Ayyub Sabri Pasha. Hempher has the ways and means for ripping apart the Muslims listed the complete details from the beginning of were discussed with the focus on stripping them of 1710 A.D. right from when Britain delegated him their faith and beliefs. to collect information for bracing the ways to break Mr. Hempher was the trained spy. He was sent Muslims and control their land to the city of Baghdad in Iraq in Turkey, Iraq, Egypt, Iran, and to create disorder between the AI-Hijaz. Sunni and Shiites. He was also As per his documents assigned the duty of finding Ottomon was the mighty empire weak point of Muslims which that covered southeast Europe, can be used for diffusing the northern Africa and western unity of Islam. Also, his mission Asia. Even the holy lands of in this trip was to identify Mecca and Medina were under the conflicts among Muslims its jurisdiction. As India became and create an atmosphere of vital for the British economy, the disagreement, expiation, and imperial government desired to mistrust among them. He have a safe, secure, and direct was also directed to make up land and sea route between Mohammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab different faiths and form fake India and Britain. The region colonial religions enabling ensuring such passage was under the control of the Britishers to divide Muslims instead of Ottomons. Hence gaining control over the Ottomon eliminating Islam. lands became mandatory for Britain. In 1710 A.D. the British Colonies Ministry Second, the holy cities of Mecca and Medina assigned 10 spies with the espionage duty. These also gained strategic importance for the colonial spies were provided with sufficient money and power. Every year millions of Muslims from all over information, possible maps, names of governors, the world gathered there for hajj. In this religious scholars, tribes and family chiefs. In order to congregation exchanges of all types took place pretend Muslims, the spies carefully studied including the exchange of pan- Islamism and anti- Quran and Hadith, learnt ablution and prayer. They colonial ideas. were made familiar with the social and political Britain never wanted to exert direct control over sites in the Islamic societies and their extreme these lands, as they rightly feared that such a trends. These spies were taught Turkish, Arabic and move could be deterrent to millions of their Muslim Persian languages.

gfiles inside the government 14 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com The British colonizer handed over to its spies rule. He explained Koran in the light of his own organized and well evaluated plans suitable to the views, different from the views of Caliphas and intellectual background of the different classes of Imams. This is where he came under Humfur’s Muslim. The spies were directed to spread fake control. Humfur who by now has developed and made up beliefs among the four groups of substantial and intimate relationship with Sunni in order to create extreme differences and him started fanning his ego and poisoning his disputes so that each group would claim that thoughts. Hence Wahab fell into mistakes and they represent the true Islam and the others are committed sins. On finding the right opportunity renegades and infidels and must be ushered on Hempher pointed out to Wahab to introduce the right path. After training, these spies were what according to Wahab was the correct version sent to Egypt, Iraq, Tehran, AI-Hijaz, and Estonia of Islam. to gather information beneficial for tearing apart Hence, Hempher, the spy stirred Muhammad the Muslim Community. bin ‘Abd-al-Wahab the way the British intelligence They mixed up with men of religion to discuss chose to. the Islamic rules. They short-listed some names, When Muhammad ‘Abd-al-Wahab was in one of them being Mohammad bin Abdal-Wahab, Isfahan, Hempher openly approached him to a Islamic scholar of Jewish lineage. They started work for the interest of British Government. It following him step by step. They found is reported that he agreed. He was directed to in Muhammad ‘Abd-al-Wahab many attributes run the Wahabi Movement in return for Britain such as the love of glory, immorality and extreme protecting him from other governments, and views. They realized that he is the person the scholars. He was reportedly provided with money British government is in search of for establishing and weapons and promised to have an emirate on the group. the outer skirts of Najd. After spying for a period of two years in the Years after the ‘Abd-al-Wahab began his work; Islamic countries they received orders from the the British official circles, were able to win a Ministry to go back to London. The ministry Muslim chieftain of Jewish origin Muhammad listened to their reports, evaluated them. bin Su’ud, and asked him to work along with Hempher who was taught Persian, Turkish, and Muhammad bin ‘Abd-al-Wahab. Arabic in London was named Mohammad and The spy Hempher was designated by the was sent to a mosque in Turkey for the purpose government to inform both, Muhammad bin ‘Abd- of mastering these languages and learning al-Wahab and Muhammad bin Su’ud that Wahab Islamic science. will assume religion while Su’ud will assume After two years he was sent to Basra where authority. Hence the first Saudi State was formed. he worked as a carpenter claiming to be from According to pact the it is alleged and reported Azerbaijan. The people believed him because of that Britain started secretly supplying the duo his looks and his Turkish language. with sufficient money and servants. These As directed, he met Muhammad bin’Abd-al- servants were in fact the best British intelligence Wahab in AI-Basra and befriended him. Humfur officers trained in Arabic language and desert found Bin ‘Abd-al-Wahab to be an ambitious fights. As thought, the Wahabi Saudi ordeal young man irritable and resentful of the Turkish proved beneficial for the imperial British.

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 15 COVER STORY deep focus

the Hindu revivalist movement called age of money, Ilyas would occasionally the Shuddhi Movement (purification tell the students to fend for themselves movement) founded by Dayanand and they were free to leave the madra- Saraswati was picking up steam. The He (Maulana Ilyas) sah if they so wished. But the moral aim of this movement was to draw and spiritual teachings held such a those who had converted to Islam back held a firm belief sway over the students that none of into the folds of the Hindu religion. It that people will them left the seminary. They were was against this backdrop that a par- become good content to eat wild berries and fruits allel Islamic consolidation movement picked from the forests that surround- was taking its roots in Mewat. Maulana Muslims not by ed Nizamuddin and collected wood to Ismail played the most significant role reading books, but bake chapatis, which they consumed in giving life to this movement. through people-to- with pickle. For a few Mewati and non-Mewati fter Ismail’s death in 1898, his people contact and students, life revolved around the eldest son, Maulana Muhammad, active participation small brick mosque, a shed, a small Atook the charge of the madrasah in da’wah settlement to the south of the mosque in Nizamuddin until his death in 1918. that housed the attendants of the tomb Following the death of Muhammad, (proselytisation and a basic living quarter. the followers in Delhi and Mewat work). The After completion of the course, urged Maulana Muhammad Ilyas to cornerstone of his Ilyas would send the students back to take up residence at Nizamuddin to Mewat where they would start indoc- fill the void caused by the death of his thought process was trinating the locals into the ways of the father and brother. They stressed upon that the responsibility faith. Once some devotees of his father Ilyas that awareness of Islam among of spreading Islam and brother invited him to Mewat to the Mewatis was primarily due to the renew the spiritual allegiance, Ilyas efforts of his father and brother and if should not be went a step ahead, suggesting estab- they were left on their own, they would confined to the lishing maktabs (primary learning again slip back into Hinduism. ulemas (scholars) centres) and madrasahs in the village They also promised to make so that Islamic influence could spread monthly donations to the madra- only, but should be among a wider population. He thought sah. Ilyas, after discussing the matter moral obligation of of it as an effective step towards bring- with Maulana Khalil Ahmad, took every Muslim ing the Meos closer to a purer version leave from his job as an instructor at of Islam. Mazaahir-ul-Uloom in Saharanpur to When he discussed his plan with take charge of the madrasah at those who came to invite him, Banglewali Masjid. he found out that the Mewatis It’s believed that donations were reluctant and was told that received from well-wishers establishing primary learning were meagre and there was centres and seminaries in the no regular source of income. region was next to impossible. Ilyas, on many occasions, The locals felt given the acute used his own money to keep poverty of the people in the the madrasah functioning. region, sending children off to However, the financial situation religious schools would mean of the seminary remained depriving helping hands at precarious, often forcing the work and loss of wages. students to starve. Ilyas, however, remained Faced with continuous short- invested in his idea of estab-

gfiles inside the government 16 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com Mewat: the springboard for the Jamaat

The first expeditionary Muslim invasion of India took maintained their connections with the Hindu place in 711 CE, when the Caliph of Damascus sent traditions. Among the early converts were the Mohammad bin Qasim in search for new lands to Meos of the Mewat region. Since they fell in the the East that led to the capture of Baluchistan, lower category of Muslims, many of their customs Sindh and Multan. This was followed by almost a and traditions continued to reflect Hindu traditions lull for approximately 300 years until the arrival of and customs. Mahumad of Ghazni, who plundered the Rajput Though, Meos were mostly land owners, they kingdoms in North India. He set up his base in remained extremely poor and borrowed heavily from Punjab from where he launched the conquest of the the bania (traders) moneylenders at exorbitant rates. Kathiawar coast, including the destruction of the Over a period of time, from being land owners they Somnath temple. became indentured labour on their own land and The decisive blow against Hindu rule in North were forced to pay high taxes to the local Hindu India was delivered in 1192 CE when Prithviraj chieftains on almost every economic activity such as Chauhan lost the second Battle of Terrain to animal tax, grazing tax, tail tax on different types of Muhammad Gori, laying the ground for the animals and religion tax. subsequent Muslim rule in In 1933 when Jai Singh India for almost 700 years, Prabhakar took over as the starting with the establishment ruler of Alwar— Mewat was of the Delhi Sultanate in 1206 under the jurisdiction of CE, spanning over five Alwar—he quadrupled the prominent dynasties: Slave taxes on land. This led to a dynasty (1206-90), Khilji revolt by the Meos, but it was dynasty(1290-1320), Tughlaq quelled by him with the help dynasty (1320-1413), Sayiid of the British. dynasty (1414-51) and Lodhi It was against this dynasty ((1451-1526). backdrop that a chance meeting of a few labourers It was during the reign of the Delhi Sultanate, from Mewat with Muhammad Ismail in Nizamuddin, lasting for a little more than 300 years, that the opened the doors for the poor Meos to find solace in process of Islamic conversion started in North India. religion to mitigate the hardships of daily life, made It gathered momentum during the Tughlaq and Lodhi unbearable by the oppressive regime of the Rajput dynasty rules. king of the region. This search for finding their However, despite conversion, there was a clear Muslim identity took stronger roots when division in hierarchy. Those from Arab, Turkish and Muhammad Ilyas took over the small mosque at Afghan lines of descent were considered ashrafs Nizamuddin, laying the firm foundations of the (noble), while the neo-coverts were referred to as Tablighi Jamaat. ajlafs (low category). At that time, the clergy and the Following the Meo uprising of 1933, the Jamaat scholars were drawn from the upper category and movement gathered steam with the help of carefully were considered as the true repositories of Islamic crafted plans of Ilyas to spread Islam in the region. teachings and values. The unintended consequence Over the next few decades, the Tablighi Jamaat of this class divide was that the neo-converts were movement fanned out from Mewat to different parts not staunch followers of Islamic practices and of North India, giving it the shape of a religion order.

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 17 COVER STORY deep focus

lishing a seminary in Mewat. To achieve his purpose, he resorted to the formula of his father and brother by asking his followers to provide him with pupils in exchange of money, as compensation for lost wages, that the children would have to forego. The plan worked as 10 maktabs were opened during the visit. Soon more seminaries and primary learning centres were established in the Mewat region. The preacher, however, was unsatisfied since they were not spreading the deen (religion) of Allah amongst Meos at the desired pace. Interestingly, every time Ilyas returned from hajj, he would tweak his strategy. Upon his return from his second hajj in 1926, he coined the slogan, Aye Musalmano! Musalman bano (Come O’ Muslims! Be Muslims). He moulded his fledgling spiritual organisation according the tenets Tablighi Jamaat Emir Moulana Saad of Sunni version of Islam. It was Kandhlavi (praying) inside the Holy In what is now Prophets Mosque, Haram Sharif Masjid during this period that the formal al-Nabawiin the Holy City of Madinah, contours of the Tablighi Jamaat started known as the First Saudi Arabia. Source Facebook to emerge. War of Independence, the e held a firm belief that people two Fridays prayers were held at Taoru will become good Muslims not Muslim clergy rose in (Rajasthan) and Nagina (Gurgaon). Hby reading books, but through unison alongside the This was called the Tablighi Jamaat people-to-people contact and active revolting sepoys and the first iteration of the movement participation in da’wah (proselytisa- was launched. And, Ilyas became first tion work). The cornerstone of his against the British Emir of one of the largest Islamic thought process was that the respon- East India Company. organisations in the world. sibility of spreading Islam should not Thirty-four Islamic be confined to the ulemas (scholars) Dynamics of the only, but should be a moral obligation scholars, drawing movement of every Muslim. To carry forward his inspiration from Shah After returning from his third hajj, idea, he formed a small group of eight Waliullah and his Ilyas further refined his approach to preachers comprising ulemas and predecessors, issued adopt a more systematic approach. common Muslims. He got the locals to prepare a detailed The group set out from the village a fatwa, calling on map of the Mewat region with names of Ferozepur Nanak early in the week Muslims for jihad of roads and villages, population to reach Sohna by Friday. The first against the British figures and influential Meos in the Friday congregational prayers were region. This speeded up his work as he offered at Sohna and over the next started sending out jamaatis far and

gfiles inside the government 18 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com wide, bringing the Mewatis into his interpretation of Islam. In 1938, when Ilyas went on hajj for the fourth time, he made attempts to extend his work in Saudi Arabia. However, monarchical protocols Road to become a Jamaati and bureaucratic processes presented obstacles to his call for mis- new entrant into Tablighi Jamaat has to perform sionary preaching in the Arabian three chillas (40-day period) to learn about the Peninsula. He returned and remained A various guiding principles and tenets of Islam and focused on spreading his work in the discourse of preaching. During the initial phase, they India and in the region until his death undergo indoctrination for reforming themselves to be of in 1944. service to Islam. After a new entrant has been initiated, To understand the dynamics of the it’s mandatory for him to perform at least one chilla Tablighi movement, the clock needs every year. to be turned back to the sepoy revolt Those who successfully complete the chilla are sent of 1857. In what is now known as on khuruj (tour), which is central to the process of da’wa the First War of Independence, the (preaching) for which eight to ten men form a travelling Muslim clergy rose in unison along- group called jamaat that goes to different parts of the side the revolting sepoys against the country spreading the values of Islam, moving from British East India Company. Thirty- house-to-house in a particular locality. They also call four Islamic scholars, drawing inspi- upon the people to attend the evening prayers at the ration from Shah Waliullah and his local mosque. predecessors, issued a fatwa, calling on The new jamaatis are made to study the Fazail-e- Muslims for jihad against the British. Amal—a book written by Maulana Muhammad Zakariya al-Kandahlawi in the 1930s about the values of Islam. ome of the most prominent spiritual leaders of the time Swho joined the revolt of 1857 were Imdadullah Muhajir Makki and his anti-colonialist ulema followers, Muhammad Qasim Nanautawi, Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi and Muhammad Yaqub Nanautawi. On May 10, 1857, local Muslims under the ulemas gathered at Thana Bhawan, a small town in Shamli district in current-day Uttar Pradesh, around 120-km from Delhi, to stage a violent protest against Company Raj. The clergy won the day in what came to be known as the Battle of Shamli. But they would eventually lose the war, due to the treachery of some among the ranks. As soon as the native soldiers and the clergy revolted against the British, they activated their espionage net-

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 19 COVER STORY deep focus

work. Over the years, the British East India Company had built an efficient network of spies drawn from the local population. Without an efficient espionage network at its disposal, the British rule would have ended in India prematurely. One of the persons who spied for the British was Mirza Ilahi Bakhsh—the patron of the Madrasah Banglewali Masjid. In fact, due to his close relationship with the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, who was the figurehead of the revolt, he gained access to a lot of information about the plans of the mutineers. Bakhsh played a significant role in the fall of Delhi in 1857 that led to the exile of the last Mughal emperor to Rangoon in British-controlled Burma Following the collapse of the 1857 revolt, the British retaliated brutally, holding the Muslim clergy responsible for the uprising. Most of the scholars were executed, though some managed to escape or go underground. Hajji Imdadullah sought refuge in Mecca, while his On May 30, 1866, an Islamic madrasah called associates went underground. Darul Uloom was established in Deoband. In a departure from the past, the new seminary, fter the uprising of 1857 was quelled, the imperial British despite employing a traditional approach Agovernment, representing the towards Islamic sciences, was quite modern Crown, took over from the East India by prevalent standards. The new seminary made Company. It marked the beginning of the British Raj that would last until a conscious effort to maintain a distance from 1947. Under the new political system, any direct political engagements, yet its rights of Indian Muslims were sig- curriculum promoted resistance against colonial nificantly curtailed. In order to face rule through Islamic education this challenge, some of the Muslim scholars led by Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotavi focussed their attention towards reforming Islamic educa- emphasis on English as the medium of approach towards Islamic sciences, tion. They rallied together for creat- instruction in schools. was quite modern by prevalent ing social awareness among the sub- On May 30, 1866, an Islamic standards. The new seminary made a continent’s Muslims. Their aim was to madrasah called Darul Uloom was conscious effort to maintain a distance safeguard Islamic education from the established in Deoband. In a departure from any direct political engagements, influence of Christian missionaries from the past, the new seminary, yet its curriculum promoted resistance as the British started putting greater despite employing a traditional against colonial rule through Islamic

gfiles inside the government 20 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com education. under the patronage of the powerful organisations. Lashkar-i-Jhangvi and Though, Darul Uloom adopted clergy that a more stringent variant Jaish-e-Muhammad, with the active an arm’s length approach to politics, of Islam, which came to known as support of the Pakistan’s Inter-Services the scholars felt it was necessary to Wahhabism (Salafi), firmly took Intelligence (ISI), carried out terror- participate in the political movement roots in Saudi Arabia. The rise of the ist activities in the Kashmir valley. against British occupation. During House of Saud, which continues to Further, the close cooperation between the period from 1919 to ’45, quite a rule modern Saudi Arabia even today, Jamiat Ahle Hadith and Darul Uloom few Deobandi religo-political parties also traces back to the cataclysmic graduates, drawing on the influence came into existence. Some of the machinations that included wars, of the Salafi movement, morphed prominent parties that came out of treachery, shifting alliances and into Al-Ikhwan al-Muslimoon or the movement were Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind jostling for power that culminated Muslim Brotherhood. (1919), Majlis-e-Ahrar-e-Islam (1929) in the end of more than a 700-year- Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and its Indian rule of the Ottoman Empire in 1923. Jamaat’s International offshoot, Jamaat i-Islami (1941), The hardening of Wahhabism in the Expansion among others. The Tablighi Jamaat Arabian Peninsula and the rise of the The core theological philosophy of the too began as the non-political offshoot Deobandi movement in the Indian Muslim Brotherhood is propagation of the Deobandi movement. sub-continent mirror each other, as of Islam across the world. This made Though, the majority of Deobandi the latter derived its philosophical the Tablighi Jamaat a natural ally of the parties of that time were against the core from the former. Muslim Brotherhood. Since Muslim idea of partition, a faction of Deobandi population is widely spread out in scholars were vociferous supporters of he Soviet invasion of Afghanis- the world, the Jamaat took upon itself the Indian Muslim League’s demand tan in 1979, and the subsequent the holy duty to render its services for for a separate nation to be carved Toccupation until 1989, was propagating Islam around the world. out on religious lines, which resulted another cataclysmic event of the The international expansion of in the formation of Pakistan in 1947. last century that altered the DNA of the Jamaat is attributed to Mualana Similarly, after the partition, several many offshoots of Pakistani Deobandi Muhammad Yusuf, who took over Deobandi political parties sprouted parties that took part in the holy war the movement following his father’s in Pakistan. to the west of the Durand Line. The demise in 1944. For the next two Once the British consolidated influx of Saudi money and a strong decades, Tablighi Jamaat remained their hold on power in the Indian streak of Wahhabism and American focused on South Asia. sub-continent, they successfully arms that fuelled the jihad against Any religious movement needs deployed the “divide and rule” policy Afghan occupation left behind a financial backing to expand. In the case to keep the native anti-colonial politi- toxic cocktail of fundamentalism that of the Tablighi Jamaat, it was mainly cal movements in a state of constant gripped the various offshoots once the financed through contribution from simmer.For this purpose, the section Soviets retreated across the Friendship Gujarat. In fact, Yusuf launched the of Muslim clergy and scholars, who Bridge over Amu Darya. international operations of the Jamaat were in favour of a separate state, was In the fertile soil of discontent, with help from wealthy Gujaratis exploited to drive a deep wedge in the caused by the sudden withdrawal living in Africa, Australia, Europe freedom movement. of resources by international spon- and the United States. To spread This wasn’t an entirely new tactic sors of the Afghan jihad like the USA the word, Yusuf undertook many adopted by the British in India. They and Saudi Arabia, outfits such as international trips. had successfully used the divide and Sipah Sahaba (1980), Taliban (1994), According to the book, Making rule policy to bring down the mighty Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (1996), Jaish-e- Muslim Space in North America Ottoman Empire, which shifted the Muhammad (2000) and Islamic Jehadi and Europe, edited by Barbara Daly balance of power in the Arabian Union (2002) among many others took Metcalf, the Tablighis reached Britain Peninsula in favour of Muslims, giving roots. These outfits, representing the in 1946, the United States in 1952 and them control over two of the holists Deobandi school of Islamic thought, France in 1962. Today, the Tablighi shrines of Mecca and Madina. It was morphed into full-fledged terrorist Jamaat has established its presence in

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 21 COVER STORY deep focus

165 countries. However, the organisation remains banned in Saudi Arabia and Iran. Though international expansion of the Jamaat could be traced back to the 1940s, it gained momentum in the 1960s, when a sizable South Asian population migrated to Europe and the US. The strong presence of the Jamaat in South Asia helped in spreading it in the western world. But this migration came with its attended problems. The lack of Islamic institutions in the West in the ’60s and ’70s meant that those who migrated felt rootless and were yet to be fully integrated into the culture of their new world. The next generation of these migrants were even further removed from their religious roots. It’s in this vacuum that the Tablighi Jamaat stepped in with the purpose Maulana Ibrahim Dewla of bringing the diaspora back into the fold of the religion just like Yusuf’s great-grandfather and Ilyas had done It is reported that Mian Muhammad Sharif, for the Mewatis close to a century back. father of multiple-term Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif and founder of the tarting in the ’60s for the next three decades, Tablighi Jamaat Ittefaq Group, was one of the prominent Ssent Urdu-speaking preachers supporters of the Tablighi Jamaat. He was just to Europe and the US to connect with one in the line of influential patrons of the Muslim migrants and teach them the way of Islam. The Jamaatis are the larg- Jamaat that includes Muhammad Rafique Tarar, est group of proselytisers of any faith. the former President of the country and Javed By keeping a low-profile, avoiding Nasir, former Director General of the all- the media and staying away from any powerful Inter-Services Intelligence overt political activity or movement, the Tablighi Jamaat has managed to remain under the radar and avoid harsher scrutiny of its activities. It has democracy and self-determination, which promotes jahiliya (ignorance) also helped them to develop cordial while promoting a lifestyle and a and other heterodox forms Islam that relations with people in the govern- belief system that demands strict have flourished in the sub-continent ment in host countries. allegiance to a narrow definition and South Asia. The Jamaat feels that Though, the Jamaat doesn’t directly of the Wahhabi school of thought. it’s their moral obligation to promote engage in political activity, its political The core of Jamaat’s ideological a pristine form of Islam, defined by beliefs are antithetical to the concepts philosophy is that the ummah, or the narrow orthodoxy, over any other that define modern of societies. entire Muslim world, is under threat forms of the religion or faith. It rejects the ideas of secularism, due to the impact of westernisation,

gfiles inside the government 22 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com in most of the African countries. Interestingly, several news reports indicate that the congregations planned by the Lad and Dalvi faction in March in Delhi and Mumbai, similar to the one organised by Saad at Nizamuddin which went ahead from March 13-15, were voluntarily cancelled when Covid-19 cases started rising in India. The Modus Operandi The Tablighi Jamaat is an extremely secretive organisation. It does not issue any communiqués, does not publish any journals, does not publicise its membership figures, its financial statements are not in any public domain and it does not engage with the media or explains its objectives or policies. It does not even have a formal organisation structure. In short, top Maulana Saad in centre with son, Maulana Yusuf (right) at a hotel city of Makkah, KSA leadership of Tablighi Jamaat ensures that the organisation and its work remain under the radar, devoid of any The Gujarat Connection a vertical split, with the two influential public scrutiny. Its preferred mode of & the split Gujarati members of the movement getting any message out is through moving out of the Tablighi Jamaat word of mouth, using people-to- Since the ’40s, the expansion of the Markaz (headquarters) at Nizamuddin people contact. Explanations and Tablighi Jamaat was underwritten by to set up their base at the Faiz Ilahi answers to new recruits are given wealthy Gujarati Muslims. Even now, Mosque at Turkman Gate inside the orally. This strategy gives the Jamaatis Gujarati Muslims continue to hold walled city in Old Delhi. The rival the flexibility to use words to suit any influential positions in the movement. faction operates from there as the purpose or occasion. Maulana Ahmed Lad of Surat and headquarters of the shura, which There is an undocumented but fixed Maulana Ibrahim Dewla of Bharuch, claims to enjoy the support of 60 per organisational hierarchy which passes have had a long association with the cent of Jamaatis in India and Pakistan- down the instructions through various Jammat and the Chelia community based Maulana Tareeq Jameel. levels to the lowest of functionaries. from North Gujarat, are at the fore- Among the major centres, the No one is encouraged to question any front of Jamaat’s work in the state, Saad faction controls UP and decision or instruction passed down Maharashtra and Mumbai. Telangana, while the Gujarati faction the chain of command. The structure But in 2016, a power struggle broke controls the Mumbai, Gujarat and of the Jammat is such that it doesn’t out when Maulana Saad, without Maharashtra operations. The London fit any conventional definition of consulting the shura (supreme council) centre is with the shura of Pakistan and organisations. It prefers to stay as a declared himself as the Emir of Dewsbury centre in the UK reports loose collective of the devout, owing Tablighi Jamaat. The 90-year-old Lad to Saad besides exercising control their allegiance to the Emir and the and Dewla (82) were in favour of the over the Chicago (US), Malaysia shura. The amorphous hierarchy of shura and rejected the authoritarian- and Indonesia operations. The rival Tablighi Jamaat is drawn from various style power-grab by Saad. This led to faction, on the other hand, holds sway mosques affiliated to the Jamaat. The

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 23 COVER STORY deep focus

“full-time” elders of the movement many theories about its involvement headquarters in Raiwind on the make up the shura or the supreme with the underbelly of hawala outskirts of Lahore. It’s here during council, which advices the Emir on transactions, which is suspected to be the congregations that the various various matters. a major source of its finances. paths to radical Islam, some of which The Tablighi Jamaat propagates its lead directly to various Pakistan- ideology with the help of travelling The Tablighi Jamaat based terrorist organisations, intersect preachers in groups of 8 to 10 Jamaatis. of Pakistan each other, where young Tablighi These travelling preachers undertake It is reported that Mian Muhammad recruits are lured by outfits like the proselytising missions ranging from Sharif, father of multiple-term Prime Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Taliban and three days to 40 days (chilla) to four Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif Al Qaeda among host of other terrorist month to one year. The short three- and founder of the Ittefaq Group, was organisations that keep changing day tours are focused on local areas, one of the prominent supporters of their names to avoid international while during the longer 40-day tours, the Tablighi Jamaat. He was just one sanctions. they try to cover as many places as in the line of influential patrons of Once the interns are recruited by possible within the country. For longer the Jamaat that includes Muhammad any one of the terrorist organisations, duration tours of four months to a year, Rafique Tarar, the former President of all overt links with Tablighi Jamaat are the preachers travel overseas. On these the country and Javed Nasir, former severed, though it helps these recruits missions, they usually stay in mosques Director General of the all-powerful in getting the necessary documenta- in the area, which serves as their base. Inter-Services Intelligence. It is also tion and paperwork for travel. During the day, four to five members been speculated in Pakistan that when Over the years, intelligence agen- of the party perform ghast (moving Benazir Bhutto, far less sympathetic cies around the world have found around) in the neighbourhood, going to hardline Islamic beliefs, ascended evidence of links between terrorist from house-to-house asking the men to power, the Jamaat conspired with organisations and Tablighi Jamaat. to attend the local mosque for maghrib the ISI in an attempt to overthrow The extremist group Salafia Jihaiya, (sunset prayers). Those who attend her regime. Over the years, periodic according to Moroccan authorities, these prayers are extended a da’wa accusations against Jamaat members were found distributing leaflets to it (invitation), where the attendees are of being involved in deep-state members urging them to join Tablighi taught the Jamaat’s six principals and activities have surfaced in Pakistan. Jamaat in order to conceal their “true are encouraged to form their own Yet, Tablighi Jamaat continues to identity” and “work openly”. jamaat (group of preachers). enjoy the patronage of influential people embedded high up in Pakistan’s Links with Terrorist ost of the Jamaatis offer power structure. Outfits voluntary service and the The Jamaat has assiduously In December 2004, eight members of Mparticipants are free to leave cultivated an image of it being an Tablighi Jamaat were charged by the the movement anytime. Since there apolitical religious order, but the Uzbek authorities under Article 244 of is no formal registration process, truth in Pakistan is quite far from this Uzbek Criminal Code for their links it is difficult to estimate the exact perception. The shared conservative with the terrorist organisation, Hizb number of Jamaatis in any country. Islamic values of jehadi organisations ut-Tahrir, that carried out a series of The Tablighi Jamaat publically claims and the Jamaat lead to a convergence bombings earlier in year in Uzbekistan. that it doesn’t accept money for its of core philosophies. This makes The Tablighi Jamaat, which arrived work and the volunteers spend their the Jamaat congregations a rich in Uzbekistan in 1975 through the own resources on preaching missions. recruiting ground for jehadi terrorist Bangladesh chapter when it was The Tablighi Jamaat has zealously organisations. And the standard still Soviet Union, was subsequently guarded the source of its finances, operating procedures of the Jamaat aid banned and declared a terrorist organ- despite being one of the largest and abet this process. isation in the country. Uzbek authori- religious organisations in the world. Jamaatis, who accomplish a few ties also accused Tablighi Jamaat of The shrouded secrecy surrounding its local da’was (proselytising missions) recruiting 400 Uzbeks for terrorist financial network has given wind to are treated as stars at the Tablighi training in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

gfiles inside the government 24 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com JTF-GTMO-CDR 27 January 2008

MEMORANDUM FOR Commander, United States Southern Command, 3511 NW 9lst Avenue, Miami, FL 33172

SUBJECT: Recommendation for Continued Detention Under DoD Control (CD) for Guantanamo Detainee, ISN US9SU-000720DP (S)

JTF-GTMO Detainee Assessment

1. (S) Personal Information:  DIMS/NDRC Reference Name: Amir Mohammed  Current/True Name and Aliases: Mohammed Yakoub, Abu Abdul Rahman al- Ansari, Amir Bin Yaqub, Yaqub Muhammad al-Tayisha  Place of Birth: Omdurman, Sudan (SU)  Date of Birth: 9 May 1971  Citizenship: Sudan  Internment Serial Number (ISN): US9SU-000720DP

(S//NF) Prior History: Detainee speaks Arabic, minimal English and has a working comprehension of Pashtu. In 1990, after graduating high school,2 detainee heard a presentation at a local mosque about the JDQ led by Jamil al-Rahman, and decided to join the jihad in Afghanistan. In early 1991, detainee flew from Sudan to India (IN) via Kenya. On the flight to India, detainee met a representative of the Tabligh movement who told detainee about a large Tabligh center in New Delhi, IN, where he could go for assistance.3 Detainee misrepresented himself as an interested Tabligh candidate in order to obtain a Pakistani visa. Detainee traveled to Lahore, PK and then to Peshawar, PK, where he stayed at the Bayt Dhiyafa al-Mujahid Guesthouse operated by the JDQ.4 Two days later, detainee and approximately two dozen other Arabs traveled across the border to the Topshi Training Camp operated by Sudanese national Abu Hajir in Konar Province, AF.5 At the training camp, detainee received one month of militant jihad training in March before traveling to the front lines. Detainee trained on the use of the AK-47 assault rifle, M-16, rocket propelled grenade (RPG), 82 mm mortar, and a piece of Soviet artillery. At the end of 1991, detainee returned to the camp and met Abu Ikhlas al-Masri, an Egyptian mechanic who worked at the camp on various projects. Detainee returned to the camp for a second time in mid-1992 and stayed for approximately one year, working on miscellaneous projects with Abu Ikhlas al-Masri. Responding to a fatwa in 1993, detainee traveled to the Kashmir region for three months to participate in hostilities against Indian forces with members of the al-Birq and jihad forces. Detainee returned to the Topshi Training Camp for the last time in early 1994, after traveling to Kashmir to join the LT and Markaz-ud-Dawa-wal-Irshad (MDI) for jihad. Detainee spent approximately two years at the camp with Abu Ikhlas al-Masri. Detainee stayed with Abu Ikhlas al-Masri again from 1995 to 1996, working as an accountant for al-Masri’s new concrete pillar fabrication business and helping to rebuild mosques. Pakistani authorities arrested detainee in early 1996, an event detainee attributed to political infighting within the Pakistani government. A Sudanese national named Abu Mughira, a teacher detainee met while studying the Salafist doctrine, assisted detainee in returning to Sudan in February 1996.

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 25 COVER STORY deep focus

The British and French intelligence the movement at various points in their in New Delhi, where he could go for have repeatedly flagged the Tablighi lives. The Jamaat operates from the Al assistance. Detainee misrepresented Jamaat as a front recruitment organi- Falah mosque in Queens, which serves himself as an interested Tabligh candi- sation for various Islamic terrorist as its US headquarters. The US chapters date in order to obtain a Pakistani visa organisations in the world, includ- continue to receive liberal donations (sic),” reads the memo. ing Al Qaeda. In September 2016, from various Saudi Arabia-based It further states that, Amir carried ind British-born Pakistani and a well- charities. The report further states that out terror activities on behalf of LET known member of Tablighi Jamaat, a long-time Tablighi member, Israr in the Kashmir valley. “Responding Anjen Choudary, went on to head Ahmad, was instrumental in giving life to a fatwa (religious order) in 1993, india.co the Al Mujajiroun network that radi- to the conspiracy theory that Jews were detainee travelled to the Kashmir calised and recruited British Muslims behind the 9/11 World Trade Centre region for three months to participate for various terrorist organisation, was terror strikes. in hostilities against Indian forces with sentenced to a five-year sentence for According to a classified Department members of the al-Birq and jihad forc- india.com his links with the London bombers. of Defense memo dated January 27, es. Detainee returned to the Topshi The French intelligence has called 2008, available on Wikileaks, reveals Training Camp for the last time in the Jamaat as an “antechamber of that a known Al-Qaeda and Lashkar- early 1994, after traveling to Kashmir fundamentalism.” E-Taiba (LET) operative, Amir to join the LT and Markaz-ud-Dawa- wal-Irshad (MDI) for jihad. Detainee india.com spent approximately two years at the camp with Abu Ikhlas al-Masri. (sic)”. co ndian intelligence agencies have repeatedly flagged the Pakistani Ioperations of the Tablighi Jamaat india.com as a recruiting ground for terrorists, who have wreaked havoc in Kashmir at the height of terrorism in the 1990s. Even the current breed of terrorists india.com have been found to be indoctrinated in fundamentalist Islamic beliefs at various congregations organised by the Pakistani wing of the Jamaat. india.com Given the history of Tablighi Jamaat m in India, the intelligence agencies keep a close watch on its activities. Doval india.com being an intelligence veteran, who According to a report on a Muhammad, lodged in Guantanamo, has also served in at the Indian High Bangladeshi website called The Weekly admitted to be a Tablighi Jamaat Commission Pakistan before going Blitz, which quoted Robert Blitzer, FBI’s member. After arriving in India from to head the Intelligence Bureau, has first head of Islamic counterterrorism Sudan, he stayed at the Markaz in developed links with the top function- unit, around 2,000 American Muslims Nizamuddin before going to Pakistan aries of the movement. When the news a were recruited by Tablighi Jamaat to for terrorist training in handling fire- broke that over a thousand Jammatis join various terrorist organisations in arms, explosives and rocket launchers. were holed up inside the Markaz, he com the 1990s. The reports further states “In early 1991, detainee flew from was deputed to resolve the stalemate. that the “shoe bomber” Richard Reid, Sudan to India via Kenya. On the flight After all, the Jamaat in India derives the “dirty bomber” Jose Padilla, and to India, detainee met a representative its influence from its equations with Lyman Harris, who tried to bomb the of the Tabligh movement who told power structure through a low-profile Brooklyn Bridge, were all members of detainee about a large Tabligh center give and take relationship. g gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com vol. 7, issue 5 | August 2013 19 gfiles inside the government 26 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com ind india.co india.com india.com co india.com india.com india.com m india.com

a com

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com vol. 7, issue 5 | August 2013 19 gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 27 GOVERNANCE opinion labour market

Nailing labour to the cross The great reverse migration of labour in the wake of the most ill-planned lockdown exposed the rotten core of India’s labour market, which is caught between rapacious corporate greed and impotent trade unions

by Vivek Mukherji

hey grease the wheels of of #NewIndia hiding a corroded faces got overpowered by the light of India’s economy with their core, but it was the millions earning glowing lamps. sweat and toil. They plough minimum wages, who were treated as Some of them died on the roads due the land, sow and harvest grist for the millstone in the five-part to exhaustion, got mowed down by in the scorching sun and lockdown scenes of the Theatre of The trains and vehicles; all nameless and Tpouring rain. They bend their backs to Absurd that played out from the zero faceless. At last, when the government carry food from the farms to the forks. hour of March 25. grudgingly resumed special train ser- They build air-conditioned towers of In a matter of hours, they lost vice, so aptly named Shramik Express, glass and steel for the comfort of the their livelihoods and pending wages they got lost in transit. In more cases privileged. They polish the rough swindled. With the spectre of hunger than one, 24-hour journeys trans- stones into dazzling gems that adorn and deprivation looming large, they formed into three to four-day life- dainty necks and elegant fingers. They walked, peddled, hitched rides on threatening ordeals, without much cook and wash cars. They deliver trucks, in the belly of concrete mixers food or water. According to various convenience at the doorsteps. They are and milk vans and on push-carts news reports around 40 trains lost the invisible 130 million—according towards the safety of their homes and the way to their original destination. to 2011 Census—who provide muscle hearths. Millions of hungry and tired Around 80 people died in these trains. to the machines of progress. men and women, young and old made Rough estimates indicate approxi- And then COVID-19 happened. up the cast of the horrors scenes of the mately 800 people died since curtains The Coronavirus might have travelled great Indian labour exodus that began went up on the first act of the Theatre from China to India, hitching a ride to unfold. The sound of marching of of The Absurd during the lockdown inside the bodies of the well-heeled, blistered and bloodied soles was lost period due to non-Covid reasons. jet-setting lot that is projected as in the din of banging pots and pans The absence of concrete data makes the shiny, spit-polished embodiment and the dark melange of exhausted the task of assessing the impact of the

gfiles inside the government 28 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com lockdown on India’s labour force, both in the organised and unorganised sectors, particularly difficult. With more than 90 per cent of India’s labour force engaged in the unorganised sector, comprising small and medium scale enterprises, they were the worst The job losses figures he great reverse migration split hit. Estimates tend to indicate that are equally staggering. wide open the rotten core of approximately 40 million people and TIndia’s labour market. It put in counting have been rendered jobless A massive 82 per cent harsh focus a number of disturbing since March end. female and 80 per cent issues that had so far been whitewashed Limited amount of research done male casual workers by the prima donnas of the industry during this period, like the COVID- and stalwarts the union movement. 19 Livelihood Survey conducted by lost their jobs due to The urgency to undertake meaningful the Azim Premji University, paint a the unplanned labour reforms is greater than ever dire picture. The survey indicates that lockdown, add to that before. Yet, the reaction of the ruling the average fall in the earning of self- political class, both at the centre and employed, non-agriculture workers, another 89 per cent of the states, and labour unions, ranged is a whopping 91 per cent in the rural female and 77 per cent from autocratic diktats with shades of areas and 86 per cent in the urban of male self-employed slavery to befuddled confusion. In the areas and the average reduction in most bizarre sense of dark and twisted the earnings of casual workers is an workers who lost their logic, the political dispensation has alarming 50 per cent in rural areas and livelihood. These are come to the conclusion that the labour 46 per cent in urban areas. The job hard numbers and not class will subsidise the losses suffered losses figures are equally staggering. A by industry. massive 82 per cent female and 80 per some fake portraits of With labour going back to their cent male casual workers lost their jobs dystopia painted by the native land in the face of urban due to the unplanned lockdown, add “prophets of doom” as antipathy, the industrial lobbies to that another 89 per cent of female worked overtime to convince their and 77 per cent of male self-employed India’s Solicitor political masters to come up with workers who lost their livelihood. General, Tushar Mehta, ingenious ways to hold them back These are hard numbers and not some made the Supreme fake portraits of dystopia painted by the “prophets of doom” as India’s Court believe Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, made the Supreme Court believe.

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 29 GOVERNANCE opinion labour market

against their will for setting the cogs Pradesh Temporary Exemption from Factories Act, Contract Labour Act in motion once again as and when full Certain Labour Laws Ordinance, and Employees Provident Fund and operations resume. It isn’t surprising 2020, in the name of reviving the state’s Miscellaneous Provisions Act among that the chief ministers of two of economy post-lockdown. Some of the others. India’s worst-governed states, UP and other laws such as the Child Labour MP, were first off the block to mutilate Act, Maternity Act and Section 5 of imilarly, the Shivraj Singh-led some of the major laws that protected the Payment of Wages Act have also government carried out large- the labour force, at least on paper. been retained. The euphuistically Sscale dilution to the Factories UP, with one of the lowest litera- titled “temporary exemption” is not Act, Madhya Pradesh Industrial cy rates in the country, repealed 35 just for few months; it’s for a period of Relations Act and Industrial Dispute out of 38 labour laws, retaining only three years. Among some of the major Act, besides extending the working the Employee Compensation Act, laws that have been consigned into hours. Other states such as, Rajasthan, 1923; Bonded Labour Act, 1976 and the dustbin are the Trade Union Act, Punjab, Odisha, Gujarat and Himachal Building and Other Construction Working Journalist Act, Minimum Pradesh have also amended labour Workers’ Act, 1996, through the Uttar Wages Act, Industrial Disputes Act, laws to increase the working hours

gfiles inside the government 30 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com from the globally-accepted norm of mere cannon fodder. In effect, the eight-hour shifts to 10 to 12-hour men and women who toiled in the shifts. Apart from Punjab, none of factories remained dispensable com- the states that have modified the laws modities, without accruing any of the in order to pander to the industrial benefits that they are entitled to under lobbies will be paying overtime wages. In the case of the various laws on paper. The prac- Karnataka deviously invoked the tice of relying on contracted labour is rarely-used Section 5 of the Factories Karnataka, it most prevalent in the small and medi- Act that allows the government to shouldn’t come as um scale enterprises—though in some declare industrial emergency in the cases, large enterprises too happily face of “external aggression or inter- surprise where the resort to the workarounds—which nal disturbances” to extend the work- government stands employ approximately 90 per cent of ing hours. The disruption caused by vis-à-vis labour the country’s workforce. Covid-19 can’t be classified as external aggression or internal disturbance by relations given that espite the multitude of laws any stretch. In the case of Karnataka, South Bengaluru MP, safeguarding labour rights, it shouldn’t come as surprise where the Dthe International Trade Union government stands vis-à-vis labour Tejasvi Surya, hailed Confederation gave India a rating of relations given that South Bengaluru an earlier five on a scale on 1-5 in 2019, where MP, Tejasvi Surya, hailed an earlier intemperate order 5 stands for “no guarantee of rights,” intemperate order by the government according to a study published in the that restrained construction work- by the government Economic and Political Weekly. The ers from leaving at the behest of the that restrained pitiful ranking reflects the shoddy builders’ lobby as a “good decision” implementation of the laws, many of in a throwback to the slave traders construction which exist only paper. The large- of yore, who kept up the steady sup- workers from scale dilution of labour laws in several ply of gladiators to keep the decadent states in the garb of Ease of Doing Romans entertained. leaving at the Business has drawn the attention of Make no mistake, a large-scale over- behest of the the International Labour Organisation haul and reform of India’s antiqued builders’ lobby as a (ILO). Soon after UP repealed most of labour laws is long overdue. A maze the labour laws, the ILO reminded India of close to 44 Central and dozens of “good decision” in of its obligations towards upholding state-specific labour laws weaved cob- a throwback to the labour rights as a signatory to various webs of nightmare for any entrepre- international treaties. Wrecking neur, often leaving them at the mercy slave traders of the existing legal framework, in the of potentates of a corrupt inspector yore, who kept up shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic as raj. Labour being on the Concurrent the steady supply of an excuse to attract investments and List made it a particularly compli- boost economic activity is nothing cated subject. In fact, the red tape of gladiators to keep more than a cheap sleight of hand of a labour laws, often overlapping, made the decadent con-artiste rather than mind-bending a lot foreign investors chary of setting magic performed by an illusionist. up business in India, especially in the Romans entertained The migrant labour crisis in the manufacturing sector. wake of the lockdown also shows To get around the byzantine labour the state of India’s trade unions in laws, entrepreneurs happily gamed extremely poor light. Since the wind of the system by outsourcing labour sup- liberalisation started sweeping across ply to contractors, for whom they are the land in 1991, industry made a

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 31 GOVERNANCE opinion labour market

conscious, and constant, effort to chip The conspicuous finds itself in. The fightback from away at the hold of the trade unions the unions to the dilution and weak by resorting to the contract system of absence of the trade implementation of labour laws over employment. But the greater blow to unions, both in words the past two decades has been spo- the influence of trade unions has been and deeds, as the radic at best and abject surrender dealt by the waning influence of left migrant labour crisis at worst. The muted reaction of the parties in India’s political milieu. The unfolded is a telling unions to the UP-government’s scrap- loss of popular support on the ground ping of the Trade Union Act offers has stripped the left parties, which commentary on the state further evidence of their irrelevance still control some of the biggest trade of disarray the movement in the current context. The sickle has unions, of the political heft needed to finds itself in. The become blunt and haft of the hammer shape policies and opinions. The trade fightback from the is broken. union movement in India too must In effect, as we emerge from the share a portion of the blame for not unions to the dilution world’s most ill-planned, lockdown grooming the next generation of lead- and weak slowly, with weakened unions and ers who have their ears to the ground. implementation of labour rapacious corporate greed forming the The conspicuous absence of the laws over the past two two millstones of the labour market, trade unions, both in words and decades has been the hand on the machine will remain deeds, as the migrant labour crisis as the grist that will continue to pay unfolded is a telling commentary on sporadic at best and with its blood, sweat and flesh as a the state of disarray the movement abject surrender at worst subsidy for the economic loss. g

gfiles inside the government 32 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com Do you have a strong opinion on an issue but no forum to air it?

Do you have a photograph that is worth a thousand words but nowhere to publish it?

And,if you think you are Ghalib reborn but no one else thinks so,don’t despair.

Just email your opinion,photograph, poems,or even what you scribbled about corruption last night to

[email protected]

... about, for, of and by the powerhouse that runs the Indian growth engine

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14,vol. issue 14, issue 2-3 2-3 | May-June | May-June 2020 2020 33 GOVERNANCE banking & finance

Kamath, Kochhar, Kalpana & Others Amidst rumours that former ICICI Bank’s KV Kamath may become the next finance minister, he and his women banker proteges are caught in scandalous whirlpools

gfiles inside the government 34 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com by K. Subramanian

t is like a good-turned-horrific, banker was told to be ready so that he Nepotism charges engulfed and gold-tinted, but not-so-polished, could hit the ground running. professionally destroyed Kochhar. The penny that keeps making its It is indeed ironic—and many inci- CBI alleged that as the head of ICICI untimely appearances at regular dents in Kamath’s life are sardonic— Bank she gave huge loans to the intervals. Ever since the begin- that such buzz about the inevitability Mumbai-based Videocon Group, Ining of the year, and India Inc’s frus- of his future post happened during a which turned into bad loans. Curiously, tration with the economic slowdown, period, when the banker is on the back a day after one of the tranches of the the name of India’s super-banker, who foot. In the recent past, two of his loan, worth `300 crore, was disbursed has several skeletons too in his vaults, banker protégés in ICICI found them- to Videocon International Electronics, keeps cropping up in mainstream pink selves down in the dumps, with possi- “Venugopal Dhoot (one of group’s media. It is whispered and, therefore, bilities of being locked up in jail. More promoters) transferred `64 crore to echoes, in the corridors of power. He is importantly, Kamath is under scrutiny Nupower Renewable through Supreme the next finance minister (FM), claims for the shenanigans of one of them, Energy, both managed by her the speculative news. He met Prime whose past, but dizzying, banking (Kochhar’s) husband, Deepak”. Minister Narendra Modi to finalise career was dictated by her mentor. Even more curiously, Nupower his responsibilities, and discuss India’s Kamath, Chanda Kochhar, the for- Renewable was incorporated a few fiscal strategy, says another. mer head of ICICI Bank, and Shikha months before the ICICI-Videocon Going by the rumours and news Sharma, the former top honcho of loan deal. Among its three directors items, he should have become the Axis Bank, are being investigated for were Deepak Kochhar and Venugopal country’s FM at least five-six times. A corruption, nepotism, and misman- Dhoot, which hints that it was a form few weeks ago, when he left the BRICS agement. Renuka Ramnath, who man- of a joint partnership between a Bank after the completion of his five- aged private equity firm, and Kalpana business group and husband of a year tenure, there was fresh, but Morparia, who peacefully retired high-profile banker. However, Dhoot uncertain, talk that KV Kamath, the recently from JP Morgan, are the other resigned from the company, and sold former ICICI head, was again being protégés, who had their share of con- 1.9 million shares in Nupower Renew- considered for the FM’s post. A cabinet troversies. Thus, he and his profes- able to Deepak at a face value reshuffle, said the rumour-mongers, is sional bevy of women are in the news of `10 each. However, Kochhar’s expected by September 2020, when for the wrong reasons, even as he husband paid an initial amount of the COVID-19 lockdown will be seems to be at the pinnacle of his pro- Re 1 per share. completely lifted, and the erstwhile fessional power. According to CBI, Kamath’s role in Kamath, Kochhar, Kalpana & Others Amidst rumours that former ICICI Bank’s KV Kamath may become the next finance minister, he and his women banker proteges are caught in scandalous whirlpools

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 35 GOVERNANCE banking & finance

these dubious loans to the Videocon former landed at Axis Bank, and the Group was of complicity. He was on latter launched a private equity firm. some of the ICICI committees that Morparia, the more sober of the quar- sanctioned `3,250 crore to the tet, retired as ICICI director, and had a Mumbai-based group, which included peaceful stint at JP Morgan. The trio’s the `300 crore mentioned above. final trajectories were somewhat dif- “These loans have turned NPA result- ferent—recently, Sharma was asked to ing in wrongful loss to ICICI Bank, leave, Morparia gracefully retired, and and wrongful gain to borrowers and Ramnath successfully and profitably accused persons. The role of these sold her firm’s stakes in nine of the 11 senior officers (including Kamath) of ventures it had funded. the sanctioning committee may also Given the current controversies at be investigated,” said the CBI probe Axis Bank, and the manner in which report. Sharma exited from the bank, this is a more intriguing story, which impli- ubsequently, Kochhar was cates and engulfs Kamath indirectly. disgracefully removed from In the recent past, the Serious Fraud SICICI Bank. An internal probe Investigation Office summoned panel, which was headed by a retired Sharma to seek information on how judge, found her guilty, and she was the controversial Nirav Modi and sacked. Based on the findings, the Mehul Choksi borrowed `12,600 crore bank “decided to take back all bonuses Kamath, Chanda from a clutch of banks, including Axis given to her between April 2009 and Kochhar, the former Bank, without proper documents. The March 2018, and also revoke all ben- head of ICICI Bank, duo flew out of the country around the efits and stock options”. The panel time the scam broke out. concluded that Kochhar was unable to and Shikha Sharma, Sharma’s bank extended `700 crore deal with issues related to “conflict of the former top honcho without the verification of the Letter interest and due disclosure of recusal of Axis Bank, are of Undertaking (LoU), a form of bank requirements” in the bank’s dealings guarantee, furnished by the borrow- with the Videocon Group. being investigated for ers. The LoU turned out to be a fake, However, the links between Kamath corruption, nepotism, as did the other documents deposited and Kochhar are deep-rooted and go and mismanagement. by the duo at the other banks. Other back a long way. In 2009, when he was senior bankers of Axis Bank were an established name, and decided to Renuka Ramnath, who called by the SFIO, apart from those in step down as the ICICI head, his four managed private 30 other banks. The Modi-Choksi epi- women stood a fair chance to grab the equity firm, and sode reeks of gross mismanagement, coveted post. Kochhar got the job, and the lack of checks and balances. which angered the others, who felt Kalpana Morparia, There were other incidents that put that they were equally talented, if not who peacefully retired Axis Bank in the dock. more than her. Once she was at the recently from JP The National Company Law helm of affairs in May 2009, it was Tribunal wishes to know how Ramesh inevitable that the move would lead to Morgan, are the other Chandra Bawa, a key official of the the inevitable exits of the other women protégés, who had IL&FS Group, which went bankrupt competitors. their share of recently, and his family members were It happened sooner than expected. allowed to withdraw money from Sharma and Ramnath immediately controversies their bank accounts, and assets from left to redraw their new destinies—the their lockers, both in Axis Bank, even

gfiles inside the government 36 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com Who is Kamath?

ince 1996, when he returned from his stint in consumption boom would follow as Indians had more Asian Development Bank to head ICICI Bank, money to spend on houses, cars, and consumer SKundapur Vaman Kamath was acclaimed as the goods. He was bang on the spot and, during his country’s super-banker with concrete links with India’s tenure as ICICI head between 1996 and 2009 the politics, and within India Inc. His banking prowess is bank’s assets grew from a mere `21,000 crore to an proved by the fact that in the 1990s, he quickly grasped unimaginable `380,000 crore – 17 times in 14 years. the concept of ‘universal banking’. To expand and thrive In the 2000s, India Inc celebrated Kamath as its in the post-reforms era, a bank had to exit its project- poster boy. The latter represented the business finance mindset, i.e. fund private and state projects, ad community’s views on finance, manufacturing, and get into other areas. other policies to make India’s a global hub. No Two areas that appealed to Kamath in the late strategy meeting among businesses, especially at the 1990s and 2000s were infrastructure – a growing national level, was complete without the super- middle and aspiration class would demand better banker. Kamath found himself as a member of roads, highways, airports, etc – and retail – a several committees that prepared a futuristic blueprint for the Indian economy. His stature within India Inc, and among family businesses, was most visible in 2005. When the two warring Ambani siblings, elder Mukesh and Anil, decided to split the business empire in less than three years after their father’s (Dhirubhai) death, Kamath was the brothers’ “mutually-agreed arbitrator”. More importantly, this was known publicly, and was reported in the media. It showed the banker’s power and influence that India’s first business family, the richest and wealthiest, had approached him to sort out its personal affairs. He was regarded more as a family member by the Ambani clan. Kamath’s brush with politics started quite early, when his father entered politics and became the Mayor of Mangalore. When he returned to ICICI in the mid-1990s, he assiduously built his political contacts. He was known to be close to several prime ministers and finance ministers from both sides of the political fence. It was, therefore, not surprising that his proximity with Congress’ P. Chidambarm didn’t dissuade the Modi regime to appoint him as the head of the BRICS Bank for a period of five years. Now, Kamath has returned back from another foreign stint. The last time, he took over as the head of ICICI Bank; this time, will it be as the nation’s financial head—the finance minister of India?

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 37 GOVERNANCE banking & finance

after the tribunal froze them. The etization and GST, and health disasters NPAs, and what were declared by the Enforcement Directorate is interested like Covid-19. banks, were `9,400 crore and `4,800 how the bank was involved in the Clearly, the RBI was aware that crore, respectively. modus operandi by which a coopera- Sharma’s tenure had taken the bank to Hence, it wasn’t surprising that tive society illegally transferred `2,000 the edge of a financial abyss. The Sharma’s exit was bizarre. In July 2017, crore abroad through shell companies. turnaround was possible only if she she was recommended for a three-year Bankers and observers contend that was forced to go, and a new person re-appointment by the bank’s board, Sharma’s tenure as the head of Axis was appointed in her place. By which was effective from July 2018. Bank – from 2009 to 2018 – was one of December 2017, Axis Bank’s bad loans But given the state of financial affairs, the worst in recent banking history. soared more than five times to 5.28 it is reported that the central bank “Not only was the performance of the percent, compared to the 1.01 percent intervened, and urged the bank to bank pathetic in her final years, she when Sharma joined it. In 2015-16 reconsider its decision. It wasn’t unu- was responsible for a culture that pro- and 2016-17, the RBI discovered that sual that Sharma announced that she moted marketing that led to poor the mismatch between the actual would wish the three years to be operational risk controls, and lapses in Know-Your-Customer protocols. The bank was involved in money launder- ing during demonetization,” claims Hemindra Hazari, a registered research analyst.

e adds that if anyone raised a voice internally against such Hmalpractices, he or she was promptly silenced. This is evident from the manner in which Axis Bank dealt with whistle blowers. They were persecuted and shunted out. “The bank used the draconian ‘Clause 3.5 of the Bank’s Staff Rules’ that enables it to terminate any employee without a reason. Such whistle blowers were, obviously, unable to find employment elsewhere. Thus, employees were indi- The links between Kamath and Kochhar are deep- rectly warned that they could not point rooted and go back a long way. In 2009, when he was out regulatory lapses.” an established name, and decided to step down as the Although Sharma left in 2018, the bank has tottered financially because ICICI head, his four women stood a fair chance to of her corrupt legacy. In the last quar- grab the coveted post. Kochhar got the job, which ` ter, it incurred a huge loss of 1,388 angered the others, who felt that they were equally crore, which was in contradiction to the market estimate of a profit of talented, if not more than her. Once she was at the `1,478 crore. Obviously, the culprit helm of affairs in May 2009, it was inevitable that the was the provisioning of a whopping move would lead to the inevitable exits of the other `7,730 crore for future non-performing assets. The bulk of these included women competitors loans to MSMEs, which were disrupt- ed by government policies like demon-

gfiles inside the government 38 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com reduced to seven months, i.e. until adequate cash. There was an agree- December 2018. It was a face-saver. As ment, which left Sharma to blaze a usual, the RBI agreed to such an new path in private equity circles. option. In lieu of this background—Kamath Unlike Kochhar and Sharma, and two of his women protégés are Ramnath and Morparia maintained embroiled in recent scandals, and two their professional statures. But the had not-so-squeaky clean past, a few latter two too were involved in past media reports have questioned if controversies when they were part of Prime Minister Modi will appoint the ICICI Group. Morparia was such a controversial person as the new actively involved in one of the FM. It is known that Modi is extreme- turnaround strategies of Dabhol ly careful and cagey about his image, Power, a contentious power company and tries to distance himself from that was promoted by the US-based scams. In fact, he tries to monitor and

Unlike Kochhar and Sharma, Ramnath and Morparia maintained their professional statures. But the latter two too were involved in past controversies when they were part of the ICICI Group. Morparia was actively involved in one of the turnaround strategies of Dabhol Power, a contentious power company that was promoted by the US-based Enron, which went belly-up due to corruption, mismanagement, and doctoring of financial accounts

Enron, which went belly-up due to regulate senior cabinet ministers, based businessman, who has several corruption, mismanagement, and especially those whose family mem- scores to settle against Kamath. doctoring of financial accounts. As bers are involved in businesses. However, as we know, Kamath has many other such moves, this the uncanny ability to land himself at turnaround failed after a few years. uch articles speculate that there the right spot at the right time. He was As Sharma got ready to quit ICICI may other reasons why Kamath’s there to emerge as India’s super- Ventures, she was embroiled in a legal Sname crops up at regular inter- banker in the 2000s. Despite his close spat with the Azim Premji Group. The vals. One of them is to make sure that connections with the Congress, the latter charged that the private equity he never gets the coveted post. In the current prime minister appointed him wing of ICICI sold shares of Shubiksha, past, it was revealed that if a person’s to head the BRICS Bank, which was an a physical retail chain, just before it name was mentioned in the media for important post in the international keeled over. Sharma denied the accu- a specific job, it was instantly scuttled finance arena. Now that he is back, sations, and maintained that there was by their enemies. The second is that who knows what he can conjure, what nothing wrong with the financial some of the stories that mentioned rabbit he can pull out of his hat? It is health of Shubiksha, which went into Kamath’s name were published by an easy to write off Kamath; it isn’t easy to turmoil because of its inability to raise entity that was close to a Mumbai- write him off for a long time. g

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 39 GOVERNANCE policy impact

Strengthening Social Enterprise Ecosystem Need for systemic support from the Government

gfiles inside the government 40 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com by Jyotsna Sitling and Bibhu Mishra

he world faces several challenges today. Businesses in the pursuit of maximising profits and shareholders’ value have already done lot of damage to the environment and society. On the top of it is the ‘rising inequality’. If we talk about Our societal challenges are TIndia, in 2018, top 10 per cent of India’s population got 55 enormous. The trinity of the per cent of all income and the bottom 50 per cent shared only 15 per cent (World Inequality Report 2018)1 of the government, market and civil income. society now need to work together Figure 1 suggests that inequality is rising in India at a much faster rate as compared to the USA, China, Europe rationally through a structure and even Russia. More importantly, although it is true that which has the heart of a social millions came out of poverty and share of middle class in organisation and head of a total population has grown consistently in India between 2006 and 2016 according to UN2 study, the major concern business entity to hold hand with is that our ranking in Human Development Index is still the government to address our 129 (out of 189 countries, 2019)3. Similarly, our performance on the status of environment is much appalling. We are massive societal problems with ranked 177 out of 180 countries (2018) in Environment much needed scale, speed and Performance Index4. The rising inequality will sharpen sustainability. Social Enterprises further in the post COVID world. This clearly shows that businesses have to find ways which are more inclusive and (SE) are the answer to this. tries to balance people, planet and profit. This alternate Sensing the pulse, the government business model gaining momentum across the globe is that has already announced a Social of Social Enterprises. Stock Exchange (SSE) in the What is a Social budget speech in July 2019 at Enterprise? an opportune time. This also In simple terms, Social Enterprises are businesses that have comes with a huge responsibility a revenue-generating model. Therefore, they cannot be categorised as charity or philanthropy. They re-invest most to build right ecosystem for SE of their profits into the cause for which the enterprise is in India. It also necessary to existing and do not focus on multiplying shareholder’s make the stakeholders aware of money value. They, therefore, are different from traditional businesses. And most importantly, their primary focus is the market functions of a Social on social and environmental good. However, there is no Enterprise, and the roles critical universally accepted definition of an SE. SE is not new In to the government in bringing

distinct value in different 1 https://wir2018.wid.world/files/download/wir2018-full-report-english.pdf 2 https://www.in.undp.org/content/india/en/home/sustainable-development/ market sub-segments of social successstories/MultiDimesnionalPovertyIndex.html 3 http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/2019-human-development-index-ranking impact investment. 4 https://epi.envirocenter.yale.edu/epi-topline?country=

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 41 GOVERNANCE policy impact

Figure 1: Income inequality rises almost everywhere, but at different speeds

Source: https://wir2018.wid.world/files/download/wir-presentation.pdf

India, but the scale is not there. A number of mutual profit prominence of metrics, certifications and ratings built on and non-profit organisations registered as a Cooperative, robust assessment systems and measurement systems. This Trust, Society and Section 8 Company in India are unto has largely benefited the market by allowing investors to social business, addressing the challenges of access, compare and accordingly invest in social businesses by affordability and assurance of societal products and services assessing their potential impact. Brookings India 2019 to the needy public. report cautions that although it will be prudent to look into methods and instruments from global best practices for What is a Social Stock channelising the resources, it will be equally critical to examine several aspects/ externalities of the Indian market Exchange? on impact focused take up from a policy standpoint. Social Stock Exchanges (SSE) are different from traditional stock exchanges in multiple ways. Most importantly, they do not facilitate the trading of shares. The most important SSE and nature of services function of a SSE could be to act as a platform for SEs and Globally, SSEs have been set up in more than ten countries. ‘Impact Investors’. Impact Investors are investors who are The prominent SSEs are in UK, Canada, USA, South Africa, not only interested in financial returns but also focus on Singapore and Mauritius. The ambit of functions of SSE social and environmental return. They invest mostly in SEs differ widely with respect to: having direct societal impact, or in socially and/or (i) types of organisations listed—‘for profit’ vs non-profit; environmentally responsible businesses and projects that (ii) services offered—directory only, matching funders and prevent negative impact on people and planet. The impact organisations and providing for direct online fund measurement globally has been characterised by raising;

gfiles inside the government 42 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com Non-Profit w/o Non-Profit Supported Pvt. Ltd. with Large Pvt / Pub. business Activity Business Business with Social Purpose Ltd with significant Activity Social Purpose CSR activity

1 2 3 4 5

Purpose Social Social Social Social Financial

Commercial None Somewhat Significant Critical Critical Activity significant

Resource Subsidies / Grants  SGDV  SGDV Income from Income from Base / Donation /  Commercial  Commercial commercial commercial Volunteers (SGDV) Activity Income Activity Income activities activities

Profits None Reinvesting in Reinvesting in Reinvestment, Reinvestment, Social Purpose social purpose Div. Distribution Div. Dist., Donation

Category / Charity Arvind Eye Care Section 8 BASIX Ltd., Tatas, Mahindras E.g. organisations company Narayana (Eklavya Hirdayaya, Foundation) Microfinance Co

Not profit ------ Profit (CSR)

Regulatory reforms for introducing innovative (iii) abilities to trade securities; financing instruments that can trigger wide (iv) methodology for accreditation of organisations and cross sector partnerships to scale up the proven investors; and, social programs and innovate new social (v) ability of retail investors to participate5. (Roopa Kudwa business through SE would need more primary, and Raahil Rai, 2019). secondary and applied research on scale and characteristics of SEs in India. Above (from Col 2 to Col 4) is the spectrum of SEs in India. The The foundational role totally non profits are ( Col1 and CSR of Col 2) of the government As SEBI is on the task to develop a regulatory framework for SSE operations in India, there is a need now for the Entrepreneurs and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to government to be involved in multiple layers of intervention address refractive social problems with immediate support that can address supply development, directing capital and signal from the government. The key roles that are demand development through policies, regulations and important at this foundational stage are as under: direct participation in the market (Brookings India, 2019). This is important, especially at this challenging COVID Educate market participants: The purpose is to times, to instill the faith in Impact Investors to make broaden the ecosystem and deepen the knowledge of the effective investments and build morale of Social sector through education, training and awareness about market players. This could be done through massive targeted campaigns using fiscal neutral resources of the 5 https://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/designing-a-social-stock- exchange-119082500004_1.html banking sector.

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 43 GOVERNANCE policy impact

Foster social business: The purpose is to design and implement government policies and programmes to improve the social impact investment ecosystem. This can be done through introducing innovative financing (both debt and equity) instruments / products to trigger partnerships and convergence and promoting robust diverse intermediaries for developing optimum traction for social investment.

Strengthen demand side through public commissioning: Public commissioning of services to SEs would require sensitisation and awareness of govt/ public sector on SE policies and ecosystem players and putting administrative practices in place that allows SEs to better work with govt/ public sector. The government should also revisit procurement guidelines for SEs by laying social conditions for public procurement, for example, Public Procurement Policy for MSEs Order, 2018, under Section 11 of MSMED Act, 2006.

Co-build impact audit system for convergence, efficiency and cost effective growth: Apart from becoming a repository of SEs and Impact Investors, SSE platform can become more investment friendly by integrating MIS on recent developments and best practices using AI and machine learning. This needs close collaboration of SEBI with relevant social / business / people / academic institutions / research organisations. The complexity and cost of handling impact audit can also be reduced if the government’s social data (MoSPI), environmental data (MoEFCC & MNRE), business data Inequality is rising in India at a and CSR data (MCA & MSME), and NGO data and much faster rate as compared Aspirational District Programme data (NITI Aayog) can be reviewed and be made usable for seamless and authentic to the USA, China, Europe and confirmation of impact. More importantly, this would help even Russia... It will sharpen build co-ownership of private, government and CSO to further in the post COVID tackle emergent societal problems with much needed scale and speed. world. This clearly shows that businesses have to find ways Attend specific current barriers and / or which are more inclusive and opportunities in the social impact investment market: There is a need for identifying and targeting tries to balance people, planet specific current barriers and/ or opportunities in the social and profit. This alternate impact investment market. Small social organisations in business model gaining transition need more types of blended capital. It is also seen that retail investors are seeking social value but more momentum across the globe is mainstream social pension opportunities (e.g. National that of Social Enterprises Pension Scheme) need to adapt and capture this interest.

gfiles inside the government 44 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com Systemic support of Govt. for scalability

 Political Catalyze  Strategic  Legal stakeholders at alliance demand, supply  Regulatory  Collaboration and intermediary  Convergence  Financial level for scalability  and other through tandem  Advocacy system participation of changes state, market and civil society organizations’ mandate

NEED FOR A CENTRAL NETWORKED BODY (CNB) TO ACT AS GROWTH CENTRE FOR SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

Government will be able close a full circle of its novel initiative on inclusive investment through SSE by instituting a Growth Centre for Social investment.

Conclusion Given the need to catalyse the market for the social business and the expected outcome of such collaborations in terms of at a massive scale, especially at this hour, the need has been catalysing the social impact market on the ground. felt to have a central networked body under public, private Collaboration with the state governments would also be and civil society partnership to be developed as Growth required for necessary policy and programme convergence Centre for Social Enterprise and Social Impact Bonds. The to give meaningful results. role of this Centre would be to provide strategic guidance to Given the multi-stakeholder nature of the proposed leverage State, Market and CSOs’ resources and expertise for Growth Centre and its potential in catalysing cross sector impact and recommend supportive policies, institutions partnerships to foster inclusive growth, a Task Force (think and instruments in promoting social businesses. In addition, tank) could be formed at the highest level in the government the monitoring of results and addressing of capacity needs to come up with recommendations on the functions and the will be a cross cutting role of this organisation. institutional architecture of the proposed Growth Centre. g Taking into consideration the challenge of encompassing (The views of the Authors are personal) (Jyotsna Sitling is Indian Forest Service officer presently posted as convergence function to build the market for social business, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Van Panchayat, in Uttarakhand it will be vital to bring in relevant social, business, people, Forest Department. academic institutions and research organisations as partners Bibhu Mishra currently works with The Global Education & Leadership for developing the Growth Centre. Equally important would Foundation and previously was a German Chancellor Fellow with be to identify the collaborative role of these organisations Alexander von Humboldt Foundation based at Humboldt University, Berli

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 45 GOVERNANCE markets gs sood

Big Metal Momentum Contrary to previous trends and what governments prefer, it has been observed that investors are keener to buy physical metal than the one of paper

recious metals espe- been talking of the disease persisting time. It has been observed that inves- cially gold and silver are for a longer period than expected but tors are keener to buy physical metal likely to see heightened also the fact that there are going to be than the paper one. The reasons cited action emerging as the most second and third waves of the pan- were increased uncertainties in the sought-after investment demic that may be deadlier than what future and avoidance of lock-in peri- Pavenues in the uncertain post Covid- has been witnessed till date. od, etc., that comes with the paper 19 scenario. Governments of most Investments in precious metals can form of investment. countries and leading central banks primarily be made in two ways—with Besides informal channels, inves- of the world have unleashed liquidity investors either preferring to buy them tors are most likely to transact in these in abundance to tackle the economic in physical form or going for the paper precious metals through any of the slowdown resulting from the virtual version of the same such as Sovereign major multi-commodity exchanges absence of all economic activities due Gold Bonds issued by the Reserve functioning in the country. However, to the pandemic. Major resources Bank of India. The second option not some of the incidents regarding the have been diverted to spruce up medi- only gives the investor the comfort of functioning of these exchanges and cal facilities so that fatalities resulting buying such metals online avoiding all the regulatory lapses on the part of from the pandemic can be minimised. the hassles and risks relating to stor- SEBI have shaken the confidence of Also, liquidity infusion had become age. Also, the governments of most not only the investors but the trading necessary to generate demand and countries encourage investments in members as well in the recent past. To reignite economic activities so that this format as it enables them to only quote Hindu Business Line of August incidence of unemployment and pov- control the physical demand of such 12, 2019, “Gold prices rose to over Rs erty can be minimised. metals that may be extremely difficult 38,000 per 10 gram. This resulted in However, as has been observed ear- for them to meet but also channelise record delivery of contracts traded on lier also, such liquidity has a tendency such money for more productive pur- the MCX. But the exchange had to to flow more towards risky assets such poses thereby giving a boost to eco- hike its insurance cover for gold over- as equities resulting in a bull run, as nomic growth. The money spent to night to manage the delivery. MMTC- witnessed after each such economic buy precious metals that are stored in PAMP, a bullion refinery that tried to crisis. Markets world over, including physical form practically goes out of deliver the contracts, faced hurdles as India, have in fact been witnessing circulation and remains largely unpro- one of the bullion vaults first sought such a momentum during the months ductive. Also, Sovereign Gold Bonds adequate cover. It was feared that trad- of April, May and in fact extending has the added advantage of investors ers seeking delivery of Gold may not well to the beginning of June despite earning an interest annually besides have adequate capital as it was for the no meaningful economic activity the assurance of getting the price of first time that such a huge amount of starting as yet. But it is precious metals the gold on the date of maturity. metal was marked for delivery. The that are likely to witness a big momen- However, gfiles based on the survey of MCX witnessed record delivery of tum in the coming days due to the fact some investors, has been surprised to 5,158 kg (valued at Rs 1,821 crore) in that most health experts have not only observe a trend that is different this August 2019 delivery.”

gfiles inside the government 46 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com There are concerns that such a sce- ening to as much as around 10 per taste of something similar, though not nario may get repeated in near future. cent. In fact, in the recent past, espe- in case of precious metals but for There can be several reasons people cially in US and UK, there has been a crude oil. may prefer to take physical delivery of genuine dearth of physical gold and According to a Bloomberg report of gold and silver. Legendry author Mike silver. This may prompt many inves- April 27, 2020, the benchmark Nymex Maloney in his much celebrated book tors going long on these precious met- crude for May settlement tumbled “Guide to Investing in Gold & Silver” als to insist for delivery on the settle- from $13 abarrel to minus $37.63 at talks of some of the reasons that tilt ment day. According to rough esti- close on April 20. For brokers in India investor preference for buying gold mates, the paper gold to physical gold tracking WTI crude oil prices for trad- and silver in physical form. They are: ratio is around 200 to 250 and that of ing on MCX, it was a double whammy. 1. Gold and silver are the only assets paper silver to silver is more than 250. Not only was the exchange not pre- that have never failed because of As against gold, silver has hundreds pared for negative prices, but they their inherent value that will never of industrial uses where it gets used in were also locked out of trading at 5.00 fall to zero. very tiny amounts that eventually end p.m. as SEBI had curtailed trading 2. They are financial assets completely up in waste/garbage piles. To quote hours during lockdown. Despite private and not part of the financial Mike Maloney again, at the current Nymex alerting about the possibility system. Even real estate requires of prices to fall below zero and asking transfer of title. Gold and silver its members including MCX to pre- do not. pare for it, it didn’t pay heed; neither 3. They are one of the few financial There is concern did brokers nor the regulator in India. assets that are not simultaneously about the ability of Three brokers—Motilal Oswal someone’s liability. Stocks, bonds, commodity Financial Services Ltd, Religare and derivatives require the perfor- Broking Ltd, and PMC Securities mance of issuer or counterparty. exchanges to honor Ltd—have dragged MCX, its clearing Even cash requires the performance all obligations corporation, and SEBI to the Bombay of the government that issues it to without disrupting High Court for the losses citing trad- have value. If a government fails, so ing restrictions and inadequate risk does its currency. Gold and silver normal functioning management. never fail. in the event of a The moot question is, are commod- 4. They can be wholly owned. Even large number of ity exchanges such as MCX and regu- owning real estate requires pay- investors insisting on latory authorities such as SEBI pre- ment of property tax regularly. pared for an eventuality of this kind so 5. They are safe haven investments actual delivery that the faith of investors in the that rise during economic upheaval, smooth functioning of commodity war, terrorism, and natural disaster. exchanges is not shaken again and 6. They have proven track record of rate of usage, the time that above- investors do not suffer due to the lack- performing well in inflation. ground stocks of silver would last if all adaisical attitude of the regulator. A 7. Physical gold and silver are money mining activity were to cease is now detailed query by gfiles about what in and of themselves. With high down to just four months. All this steps both SEBI and MCX have initi- value density, they have the same implies that in the coming times laden ated to ensure that the prices of these value for a unit. with lots of uncertainties, the price of metals are not rigged as also the ability gold and silver may move up beyond of the concerned commodity exchang- Also, it is observed that over a peri- the expectations of most of us. The es to honour all obligations without od, investors have been experiencing unexpected volatility in the prices of disrupting normal functioning in the increasing divergence between the precious metals may pose challenges event of a large number of investors price of physical gold and silver than for both the commodity exchanges as insisting on actual delivery has what is quoted by most exchanges in well as the regulators. It is only very remained unanswered despite several the country. The gap is seen to be wid- recently that the regulator has got a reminders. g

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 47 TALKTIME sir mark philip sedwill

Over a year since your appointment, what are your ir Mark Philip Sedwill, KCMG FRGS, is a British principal reflections on your role and how the different diplomat, public policy analyst and senior civil servant aspects of it intersect? Swho has serving as Cabinet Secretary and Head of It has certainly been an extraordinary the Civil Service since 2018. He has served as the National last 12 months. I have one role that Security Adviser since 2017. He previously served as the combines being Head of the Civil United Kingdom's Ambassador to Afghanistan from 2009 to Service and National Security 2010 and as the NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Adviser, as well as Cabinet Secretary. Afghanistan in 2010. He was the Permanent Secretary at I have found that the issues I deal with engage at least two of those at the Home Office from February 2013 to April 2017. Sedwill any one time. was born in Ealing on October 21, 1964. He attended To give an example, one thing we Bourne Grammar School in Bourne, Lincolnshire, becoming needed to do when Boris Johnson the head boy. He went to the University of St Andrews, became Prime Minister was to where he gained a Bachelor of Science (BSc), and later supercharge the work on no-deal gained a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in economics from planning, which was essential because of the commitment to leave, St Edmund Hall, Oxford. one way or the other. That required a

gfiles inside the government 48 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com ‘We need to plan across the system, focus on outcomes’

We need to be part of a whole range of changes, and the challenge for the Civil Service is to make sure it’s fit to play its role in the 2020s and beyond. And we should be leading that effort ourselves, generating our own ideas, to be sure, but also looking internationally at the best practice and asking, what can we learn? says Sir Mark Sedwill, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, United Kingdom, in an interview with Simon Holder

great deal of work in Cabinet, with What has most impressed you political debate. That’s probably the ministers and others, to make sure about the Civil Service most pleasing aspect, and is, I believe, they really understood the issues, and response to your focus on down to two things. could focus on the big decisions they teamwork, impact and trust, One is, when we’ve been dealing needed to take. and the challenges we have with the issues in the headlines, we’ve At the same time, we had the duty faced in the last year? absolutely maintained those core of communicating with the Civil I think those messages have landed values of honesty, integrity, Service. First, to engage the energy pretty well. I was trying to find a way impartiality and objectivity. Second— and enthusiasm of those people of describing those priorities that was and perhaps even more importantly— working directly on the preparatory meaningful and felt relevant, whether the fact that, every day, civil servants work—quite a large group of people I was talking to a Permanent get on with the job of running in itself. And then to say to the wider Secretary in Whitehall, or to a civil frontline public services and looking Civil Service—the huge majority, who servant on the front line in any and after their fellow citizens. And they do deal daily with issues in social care, every part of the country. it brilliantly—often in a way summed immigration and all the other In many ways the most impressive up by a word that doesn’t appear in the frontline services—to be aware that, thing I’ve seen is that public trust in formal values, but which is absolutely while many of their colleagues were the Civil Service continues to rise and critical to how public servants operate, working flat out on EU Exit, we relied is now at record levels—particularly with ‘compassion’. on them to keep going with their own impressive when the Civil Service has For most of the civil servants vital work. sometimes been drawn into the dealing with the public, compassion is

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 49 TALKTIME sir mark philip sedwill

at least as important as those central polarising issue. That is a fact. It’s not that high, not to find ourselves drawn values. I think that’s the thing that I’ve like other political issues. It wasn’t that in, even if we didn’t step into the seen most. And, of course, it has an people agreed or disagreed about, say, debate ourselves. impact—one that’s most effectively the role of the state in the economy, However, I do believe the wider delivered when people are operating where people have lots of different Civil Service was largely immune effectively as part of a team. views. It was a binary proposition. from it. Whitehall is probably only And, as I said at the time, civil 10 per cent of the Civil Service There has been media servants, as citizens, weren’t immune organisation. reporting around Civil Service from that. It is frustrating to hear civil impartiality. How does that Inevitably, every institution was servants’ impartiality being make you feel? being drawn into the debate. It would questioned, because I simply don’t It’s frustrating, but we can’t be have been virtually impossible for think it’s true. I genuinely don’t completely immune from the wider the Civil Service—particularly in know—and don’t need to know—how public and political debate. One of the Whitehall—when the country’s going civil servants voted in the things I said in a message across the through something that significant, referendum. Some of our most Civil Service was that Brexit is a and the political temperature is talented people, at all grades, of all

gfiles inside the government 50 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com ages, from all parts of the country, climate action: Net Zero carbon by need exceptional change leadership. absolutely threw themselves into the 2050, but also climate adaptation. We will also need people whose Brexit project, supporting the Huge programmes will be required EQ—their emotional intelligence— government and delivering its policy, to manage that adaptation, including is at least as good as their IQ, to whether it was in DExEU (The in infrastructure. It will demand deal with those citizens who need Department for Exiting the European intense engagement with industry our support and are often least Union) in the teams in the Cabinet and the public, many of whom are equipped to navigate the complexities Office, or now in the teams in No.10. already really engaged by the climate of state provision. So, in the end you think, well, that’s change issue and believe in the And, of course, we need people what’s real and important. necessity for action. who can deal with the wider global We’ve also got the fourth, issues that come along. Just consider What do you see as the big technological, industrial revolution the last few decades: the fall of the challenges for the Civil Service and all the changes that’s going to Berlin Wall, 9/11, the Arab Spring— over the next period? bring. We’ve got dual channel shift events that essentially defined their Our challenges, in a sense, are the within the Civil Service itself and decades but weren’t anticipated. Part same ones the government faces. We other public services: the digital of what the public service must be

There’s also the considerable economic reorientation as we change our trading relationship with the EU and build new trading relationships with other big countries and markets. It’s a significant economic challenge for the whole country, and we have to help businesses and citizens navigate their way through it

now have a government with a strong agenda, delivering more and more able to do is adapt to whatever the majority to deliver Brexit. So our services to the bulk of the people in next big event is—it could be priorities and challenges are about the country through digital means. economic, it could be political, it helping the government deliver on its And—I mentioned compassion could happen overseas, but we have agenda more broadly, through the earlier—we need to ensure that we to be ready. Brexit inflection point. But there’s also wrap around our services in a more the considerable economic holistic way, particularly the acute How do you think we can be reorientation as we change our trading services that people in the most better, organisationally and in relationship with the EU and build challenging circumstances—and those the way we work, to meet new trading relationships with other with complex needs—require. those challenges? big countries and markets. It’s a So, we’ve got to make sure our I’ve talked to the Prime Minister at significant economic challenge for the services and our operating model length about civil and wider public whole country, and we have to help moves in two directions—these two service reform because it isn’t just businesses and citizens navigate their channel shifts at once. That’s a huge about the Civil Service, it’s broader. way through it. transformation programme. It will be And I’ve discussed the dual channel Then, we have the commitments on part of the Spending Review and we’ll shift with both him and his advisers.

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 51 TALKTIME sir mark philip sedwill

Alongside that are other questions: approach fitting into that long- goals around the wellbeing of the what is the employment model; what term agenda of challenge and individual citizen. These relate to the kind of people are we going to need, change? inclusiveness of communities, the not now but in 2030? Because we’ve This is as much about government as safety of individuals, whether they got to be recruiting now, and the Civil Service per se, but we must can go about their daily lives in the attracting, retaining and motivating. be a big part of that agenda. way that they want and get the How do we shift more of the Essentially, the Strategic education they need, is crime being leadership and the Civil Service away Framework is taking some of the tackled in their areas, and so on. You from London, and use the public lessons we’ve learnt in National have a whole series of issues around service as a whole as part of the Security, and from countries that do security and safety, and around engine driving the levelling-up these things really well. New Zealand sustainability and the environment, agenda around the country? has pursued reforms of this kind for and then a set of issues around the There was an interesting piece in several years. They established a country’s role and influence in the one of the Sunday newspapers recently from Andy Street and Andy Burnham, the metropolitan mayors of the West Midlands and Greater Manchester, from different parties, Just consider the last few decades: the essentially talking about the fall of the Berlin Wall, 9/11, the Arab infrastructure programme. The Civil Service needs to be involved in the Spring—events that essentially defined regeneration of some of the big metropolitan areas. Moving people their decades but weren’t anticipated. Part into hubs is part of that. of what the public service must be able to We need to be part of a whole range of changes, and the challenge do is adapt to whatever the next big event for the Civil Service is to make sure it’s fit to play its role in the 2020s and is—it could be economic, it could be beyond. And we should be leading political, it could happen overseas, but we that effort ourselves, generating our own ideas, to be sure, but also looking have to be ready internationally at the best practice and asking, what can we learn? We came top of the International Civil Service Effectiveness Index in National Performance Framework, world. And what we’re saying is, we 2019, which is very gratifying. But we which doesn’t just, for example, take need to judge how we’re doing as a came top in only one of the index’s data on unemployment, inflation or government and as a country, not on dozen core indicators. And though economic growth, but looks across purely economic criteria but against we’re in the upper quartile of some, in other areas of government activity those broader measures. other areas we aren’t. So we need to and asks: how well are we doing That’s one part of the change that’s be asking ourselves what we can learn across the board? needed. The second part is about from Finland or Singapore or Canada The Wellbeing Index introduced building the horizontal structures that or elsewhere, about digital delivery or under the Cameron government is an are as strong as the traditional vertical some of the other areas where others example of that approach, but we structures of government do it better. need to look more broadly. The departments. It’s been attempted Strategic Framework is really saying, before, by trying to turn the vertical How do you see the Strategic we have a series of economic goals, into the horizontal, and that hasn’t Framework and the ‘fusion’ set by government. Then we have worked. It’s one of the areas where we

gfiles inside the government 52 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com need collaborative effort across all of our capabilities, to bear. removing barriers and giving them government. Climate action is It’s then about system leadership to permission. That’s what resetting the probably the biggest single example, deliver, and that’s about ensuring that relationship between Whitehall, the but there are others. If you want to we are engaging the wider public wider Civil Service and the wider cut crime, you need a whole range of service, as well as the private and public service is all about. social policy actors, as well as the third sectors. criminal justice system, to do that. If I have noticed that, if you get a Can we continue to rely on the you want to tackle homelessness, then group of public servants together public service ethos to attract you’re dealing with the healthcare from different organisations, and and retain civil servants; and system as much as you’re dealing with create the conditions for them to what can we do to reduce staff housing and street crime, and so on. work as a team, across boundaries, movement within and out of the There are many big issues that where their expertise is respected, on service, which has attracted involve several departments. We need a common problem—let’s say, the criticism? I think the criticism has some point. You can see turnover if, for example, the offices of different departments in the same city pay different rates. And though you see more turnover in Whitehall, again, we mustn’t confuse Whitehall, which accounts for only about 10 per cent of the entire workforce, with the Civil Service as a whole. And it’s also true that in certain specialisms, people don’t tend to move. But that doesn’t mean the criticism’s not valid. It comes as much from civil servants themselves as from anyone outside. I think there are structural factors. Pay is clearly one of them. A decade of pay restraint has made it harder and has incentivised some behaviours that are sensible for the individual but not in the interests of the organisation to plan across the system, focus on rehabilitation of offenders—they just as a whole. If the only way of getting a outcomes, get ministers and love doing it. I saw this borne out pay increase at your grade is to move government to set the direction, align recently, when the Public Service departments, or the only way to get the funding and resources, and then Leadership Group, convened by promoted is to move jobs, then put in place the structures to deliver Cabinet Office, brought together people will move. There is something the policy. senior civil servants from different about those embedded incentives we This doesn’t apply universally. disciplines, local authority officials, need to address. Some things are better done by and representatives of other public Personally, as we make the channel individual departments. But some sector bodies from across the country, shift, I would like to see more things need to be done in a cross- at Wormwood Scrubs, specifically to processes handled by automation, AI cutting way. That’s what that part of a address this issue. and intelligent software. This means fusion approach is about—doing that Because most public servants are that, overall, we will probably need in a purposeful way, bringing natural team players, it’s not actually fewer people. And our turnover programme and campaign disciplines, about encouraging them, it’s about means that we can manage that in a

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 53 TALKTIME sir mark philip sedwill

smooth way; that we will be able to started this interview, I’ve only got The third one I found particularly pay those people who we retain more. one role. It has different facets, but interesting: staying calm, and It means training them more. It that’s true of any big job. And the role projecting that, helps the people means ensuring, in particular, that of Cabinet Secretary has changed over around you stay calm. Even where we value EQ as much as IQ, the years, according to circumstances. neuroscience tells you they perform we’re really equipping those people to Many of my predecessors did all of better as a result. And sometimes do the job well. the things I’m doing—because they the job is to steady things and keep There’s also something about didn’t have National Security Advisers your head. whether we genuinely facilitate for most of that time—and were also, Sometimes, the job is to steady interchange with the third sector for example, Permanent Secretary for things and keep your head. and private sector, or, in effect, say we the Cabinet Office, running a single do but put structural barriers in the big institution. If you could go back to when way. In my own case, returning after You just have to manage the job in you entered the Civil Service a couple of years away at NATO, I the way that works best for you. I tend and give yourself one piece of recall feeling that more value could have been applied to the experience I’d gained. Whether people go out to the private sector or the third sector, we need to get those things right. We’re not likely to compete on pay, particularly in London, with the leading private sector organisations. But other parts of the Civil Service package are absolutely at the top of the employment offer table—on diversity, on flexible working, on pensions, and job security. People can join the Civil Service and know that, for example, the maternity and paternity leave offers are near or at the very best of any employer in the country. It’s a competitive package. But the to work long days and a short week. advice—or if you could give fundamental motivation for civil And I don’t live in London, so I can one piece of advice to someone servants is going to be the public get away and be with my family. I just starting their Civil Service service ethos and doing something think that’s so important. We live in a career—what would it be? that is both worthwhile and really rural area. It’s a very different world I’ve genuinely never planned my interesting. That’s got to be the core of to metropolitan London, and it gives career. My ambition wasn’t for our offer, always, while also being a me a different perspective on some of particular positions, it was to be great all-round employer. the issues I’m dealing with. I believe the person who set the standards in that’s part of where I add some value every job that I did. Then I’d look Do you find it difficult to and helps me maintain a balance. around to find what looked balance your personal and William Hague had a great line on interesting, or fun: which country I professional life? leadership. He said it’s about three would like to work in, and on what People never believe this, but, no, I things: have big ideas and portfolio. I think it’s really important really don’t. communicate them; pick a great team that you enjoy the journey, as well as To be clear, going back to where we and trust them; and stay calm. focusing on the destination.

gfiles inside the government 54 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com Perhaps I was very lucky, but I’ve the expertise of a mental health the citizen to navigate through the really enjoyed every job I’ve done. So professional who has access to the complexity of government. my advice is: be passionate. Make individual’s records or might even sure you do the things you can be know them? I’ve seen examples of this How can we ensure that the passionate about and you’ll make a with street triage, where mental Civil Service meets the difference. And—after all—that’s why health professionals work alongside target in the Diversity and you’re here. the police, and they’ve said, it’s OK, Inclusion Strategy of take them home, they’ll settle down, becoming the UK’s most What policy has inspired you they aren’t going to self-harm. That’s inclusive employer by 2020? most during your time in the better for the individual and less This is an area where we need a sense Civil Service and why? burden on the police. of both urgency and patience. Mental health is a great example. The question is, how do you take It’s not something where you can Let’s say someone is exhibiting a that model and bring it to an say, with edicts from me, if we do serious mental health crisis at the industrial scale, structuring and the following three things everything will suddenly shift. Building a genuinely inclusive culture and a genuinely diverse workforce requires relentless commitment from If you get a group of public servants everybody over many years. Of course, if there are opportunities to together from different organisations, and accelerate, to share best practice, we create the conditions for them to work as should do that. But we mustn’t think this is a simple challenge. a team, across boundaries, where their I’d make one other point. When you talk to civil servants, this is the expertise is respected, on a common issue where you can feel the energy problem—let’s say, the rehabilitation of levels rise, that this is the kind of Civil Service that people who choose offenders—they just love doing it public service as their way of life actually want to be part of. So it’s not about shifting the behaviours and values of the mass of civil servants. The will to create a diverse and weekend on the streets. The primary incentivising the police, social inclusive community is absolutely in duty of police officers, who are likely services, adult social care, the health the DNA of the sort of people we to be first responders, is to ask: “Is service and so on, to make that the select and promote. But we have to that person a danger to themselves or default way they operate. have the right structures and systems their fellow citizens?” They might feel There is a great example in the to enable that behaviour, that set of they have no choice but to detain that Troubled Families programme that values—we don’t have to enforce it, person. A police cell is probably not Dame Louise Casey advanced. but enable it. g the best environment for that Some places around the country have individual, but it may be the only really nailed that, with impressive Courtesy ; Civil Service Quarterly, UK place of safety they can use. They results. Those are the kind of things (Simon Holder is a Senior Campaign can’t be expected to judge whether it’s where we can have a really powerful Manager and member of the safe, for example, to take the person effect—and again it’s about Government Communication Service, back home, because they might self- multidisciplinary teamwork, where working in the Prime Minister’s harm or worse. you wrap a set of interventions Office and Cabinet Office But what if you can bring to bear around the citizen, rather than asking Communications, UK)

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 55 GLOBAL SCAN russia watch The bear flexes muscle

As President Vladimir Putin faces one of the most critical challenges of his presidency—the Covid-19 pandemic—he will have to determine an effective way to advance foreign policy goals amid the crisis. This would entail balancing the strategic relationship with China, dealing with a growing bipolar rivalry, and its impact on foreign policies of other countries

by Nivedita Kapoor

n 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin have led to the conclusion that Russia is no longer announced the project of ‘Greater Eurasia,’ looking at a future that includes integration with it. a partnership stretching from Atlantic to While the European vector of Russian foreign the Pacific and encompassing the countries policy remains important, the debate about of Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Russian identity has now turned its focus towards IShanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the the century old idea of Eurasian-ism. The concept Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) looks at the geographical location of Russia as and the European Union (EU). Despite the fact that bestowing a unique position on the country and Europe will also form a part of its Eurasian vision, building its identity—that as a bridge between it is a departure from the post-Soviet ambitions Europe and Asia. of establishing a Greater Europe from Lisbon to This comes a few years after the much-publi- Vladivostok. cised pivot to the East, for which the 2012 APEC The cracks in the relationship with the West summit in Vladivostok was considered to be the were building for some time, characterised by a key event in heralding its launch. The focus on deep dissatisfaction with the eastward expansion of Asia-Pacific, which has been emerging as the new NATO, and US’ unilateral military actions in vari- power centre in global affairs, was a chance to build ous parts of the world, as it became clear that Russia a multi-vector policy with an increasingly impor- did not accept the new world order that emerged at tant region, while also seeking to fulfil domestic the end of the Cold War. The 2014 Ukrainian crisis economic development goals, especially in the and the resulting breakdown of ties with the West Russian Far East.

gfiles inside the government 56 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 57 GLOBAL SCAN russia watch

In recent years, as the relations with to build multilateral ties, including bear the ‘primary responsibility for the US and Europe have deteriorated, with non-Western groupings like maintaining international peace and the strategic partnership with China BRICS, SCO, ASEAN, CSTO, RIC and s e c u r it y.’ has gained significant ground, with most importantly, EAEU. It already the latter emerging as the key partner occupies a permanent seat in the for Russia. The Putin period has also UN Security Council and believes Conduct of been characterised by an attempt the multilateral organisation should Russian Policy Based on the above discussion, it is clear that Russia has engaged itself in the task of building a new identity While a significant amount of debate has focused after the collapse of the Soviet Union, on Russian attempts to interfere with electoral which stripped it off its superpower processes in the West, and the use of ‘Private Military status. Since stabilising its economic situation in the 21st century, Moscow Contractors (PMCs)’ in Africa and Middle East, it is has turned its attention to expand- important to see how these actions fit into the broader ing its foreign policy influence. The strategy, and whether their eventual impact has been actions of the Russian leadership have revealed their intention to restore a net positive or negative for Moscow their country’s position as an impor-

gfiles inside the government 58 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com Bid to increase influence

Recent western Arms sales allegations PMCs against Russia

In the period Accusations of attempted Reports of use of 2015-19, Russia interference in elections of Private Military was the second Western countries have also Companies by highest arms- been made against Russia in Russia have been exporter in the recent years. Some of the come in from world. This meant prominent cases include Nigeria, Crimea a global share of France (2017) and US and Eastern 21% versus the US Presidential elections (2016). Ukraine, Syria, share of 36%. The Disinformation campaigns Libya, Sudan and three leading have also been reported by the Central importers of Germany (2016) and UK African Republic. Russian arms were during Brexit. In 2018, the India, China and UK government named two Algeria. As per Russian citizens as suspects SIPRI database, in the attempted murder of 57% of Russian former Russian double agent arms exports went Sergei Skripal and his to Asia and daughter Yulia in Salisbury, Oceania followed UK. The UK and its other by Middle East, western allies expelled Africa, Europe and diplomats numbering in Americas with 19, hundreds as a response to tant player in global affairs, and a 17, 5.7 and 0.8%, the act, leading to a similar steady pursuit of the aim of being a respectively. action from Russians. great power. While a significant amount of debate has focused on Russian attempts to interfere with electoral and expand Russian influence and major arms exporter, and permanent processes in the West, and the use of repudiate Western values. Whether member of the UN Security Council, ‘Private Military Contractors (PMCs)’ its actions have eventually led to its economic strength and global out- in Africa and Middle East, it is impor- achievement of its own goals has to reach leave a lot to be desired. tant to see how these actions fit into be decided on a case-to-case basis, It is between its ambitions and the broader strategy, and whether rather than a sweeping assessment of actual capacities on the ground that their eventual impact has been a net an overarching policy. one can find the rationale behind positive or negative for Moscow. Russia’s foreign policy actions. While In terms of an overall strategy, his is because of Russia’s current its traditional strengths have lent it Russia has for the large part focused position as a middle power in the to become an important player in on preserving its national interests, Tworld system, and the fact that certain regions, the same has not been followed a broadly pragmatic foreign its actions remain constrained by its true of other regions where Russia policy with a desire to establish itself own economic capacity and strength. has struggled to present itself as an as a pivotal power in global affairs, While it remains a nuclear power, important player.

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 59 GLOBAL SCAN russia watch

For instance, Russia has been credited with using its limited resources to its maximum capacity in the Middle East, where its intervention in Syria has made it the power to reckon with in resolution of the situation, and sig- nalled its return to the world stage. Not only has Russia been able to fulfil its goals in the country, it has also used its success as a springboard to engage with various players in the region. These include building of bilateral relations with major regional players like Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey and Egypt.

n the Libyan conflict, it has actively coordinated with Turkey, managing Ito become a key player in the nego- tiations between opposing sides. In the Middle East, Russia’s pragmatic foreign policy has been on full display, allowing it to engage on a transactional basis through ‘asymmetric’ means. that its adventurism in Madagascar with other regional players. While it It has also been argued that the use to influence presidential elections remains to be seen how this pans out of PMCs in Africa highlights the limit- ended in defeat of the candidates that in the long-term, it has helped Russia ed ‘hard power capabilities and appe- Moscow had backed. gain a foothold in the region. tite for risk’ of Russia in the region. Russia’s geopolitical and geo- These goals have been achieved Also, their use has been pragmatic— economic limitations are nowhere both through skilful diplomacy, and ‘to save costs, avoid military conscript as evident as in Africa, where China, optimum use of its military resources, casualties, and for reasons of plausi- the US, EU, and Japan are established which has greatly increased its stand- ble deniability.’ Having lost its influ- players with deep pockets, which ing in the region. The Russian moves ence in the region almost completely severely curtails any grand plans in the have also benefited from an absence after the collapse of the Soviet Union, region. While Russia has ambitions in of a coherent, viable strategy from the Russian turn to Africa remains Africa, given the recent nature of its the US, a vacuum Moscow has been at a low level currently, and fruitful forays in the region, it will be some glad to fill, sensing an opportunity to engagement remains limited to a few time before the effectiveness of its enhance its presence at the expense of regional states. This has also meant engagement can be gauged, given the Washington. In Africa, Russia has been driven by economic, political, and security goals, leading it to convene the first ever Russia-Africa summit in 2019. Internal stagnation, which makes Russia a less Given its fairly limited economic attractive player for other states, will continue strength in the region, Russia has to be the biggest roadblock in achievement of turned to the security domain (arms its foreign policy ambitions. However, Russian sales/training and consultancy/use of PMCs (Private Military Contractors) leadership is yet to implement the much-needed to push for enhancing its presence structural economic reforms

gfiles inside the government 60 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com closest partner. At the same time, Russia’s ties with other players in Asia-Pacific, a region that is slowly becoming the centre of global economics and politics, have not kept pace with that of China. As a result, Russia’s pivot to East has faced criticism for failing to build a truly multi-vector policy in the region, and for the need to strike a balance in its relations with the rising power. This would include a clear up-gra- dation of relations with Japan, South Korea, India, and the ASEAN states, alongside regional multilateral mecha- nisms to build on its idea of a Eurasian integration framework. Meanwhile, as of now, despite the power differential, Russia and China have managed to navigate their relations pragmatically. For instance, they have built amicable relations in Central Asia, where Russia low priority it has been accorded in the EU in 2014 stemmed largely from remains a key player, and the coopera- Russia’s strategic aims. the result of events in Ukraine and the tion between EAEU and China’s Belt Russia’s ties with the EU, which downing of MH-17; it was a develop- and Road Initiative is only expected to touched a new low after the 2014 ment that only added to other critical deepen the collaboration. Ukrainian crisis, had been slowly fray- areas of divergence stemming from The trust at the highest level of leading for some time over diverging val- differing views on the future of the ership—between President Xi Jinping ues and NATO expansion. The steady world order and its possible direction. and President Putin—is often credited decline in relations with the US has for ensuring the steady development only made it further difficult to strike n fact, it is the ongoing churn in of these ties. Russia remains a lead- any balance in the relationship, as the emergence of a new world order ing player in Central Asia, despite the strict economic sanctions continue to Ithat has complicated matters further increased Chinese economic presence, be imposed on Russia, both by the US for Russian policy makers. Moscow is and the efforts by regional states to and EU. Other incidents, including use deeply cognizant of the complexity of have a more diversified foreign policy. of Russian security services for target- the current international system, given Russia has also shown increasing ed assassinations in European coun- that it has had to search and build an willingness to engage with multilateral tries, alleged support to the European identity for itself amid this evolution. institutions like BRICS, SCO, RIC Far Right, and information campaigns As the US-led liberal world order has and ASEAN—apart from CIS and have only added to the mistrust, doing come under stress, and China has EAEU. This is being done with an Moscow no favours in what is already experienced rapid growth to make it aim to diversify its foreign policy, a difficult situation. the leading contender to challenge the strengthen its relations with emerging Such incidents have often created established power, the future contours powers, promote its own values and more problems for Russia as com- of a new world order remain elusive. ideas about a future world order, pared to their relative gains. But the Since 2014, as Russia has seen its and strengthen its global position. key problems are more deep-rooted relations with the West deteriorate, Given that Russia is no longer a than the use of the tactics mentioned it has steadily built its relations with superpower and recognises that in a above. But the breakdown of ties with China, which has today become its world where multi-polarity has not yet

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 61 GLOBAL SCAN russia watch

been established, the importance of multilateral institutions for a middle power to push its agenda remains significant. Despite the obvious advantages of the format, Russia will have to deal with challenges associated with com- peting agendas of member-states, the rising power of China, and the limited ability some of these multilateral institutions have in order to deal with a changing world order.

The challenges ahead In searching a place for itself in the current global There is no denying that Russia has scenario, Russia has benefited from an absence of come a long way from the decline of ideology or the desire to promote its own model of the 1990s, and has been successful in restoring its position as a power to governance. However, not all its tactics have been be reckoned with in the 21st century. successful, with some of them back-firing and However, given that the world order causing long-term complications for Russia continues to evolve, Russia’s future in that order also remains unclear. Recognising that it is not one of the two major powers in the world, Russia gest roadblock in achievement of its he will have to determine an effective has resorted to a variety of means to foreign policy ambitions. However, way to advance foreign policy goals expand its influence, and achieve its Russian leadership is yet to implement amid the crisis. This would entail bal- own national interests wherever the the much-needed structural economic ancing the strategic relationship with opportunity has presented itself. reforms to facilitate achievement of its China, dealing with a growing bipolar In searching a place for itself in the stated foreign policy goals. rivalry, and its impact on foreign poli- current global scenario, Russia has cies of other countries. benefited from an absence of ideology his has raised questions about As of now, it has been noted that or the desire to promote its own Russia’s vision—both for its own Russia’s foreign policy is less about model of governance. However, not all Tdevelopment, and for a future the world order, and more about its its tactics have been successful, with world order. While it has pushed for place in that order, a question that the some of them back-firing and causing establishment of a multi-polar world Russian leadership is still seeking an long-term complications for Russia. order, such a development remains far answer for. Like other powers grap- In order to preserve its interests in the from being realised. As the COVID- pling with an international order in a prevailing scenario, Moscow needs 19 pandemic increases chances of an flux, and seeking to expand their pres- a steady development of its multi- intensification in bipolar US-China ence, Russia too continues to search vector foreign policy. As Russia seeks rivalry, Russia will find itself in a for its distinct place in the world. g to further its global influence, the key precarious situation—negotiating a challenge remains that of domestic dire economic situation at home, and Nivedita Kapoor is Junior Fellow with ORF’s Strategic Studies Programme. She tracks economic growth. an unstable global order abroad. Russian foreign and domestic policy — and Internal stagnation, which makes As President Putin faces one of the Eurasian strategic affairs. Nivedita’s PhD Russia a less attractive player for other most critical challenges of his presi- thesis is titled ‘Russia’s Policy towards East states, will continue to be the big- dency—the COVID-19 pandemic— Asia: The China Factor: 1996-2014.’

gfiles inside the government 62 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com May-June’20

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 63 birthdays IAS officers’ birthdays Jun 20, 2020 — Aug 19, 2020 IAS officers’ birthdays Jun 20, 2020 — Aug 19, 2020

Rajnarayan Kaushik Brijesh Pandey Ajay Kumar Dwivedi Babu A 20-06-1980 27-06-1977 04-07-1984 14-07-1975 cadre: Haryana cadre: Tripura cadre: UTTAR Pradesh Cadre: ANDHRA Pradesh [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Devendra Kumar Singh Asheemkumar S K Gupta Randhir Kumar Ganesh Shankar Mishra 20-06-1963 27-06-1970 05-07-1978 14-07-1983 cadre: Kerala cadre: Maharashtra cadre: WEST Bengal Cadre: Madhya Pradesh [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Pramod Kumar Das LS Changsan Niraj Verma Sujata Sharma 21-06-1961 27-06-1971 06-07-1969 15-07-1976 cadre: Madhya Pradesh cadre: Assam-Meghlaya Cadre: Assam-Meghalaya Cadre: Andhra Pradesh [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Partha Sarathi Mishra Reeta Harish Thakkar Pratyaya Amrit Vandana Gurnani 21-06-1962 28-06-1966 07-07-1967 15-07-1966 cadre: Odisha cadre: Tamil Nadu Cadre: Bihar Cadre: Karnataka [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Akash Tripathi Ashutosh AT Pednekar Sanjay Kumar Alung Niraj Kumar Bansod 22-06-1975 28-06-1977 08-07-1964 16-07-1978 cadre: Madhya Pradesh cadre: Rajasthan Cadre: Chhattisgarh Cadre: Chhattisgarh [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Om Prakash Bakoria S Prabhakar Kundan Kumar Ajay Mishra 22-06-1973 29-06-1972 09-07-1984 16-07-1960 cadre: Maharashtra cadre: Tamil Nadu Cadre: Chhattisgarh cadre: Telangana [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Sumer Singh Gurjar Govekar Mayur Ratilal Owais Ahmed Ananya Das 23-06-1973 30-06-1990 10-07-1988 17-07-1990 cadre: Punjab cadre: Tripura Cadre: Jammu &Kashmir Cadre: gujarat [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Mohinder Pal Rajesh Kumar Singh Sriram Taranikanti Vikas Singh 23-06-1966 01-07-1967 11-07-1966 17-07-1981 cadre: Punjab cadre: Uttar Pradesh Cadre: Tripura Cadre: Tripura [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

J Jayakanthan Amit Gupta Prakash Bindu Raja Sekhar Vundru 24-06-1967 01-07-1976 11-07-1975 18-07-1966 cadre: Tamil Nadu cadre: Uttar Pradesh Cadre: Uttar Pradesh Cadre: Haryana [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

D Ronald Rose Anoop Kumar Aggarwal C Ravi Shankar Sachin Kumar Vaishy 24-06-1980 01-07-1971 12-07-1981 18-07-1992 cadre: Andhra Pradesh cadre: WEST Bengal Cadre: Uttarakhand cadre: Jammu & Kashmir [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Mallikarjuna A Chittaranjan Kumar Khetan Manuj Goyal Arti Dogra 25-06-1980 02-07-1961 12-07-1986 18-07-1979 cadre: Andhra Pradesh Cadre: Chhattisgarh Cadre: UTTARAKHAND Cadre: Rajasthan [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Dinesh T Waghmare Balkar Singh Akanksha Bhaskar Biswaranjan Samal 26-06-1965 02-07-1975 13-07-1990 20-07-1968 cadre: Maharashtra cadre: Uttar Pradesh Cadre: West Bengal CADRE: ASSAM-MEGHALAYA [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Usha Sharma Ajay Shankar Pandey Kamini Chauhan Ratan Shikha Rajput Tiwari 26-06-1963 03-07-1962 13-07-1971 21-07-1976 cadre: Rajasthan cadre: UTTAR Pradesh Cadre: Uttar Pradesh CADRE: CHHATTISGARH [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

For the complete list, see www.gfilesindia.com

gfiles inside the government 64 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com IAS officers’ birthdays Jun 20, 2020 — Aug 19, 2020 IAS officers’ birthdays Jun 20, 2020 — Aug 19, 2020

Amrendra Kr. Rakesh Kundan Kumar Anil Garg B Srinivas 21-07-1964 28-07-1975 06-08-1971 13-08-1962 CADRE: GUJARAT CADRE: BIHAR CADRE: UTTAR PRADESH CADRE: KERALA [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Manvendra Pratap Singh Saleena Singh Amit Satija Santosh Kumar Mall 22-07-1983 29-07-1960 07-08-1978 14-08-1973 CADRE: ASSAM-MEGHALAYA CADRE: MADHYA PRADESH CADRE: UNION TERRITORY CADRE: BIHAR [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Bhuvnesh Pratap Singh Santosh Kumar Patil Ajit Bhagwatrao Harikesh Meena 22-07-1983 29-07-1971 07-08-1974 14-08-1981 CADRE: JHARKHAND CADRE: MAHARASHTRA CADRE: KERALA CADRE: HIMACHAL PRADESH [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Bhuvnesh Pratap Singh Ajay Jain Meera Mohanty MS Kalshetti 23-07-1960 30-07-1966 08-08-1977 15-08-1961 CADRE: MADHYA PRADESH CADRE: ANDHRA PRADESH CADRE: HIMACHAL PRADESH CADRE: MAHARASHTRA [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Yeluchuri Ratnakara Rao Rajesh Bhushan Anand Mohan Sharan Anoop Kumar 23-07-1980 31-07-1963 08-08-1965 15-08-1964 CADRE: WEST BENGAL CADRE: BIHAR CADRE: HARYANA CADRE: MAHARASHTRA [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Raji Pramod Srivastava Sajeeda Ismal Rashid S Ramamoorthy Prithvi Raj 24-07-1969 01-08-1960 09-08-1980 16-08-1974 CADRE: PUNJAB CADRE: ASSAM-MEGHALAYA CADRE: MAHARASHTRA Cadre: rAJASTHAN [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Sirra Karuna Raju P Venugopal Sanjay Bandopadhyay Rajat Bhargava 24-07-1970 01-08-1961 09-08-1964 16-08-1964 CADRE: PUNJAB CADRE: KERALA CADRE: Madhya Pradesh Cadre: Andhra Pradesh [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Navneet Kumar Sehgal Vikas Garg Shyam Jagannathan Rachana Patil 25-07-1963 02-08-1970 10-08-1973 17-08-1981 CADRE: UTTAR PRADESH CADRE: PUNJAB CADRE: ASSAM - MEGHALAYA Cadre: bihar [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Rajat Bansal Ravindra Kumar Nathmal Didel Jayanti S Ravi 25-07-1988 03-08-1966 10-08-1990 17-08-1967 CADRE: CHHATTISGARH CADRE: UTTAR PRADESH CADRE: RAJASTHAN Cadre: gujarat [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Niranjan Kr. Sudhansu Akshay Sood Rajneesh Dube EV Ramana Reddy 26-07-1975 04-08-1963 11-08-1964 18-08-1963 CADRE: MAHARASHTRA CADRE: Himachal Pradesh CADRE: UTTAR PRADESH Cadre: Karnataka [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Rabindranath Roy Sandeep Kumar Singh Anand Kumar Ashok Kumar Bhargav 26-07-1960 05-08-1987 11-08-1961 18-08-1960 CADRE: West Bengal CADRE: UNION TERRITORY CADRE: KERALA Cadre: Madhya Pradesh [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Gaurav Dayal Ajay Tewari Ujjwal Kumar Ghosh K Veera Raghava Rao 27-07-1979 05-08-1970 12-08-1978 19-08-1977 CADRE: UTTAR PRADESH CADRE: ASSAM-MEGHALAYA CADRE: KARNATAKA Cadre: tamil nadu [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

VS Bhaskar Prashant Kumar Swatantra Kumar Singh Avanish K Awasthi 28-07-1961 06-08-1977 13-08-1981 19-08-1962 CADRE: ASSAM-MEGHALAYA CADRE: JHARKHAND CADRE: MADHYA PRADESH Cadre: Uttar Pradesh [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

For the complete list, see www.gfilesindia.com

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 65 IPS officers’ birthdays Jun 20, 2020 — Aug 19, 2020 IPS officers’ birthdays Jun 20, 2020 — Aug 19, 2020

A Srinivas SB Fulari Lalit Das Devesh Chandra Srivastava 20-06-1981 28-06-1967 05-07-1964 12-07-1971 CADRE: Kerala CADRE: Maharashtra CADRE: Odisha CADRE: AGMUT [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

M Srinivasulu Dilip Kumar Sukhwinder Singh Roopa D 20-06-1967 28-06-1961 06-07-1965 12-07-1975 CADRE: Telangana CADRE: Uttar Pradesh CADRE: MAHARASHTRA CADRE: Karnataka [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Kamal Pant Anil Subhash Paraskar PS Salunkhe Ravindra Kumar Pandey 21-06-1964 29-06-1981 06-07-1970 13-07-1962 CADRE: Karnataka CADRE: Maharashtra CADRE: MAHARASHTRA CADRE: AGMUT [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Ashok Awasthi Kuldeep Kumar R Jain S Praveen Kumar Sudhansu Sarangi 21-06-1964 29-06-1984 07-07-1976 13-07-1968 CADRE: Madhya Pradesh CADRE: Karnataka CADRE: Odisha CADRE: Odisha [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

S Senthil Kumar Reeta Rai Surendra Singh Yadav A Arun 22-06-1980 30-06-1960 07-07-1975 14-07-1972 CADRE: Andhra Pradesh CADRE: Uttar Pradesh CADRE: AGMUT CADRE: Tamil Nadu [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] igp- [email protected]

Sunil Kumar Vishnoi Virendra Kumar Mishra Mrinalini Shrivastava Indra Chakravorty 23-06-1964 30-06-1961 07-07-1978 14-07-1972 CADRE: Rajasthan CADRE: Uttar Pradesh CADRE: Sikkim CADRE: West Bengal [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Isha Pant Mahender Nath Tiwari AG Babu Ramesh 23-06-1984 01-07-1966 08-07-1970 15-07-1962 CADRE: Madhya Pradesh CADRE: AGMUT CADRE: Tamil Nadu CADRE: Uttar Pradesh [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Vikas Sahay Vaibhav Tiwari Ajay Pal Lamba Lal Tendu Mohanti 24-06-1965 02-07-1984 08-07-1978 15-07-1963 CADRE: Gujarat CADRE: west bengal CADRE: Rajasthan CADRE: Jammu & Kashmir [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

M Abdulla Saleem Mekala Suresh Kumar Om Prakash Meena Manoj Kumar Lal 25-06-1966 03-07-1969 09-07-1978 16-07-1963 CADRE: Karnataka CADRE: Maharashtra CADRE: Tamil Nadu CADRE: AGMUT [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Kime Kaming Bhupendra Sahu Satya Narayan Anita Roy 25-06-1967 03-07-1972 10-07-1976 16-07-1966 CADRE: AGMUT CADRE: Rajasthan CADRE: MAHARASHTRA CADRE: AGMUT [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Chandrashekhar Solanki VH Rao Deshmukh Damodar Goutam Sawang Pawan Deo 26-06-1975 04-07-1960 10-07-1963 16-07-1968 CADRE: Madhya Pradesh CADRE: Jharkhand CADRE: Andhra Pradesh CADRE: CHHATTISGARH [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Anurag Agrawal Navin Agarwal Ajay Kumar Sahni Ganji Anil Srinivas 27-06-1975 04-07-1961 11-07-1981 17-07-1971 CADRE: Assam-Meghalaya CADRE: Jammu & Kashmir CADRE: UTTAR Pradesh CADRE: WEST BENGAL [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

C Mageswari Dhruv Dahiya Raja Babu Singh UC Sarangi 27-06-1971 05-07-1987 11-07-1967 18-07-1962 CADRE: Tamil Nadu CADRE: Punjab CADRE: Madhya Pradesh CADRE: MADHYA PRADESH [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

For the complete list, see www.gfilesindia.com

gfiles inside the government 66 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com IPS officers’ birthdays Jun 20, 2020 — Aug 19, 2020 IPS officers’ birthdays Jun 20, 2020 — Aug 19, 2020

Mahendar Bagria Anup Kuruvilla John Kumar Vinoy Singh Deo Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota 19-07-1982 27-07-1979 05-08-1963 12-08-1962 CADRE: Gujarat CADRE: KERALA CADRE: ASSAM-MEGHALAYA CADRE: PUNJAB [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Murli Dhar Kshatranil Singh Rakesh Aggarwal Jawed Shamim 20-07-1977 28-07-1977 05-08-1968 12-08-1971 CADRE: WEST BENGAL CADRE: BIHAR CADRE: HIMACHAL PADESH CADRE: WEST BENGAL [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Harishekaran P Tomin J Thachankary SS Deswal Ashok Dohre 21-07-1968 29-07-1963 06-08-1961 13-08-1961 CADRE: KARNATAKA CADRE: KERALA CADRE: HARYANA CADRE: MADHYA PRADESH [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

R Dhinakaran Ridhim Aggarwal Surendra Panwar Shailesh Kumar Yadav 21-07-1971 29-07-1982 06-08-1961 13-08-1965 CADRE: TAMIL NADU CADRE: UTTARAKHAND CADRE: ODISHA CADRE: TAMIL NADU [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

SD Sharanappa G Akhito Sema Kamal Kishor Singh Nalin Prabhat 22-07-1982 30-07-1967 07-08-1968 14-08-1968 CADRE: Karnataka CADRE: MADHYA PRADESH CADRE: BIHAR CADRE: ANDHRA PRADESH [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Piyush Mordia C Sridhar N Shanker Reddy Sunil Dutt 23-07-1970 31-07-1960 07-08-1960 14-08-1964 CADRE: UTTAR PRADESH CADRE: TAMIL NADU CADRE: KERALA CADRE: RAJASTHAN [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

M Gopi Krishna Avinash Mohanty KV Sreejesh Ajay Kumar Sharma 24-07-1961 31-07-1980 08-08-1974 15-08-1966 CADRE: ANDHRA PRADESH CADRE: CHHATTISGARH CADRE: MANIPUR-TRIPURA CADRE: MADHYA PRADESH [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

SK Jha B Srinivasan Milind Kanaskar KK Sindhu 25-07-1964 01-08-1964 09-08-1962 15-08-1961 CADRE: MADHYA PRADESH CADRE: JAMMU & KASHMIR CADRE: MADHYA PRADESH CADRE: HARYANA [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Vivek Gogia Archana Tyagi Sashikant Pujari Arun Kumar Choudhary 25-07-1965 01-08-1967 09-08-1960 16-08-1964 CADRE: AGMUT CADRE: MAHARASHTRA CADRE: WEST BENGAL CADRE: JAMMU & KASHMIR [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Deo Prakash Gupta Harish Kumar Gupta Seemant Kumar Singh B Srinivasan 25-07-1969 02-08-1965 10-08-1970 16-08-1967 CADRE: MADHYA PRADESH CADRE: ANDHRA PRADESH CADRE: KARNATAKA CADRE: BIHAR [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Hari Kishore Kusumaker Krishan Kumar Rao Upendra Kumar Jain Raju Bhargava 25-07-1972 02-08-1970 10-08-1967 16-08-1966 CADRE: WEST BENGAL CADRE: HARYANA CADRE: MADHYA PRADESH CADRE: GUJARAT [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Mahendraa Modi Satyajit Mohanty Ajitabh Kumar Rajendra Kumar 26-07-1960 03-08-1961 11-08-1968 17-08-1960 CADRE: Uttar Pradesh CADRE: ODISHA CADRE: BIHAR CADRE: MADHYA PRADESH [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Shahanawaz Qasim Vitul Kumar Amitav Thakur Sajjad Wasi Naqvi 27-07-1975 03-08-1968 11-08-1972 17-08-1963 CADRE: ANDHRA PRADESH CADRE: UTTAR PRADESH CADRE: ODISHA CADRE: MADHYA PRADESH [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

For the complete list, see www.gfilesindia.com

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 67 Tracking

KD TRIPATHI RAJESH VERMA RAKESH SARWAL The 1980-batch IAS (retd) officer of AM The 1987-batch IAS officer of the Odisha The 1988-batch IAS officer of the Tripura cadre has been appointed Secretary to the cadre has been appointed Secretary, cadre has been appointed Additional President of India on contract basis for a Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Secretary, NITI Aayog. term co-terminus with the tenure of the President or until further orders. RAJESH CHATURVEDI IQBAL SINGH CHAHAL The 1987-batch IAS officer of the Madhya The 1989-batch IAS officer of the BRIJ RAJ SHARMA Pradesh cadre has been appointed Maharashtra cadre has been appointed The 1984-batch IAS officer of the J&K cadre Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal has been re-appointed Chairman, Staff Petrochemicals. Corporation (BMC). Selection Commission, New Delhi for a period of two years. PRADIP KUMAR TRIPATHI S KISHORE The 1987-batch IAS officer of the J&K cadre The 1989-batch IAS officer of the West RAVI KANT has been appointed Secretary, Ministry of Bengal cadre has been appointed The 1984-batch IAS officer of the Bihar Steel. Additional Secretary, Department of cadre has been appointed Secretary, Commerce, Ministry of Commerce, and Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, TARUN BAJAJ Industry. Ministry of Defence. The 1988-batch IAS officer of the Haryana cadre has been appointed Secretary, ANURAG JAIN RAJIV KUMAR Department of Economic Affairs The 1989-batch IAS officer of the Madhya The 1984-batch IAS officer of the Jharkhand cadre has been appointed to the Public Enterprises Selection Board. Moving On: IAS officers retiring in June 2020

VISHWAS MEHTA ASSAM Prakash Chandra Jangre (2003) The 1986-batch IAS officer of the Kerala Rajiv Kumar Bora (1985) Ravi Dafaria (2006) cadre has been appointed new Chief Udayan Hazarika (2006) Dr (Smt.) Manju Sharma (2007) Secretary of Kerala. Manjula Saikia Bhuyan (2009) ODISHA SANJEEV NANDAN SAHAI ANDHRA PRADESH Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra (2007) The 1986-batch IAS officer of the UT cadre Nilam Sawhney (1984) Sarat Chandra Nayak (2007) has been assigned additional charge of K Damayanthi (1993) Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable M Rama Rao (2005) PUNJAB Energy Dipinder Singh (1997) BIHAR PAWAN KUMAR AGARWAL Manjoor Ali (2005) RAJASTHAN The 1986-batch IAS officer of the West Kiran Soni Gupta (1985) Bengal cadre has been appointed Special GUJARAT Chandra Shekhar Mutha (2002) Secretary (Logistics), Department of MS Patel (2003) Prakash Chand Pawan (2007) Commerce PL Solanki (2007) CM Padalia (2009) TAMIL NADU RAM MOHAN MISHRA KA Balachandran (1994) The 1987-batch IAS officer of the AM cadre JHARKHAND V Anbuselvan (2009) has been appointed Secretary, National Binod Kumar (2005) Commission for Scheduled Castes. UTTAR PRADESH JAMMU & KASHMIR Dinesh Chandra (2003) MANOJ SAUNIK Farooq Ahmad Lone (2009) Kanak Tripathi (2003) The 1987-batch IAS officer of the Dr Akhtar Riyaz (2009) Maharashtra cadre has been made KARNATAKA Abha Gupta (2010) Additional CS, Finance Department, NS Prasanna Kumar (2006) Maharashtra. VP Ikkeri (2006) UNION TERRITORY Dr SB Bommanahalli (2010) Kapa Kholie (1999) AJAY TIRKEY The 1987-batch IAS officer of the Madhya MADHYA PRADESH WEST BENGAL Pradesh cadre has been appointed Alok Shrivastava (1984) Swarup Kumar Paul (2006) Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Prem Chand Meena (1984) Debabrata Chattaraj (2006) Development.

gfiles inside the government 68 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com Pradesh cadre has been appointed Vice Secretary, Public Works Department, in LAXMI SINGH Chairman, Delhi Development Authority, the state. The 2000-batch IAS officer of the UP Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in cadre has been appointed IG of Lucknow Government of India. R SREELEKHA Zone. The 1987-batch IPS officer of the Kerala KATIKITHALA SRINIVAS cadre has been appointed First DGP of CHANDAN KUMAR JHA The 1989-batch IAS officer of the Gujarat Fire Services and Rescue Operation of The 2011-batch IPS officer has been cadre has been appointed Additional Kerala Police. appointed SP of Bokaro, in Jharkhand. Secretary and Establishment Officer, Department of Personnel and Training. SK BHAGAT RAHUL CHHABRA The 1988-batch IPS officer has been The 1987-batch IFS officer, High SHIV DAS MEENA appointed Secretary, Home, in Uttar Commissioner of India to Kenya, has The 1989-batch IAS officer of the Pradesh. been appointed Secretary, Economic Tamil Nadu cadre has been appointed Relations, in the Ministry of External Chairman, Central Pollution Control VIRENDER SINGH Affairs. Board. The 1991-batch IPS officer of the AGMUT cadre and Special CP, Security, has been C SUVARNA MANOJ AHUJA appointed Director General, Home Guards The 1991-IFS officer of the TG cadre has The 1990-batch IAS officer of the Odisha in Delhi Government. been appointed Chief Executive, National cadre has been appointed Chairman, Fisheries Development Board (NFDB). Central Board of Secondary Education .

NIVEDITA SHUKLA RESHUFFLE OF IAS OFFICERS IN ANDHRA PRADESH The 1991-batch IAS officer of the UP SUMIT KUMAR has been posted as Joint Collector; K SREENIVASULU has been cadre has been appointed Additional appointed Joint Collector, Village & Ward Secretariat and Development (V, WS & D), Secretary, Department of Defence, Srikakulam District; G CHRIST KISHORE KUMAR has been appointed Joint Ministry of Defence. Collector; MAHESH KUMAR RAVIRALA is Joint Collector,Village & Ward Secretariat and Development (V, WS & D), Vizianagaram District; M Venugopal Reddy is VIDYAVATHI Joint Collector; P ARUN BABU is Joint Collector, Village & Ward Secretariat and The 1991-batch IAS officer of the Development (V, WS & D), Visakhapatnam District; LAKSHMISHA G is Joint Karnataka cadre has been appointed Collector, East Godavari District; KIRTHI CHEKURI is Joint Collector, Village & Director General, Archaeological Survey Ward Secretariat and Development (V, WS & D), East Godavari District; K of India, Ministry of Culture. VENKATA RAMANA REDDY is Joint Collector, HIMANSHU SHUKLA is Joint Collector, Village & Ward Secretariat and Development (V, WS & D), West Godavari RAKESH RANJAN District; K MADHAVI LATHA is Joint Collector; SIVA SANKAR LOTHETI is Joint The 1992-batch IAS officer of the Collector, Village & Ward Secretariat and Development (V, WS & D), Krishna Manipur cadre has been appointed District; DINESH KUMAR is Joint Collector; P PRASHANTHI is Joint Collector, Additional Secretary, Department of Village & Ward Secretariat and Development (V, WS & D), Guntur District; Higher Education, Ministry of Human VENKATA MURALI J is Joint Collector; CHETAN TS is Joint Collector, Village & Resource Development. Ward Secretariat and Development (V, WS & D), Prakasham District; VINOD KUMAR is Joint Collector, N Prabhakar Reddy is Joint Collector, Village & Ward MUKESH KUMAR Secretariat and Development (V, WS & D),Nellore District; D Markandeyulu is The 1996-batch IAS officer of the Gujarat Joint Collector, Rythu Bharosa and Revenue (RB & R), Chittoor District; V VEERA cadre has been appointed Municipal BRAHMAIAH ais Joint Collector, Village & Ward Secretariat and Development (V, Commissioner, Ahmedabad Municipal WS & D), Chittoor District; M GAUTHAMI is Joint Collector, Rythu Bharosa and Corporation. Revenue (RB & R), Kadapa District; SAIKANTH VARMA is Joint Collector, Village & Ward Secretariat and Development (V, WS & D), Kadapa District; NISHANT SANJEEV JAISWAL KUMAR is Joint Collector, Rythu Bharosa and Revenue (RB & R), Anatapuramu The 1996-batch IAS officer of the District; S DILLI RAO is directed to report to Government in General Administration Maharashtra cadre has appointed Department for further posting; B LAVANYA VENI is Joint Collector, Village & Ward Additional Commissioner of Secretariat and Development (V, WS & D), Anatapuramu District; PATTANSHETTI Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation RAVI SUBASH is Joint Collector, Rythu Bharosa and Revenue (RB & R), Kurnool (BMC). District; S RAMA SUNDAR REDDY is Joint Collector, Village & Ward Secretariat and Development (V, WS & D), Kurnool District and SAGILI SHAN MOHAN has KISHOR NIMBALKAR been appointed Managing Director, AP High Grade Steels Ltd. The 2003-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre has been appointed

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 69 Tracking

PERIASAMY KUMARAN The 1992-batch IFS officer has been RESHUFFLE OF IAS OFFICERS IN JHARKHAND appointed the next High Commissioner of AVINASH KUMAR has been posted as Secretary, Women and Child Development India to the Republic of Singapore. and Social Security; RAHUL SHARMA has been appointed Secretary, School Education and Literacy, VINAY CHOUBEY gets additional charge of production and Dr Gautam Talukdar prohibition; HIMANI PANDEY has been posted as Secretary, Planning and Finance The 1984-batch ICAS officer has been Department; ARADHANA PATNAIK has been appointed Secretary Rural appointed Chief Controller of Accounts, Development; KK KHANDELWAL has been appointed Development Commissioner; Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. AP SINGH PRADHAN has been posted as Secretary, Forest and Environment Department; PUJA SINGHAL has been posted as Secretary, Tourism, Art, Culture BHASKAR VERMA and Sports; AMITABH KAUSHAL has been appointed Secretary, Welfare; The 1995-batch ICAS officer has been PRASHANT KUMAR has been appointed the new Secretary, Drinking Water and appointed Chief Controller of Accounts, Sanitation and BHOR SINGH UADAV has been posted as Commissioner, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Commercial Tax. Public Distribution. RESHUFFLE OF IAS OFFICERS IN CHHATTISGARH Praveen Nandwana ALOK SHUKLA has been appointed Principal Secretary School Education with The 1995-batch ICAS officer has been additional charge of Chairman, Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education and appointed Chief Controller of Accounts, Chairman, Chhattisgarh Professional Examination Board; SUBODH KUMAR SINGH Office of Controller General of Accounts. has been given additional charge of Secretary, Public Health Engineering (PHE); DEVI DAYAL SINGH, Secretary GAD, will have additional charge of Scheduled Tribe, SANCHITA SHUKLA Scheduled Caste, Other Backward Caste and Minorities Development Department The 2000-batch ICAS officer has been and Public Relations; RITA SHANDILYA has been made Secretary, Revenue and posted as Chief Controller of Accounts, Disaster Management; PARDESHI SIDDHARTHA KOMAL has been appointed Central Board of Direct Taxes. Secretary, Public Works Department; ANBALAGAN P Secretary, Mining Resources, has been given additional charge of the Culture department; PRASANA R was given MEDIKONDA ELEESHA the post of Secretary, Cooperatives department, while Joint Chief Election Officer, The 1989-batch IPoS officer has been Chhattisgarh, SAMEER VISHNOI has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, appointed CPMG, Telangana. Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society (CHiPS).

Lt Gen MANOJ PANDE RESHUFFLE OF IAS OFFICERS IN GUJARAT He has been appointed the next Chief of MUKESH KUMAR has been appointed Municipal Commissioner, Andaman & Nicobar Command. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation; VIJAY NEHRA has been appointed Commissioner, Rural Development and Secretary, Rural Development, Panchayats Lt Gen KJS DHILLION Rural Housing & Rural Development Department; and AVANTIKA SINGH AULAKH He has assumed charge as Director has been posted as Vice-Chairman & CEO, Gujarat Maritime Board, upon return General, Defence Intelligence Agency and from training in Gujarat. Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Intelligence. RESHUFFLE OF IPS OFFICERS IN DELHI DR AJIT SINGH SINGLA has been appointed Additional CP, Special Branch; Ms KHOSLA MANJEET SINGH has been posted as Additional DCP - I, East Delhi; and RAKESH The ITS officer has been posted as DDG, PAWERIYA has been appointed DCP, Crime in Delhi Police. DoT Hq in New DELHI.

RICHA KHODA The IRS-IT officer has been appointed Secretary level, in the Central Water PAWAN KUMAR SINGH CIT (OSD) in the office of PCCIT, Jaipur, Commission. The 2000-IPoS officer has been appointed Rajasthan region. DDG (FS), Postal Directorate, New Delhi. ANIL KUMAR NAYAK K PRAKASH The 1986-batch IoFS officer has been CHANDAN KUMAR JHA The 1991-batch IPoS has been empanelled appointed Additional Secretary & Financial The 2011-batch IPS officer has been for holding the post of Joint Secretary or Advisor, Department of Posts. appointed SP of Bokaro in Jharkhand. equivalent in Government of India. ANIRUDDHA KUMAR RAJESH GOEL PRADEEP KUMAR SHUKLA The 1987-batch IRS-IT officer has been He has been appointed as Director The 2009-batch IP&TA&FS officer has been appointed Additional Secretary, Ministry of General, National Real Estate appointed Director (Finance) at Deputy New and Renewable Energy. Development Council (NAREDCO) under

gfiles inside the government 70 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. RESHUFFLE OF IPS OFFICERS IN UTTAR PRADESH PK RAMASASTRY, ADG, Law and Order, Lucknow, has been appointed Acting DG, LAISRAM ANGAM CHAND SINGH Vigilance; ANJU GUPTA will be ADG, PTS, Meerut; LAXMI SINGH IG, Lucknow The 1987-batch IA&AS batch officer range; DIMESH JUNEJA has been appointed ADG, Personnel, Lucknow; LV ANTONY has been appointed Director General, DEVKUMAR is ADG, CBCID, Lucknow; NEERA RAWAT is ADG, Women Power Line, Regional Training Centre, Bengaluru. Lucknow; Prashant Kumar-I is ADG, Law & Order, Lucknow; RAJIV SABHARWAL has been apppointed ADG, Meerut zone; and BK SINGH gets addition- SAURABH KUMAR MALLICK al charge of ADG, Security. The 1998-batch IA&AS officer has been appointed Officer on Special Duty in Railways Wing. RESHUFFLE OF IAS OFFICERS IN MADHYA PRADESH KAVINDRA KIYAWAT has been appointed Commissioner, Bhopal division; KALPANA GOVINDA RAJULU CHINTALA SHRIVASTAVA has been posted as Principal Secretary, Secretariat; SAURABH The CGM, NABARD, has been appointed SUMAN is Collector, Chhindwara; PRAVEEN SINGH ADHAYACH has been appointed as Chairman, National Bank for Collector, Burhanpur; RAHUL HARIDAS is Collector, Seoni; PRATIBHA PAL has been Agriculture and Rural Development appointed Commissioner, Indore Municipal Corporation; ASHISH SINGH has been (NABARD). posted as Collector, Ujjain; SHASHANK MISHRA has been shifted to Secretariat, Bhopal; ANKITA DHAKARE has been appointed SDO Revenue, Sabalgarh Morena; SHAJI KV M GOPAL REDDY has been appointed Chairman, Revenue Board, Gwalior; ICP The GM, Canara Bank, has been KESHARI has been made Vice Chairman, NVDA, OSD-Resident Commissioner, New appointed as DMD, National Bank for Delhi, ACS, Tourism, OSD-cum-Commissioner, Tourism and MD, MP Tourism Agriculture and Rural Development Development Board; ANURAG JAIN is ACS, Finance, Planning, Economic and (NABARD). Statistics and Special Commissioner (Coordination), Madhya Pradesh Bhawan, New Delhi; MOHAMMED SULEMAN will continue as ACS, Public Health & Family NANDINI PALIWAL Welfare, Medical Education and Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation and The deputation tenure of the Deputy NRIs; VINOD KUMAR is ACS, GAD, and GAD Human Rights, Legal and Vigilance Director, Lal, Bahadur Shashtri National Cell and ACS (Coordinaion), Chief Secretary office; JN KANSOTIYA is ACS, Animal Academy of Administration, Mussoorie Husbandry; RAJESH KUMAR RAJORA is Principal Secretary, Labour; Malaya has been extended for two years beyond Shrivastava is Principal Secretary, Public Health Engineering and Environment and May 31, 2020. She is a 2003-batch IAS Environment Commissioner and DG, EPCO; PANKAJ RAG is Principal Secretary, officer of the AGMUT cadre. Parliamentary Affairs and Sports & Youth Welfare; ASHOK SHAH is Principal Secretary, Women and Child Development; MANOJ GOVIL is Principal Secretary, ANIRUDDHA ROY Commercial Taxes; MANU SHRIVASTAVA is Administrative Member, Revenue Board, She has been appointed Additional Gwalior; KALPANA SHRIVASTAVA is Principal Secretary, Horticulture and Food Judge of Calcutta High Court for two Processing; MAHESH CHANDRA CHAUDHARY has been appointed Commissioner, years. Jabalpur division; and RAVINDRA KUMAR MISHRA is Secretary, Secretariat. Upon return from central deputation, A SAI MANOHAR has been appointed IG, Vigilance, BV REDDY PHQ with additional charge of CID; AMIT SINGH has been appointed Assistant IG, He has been appointed Permanent Judge PHQ, Bhopal; and SIDDHARTH BAHUGUNA has been posted as SP, Jabalpur in of the Telangana High Court. Madhya Pradesh.

PK BHAT He has been appointed Additional Judge ABHIJIT GANGOPADHYAY DIPANKAR DATTA of Karnataka High Court for a period of He has been appointed Additional Judge The Judge of the Calcutta High Court has two years. of the Calcutta High Court for a period of been appointed as Chief Justice of the six months. Bombay High Court. VIMLA SINGH KAPOOR She has been appointed Additional SAVANUR VISHWAJITH SHETTY MOHAMMED RAFIQUE Judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court . He has been appointed Additional The Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Judge of the Karnataka High Court, for Court has been transferred as Chief Justice Justice MADHUMATI MITRA two years of the Orissa High Court. The Additional Judge of the Calcutta High Court has been elevated as a BISWANATH SOMADDER RS DHILLON Permanent Judge of the Calcutta High The Judge of the Allahabad High Court He has been appointed Chairman-cum- Court with effect from the date she has been appointed as Chief Justice of Managing Director, Power Finance assumes charge of her office. the Meghalaya High Court. Corporation (PFC) .

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 71 Tracking

SONAM CHOMBAY The IRS-IT officer has been appointed ADDITIONAL JUDGES ELEVATED AS PERMANENT JUDGES IN Commissioner-cum-Secretary to the Chief CHHATTISGARH HC Minister of Arunachal Pradesh . Justice PARTH PRATEEM SAHU, Justice GAUTAM CHOURDIYA and Justice RAJANI DUBEY, Additional Judges of the Chhattisgarh High Court have been MANISH GUPTA elevated as Permanent Judges of the Chhattisgarh High Court with effect from The IRS-IT officer has been appointed the date they assume charge of their respective offices. Director, Inv-III Division, CBDT. ADDITIONAL JUDGES APPOINTED IN KARNATAKA HC RAVINDER MAINI SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR, MAKKIMANE GANESHAIAH UMA, The IRS-IT officer has been appointed VEDAVYASACHAR SRISHANANDA, HANCHATE SANJEEV KUMAR and Director, ITA-II Division, CBDT. PADMARAJ NEMACHANDRA DESAI have been appointed as Additional Judges of the Karnataka High Court for a period of two years with effect from J KRISHNA KISHORE the date they assume charge of their respective offices. The IRS-IT officer has been appointed PCIT (OSD) in the office of Principal CCIT, NEW JUDGES OF CALCUTTA HIGH COURT New Delhi. JUSTICES BIBEK CHAUDHURI, SUBHASIS DASGUPTA and SUVRA GHOSH, Additional Judges of the Calcutta High Court have been appointed SANDHYA RANI as Permanent Judges of the Calcutta High Court with effect from the date The 1987-batch IPoS officer has been they assume charge of their respective offices promoted as Member (Banking and DBT), Postal Services Board. ADDITIONAL JUDGES ELEVATED AS PERMANENT JUDGES IN CALCUTTA HC SHARDA SAMPATH Justice BISWAJIT BASU, Justice AMRITA SINHA and Justice JAY The 1988-batch IPoS officer has been SENGUPTA, Additional Judges of the Calcutta High Court have been elevated appointed CPMG, Karnataka circle. as Permanent Judges of the Calcutta High Court with effect from the date they assume charge of their respective offices. PK NAIR He has been appointed as the next IRS-C&CE OFFICERS OF 1995 BATCH EMPANELLED AS JOINT Ambassador of India to the Republic SECRETARY of Niger. RAVI PRATAP SINGH, MANISH SAXENA, RAJESH KUMAR MISHRA, MG THAMIZH VALAVAN, B A V SRINIVASA RAO, UPENDRA SINGH YADAV, K RS DHILLON BALAJI MAJUMDAR, DHIRENDRA SINGH GARBYAL, ANICE JOSEPH He has been appointed Chairman-cum- CHANDRA and VENKAT REDDY have been empanelled for holding Joint Managing Director, Power Finance Secretary or equivalent posts in Government of India. Corporation (PFC). IRS-C&CE officers of 1996 batch empanelled as Joint HIRA BALLABH Secretary The1993-batch IRAS officer has been DEEPANKAR ARON and LIMATULA YADEN have been empanelled appointed Director (Finance), Dedicated for holding Joint Secretary or equivalent posts in Government of India. Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL). IRS-C&CE OFFICERS OF 1994 BATCH EMPANELLED AS JOINT SECRETARY RAMESH BABU MANISH MOHAN GOVIL, K V V G DIWAKAR, SHAFAT AHMAD USMANI, He has taken charge as Director YASHWANT LAL MAHAWAR, MIHIR KUMAR, NEERAJ PRASAD, (Operations), NTPC Limited. ENGINEER KESAVAN, NITISH BIRDI, DEBASHISH SAHU, GAURAV KUMAR, MANISH GOYAL, ASHIR TYAGI, PERI UMASANKAR and RK CHHIBBER SUBHASH CHANDRA AGARWAL have been empanelled for holding Joint He has been appointed Chairman of the Secretary or equivalent posts in Government of India. Jammu & Kashmir Bank subject to RBI approval.

PADMANABHAN RAJA JAISHANKAR PRADIP KUMAR DAS TARUN KAPOOR He has been appointed Managing He has been appointed Chairman-cu- The Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum Director, India Infrastructure Finance Managing Director, Indian Renewable and Natural Gas has been appointed Company Limited (IIFCL). Energy Development Agency (IREDA). Additional Director and Chairman, Petronet LNG Limited.

gfiles inside the government 72 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com ...by the way

KAS : Murmu’s Challenge

irish Chand Murmu, a 1985-batch IAS (retd) Gofficer of the Gujarat cadre, the first Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has the tough task of streamlining the Kashmir Administrative Services (KAS). It is no secret that except for the IAS and IPS cadre, most of the state services are in shambles. J&K was administratively Red tapism prevails almost closed for Government of India as the centre could not interfere in state services. It is alleged that rime Minister Narendra Modi had sought details about the Chief Ministers of J&K kept appointing and Pmovement of files, particularly those files pending in promoting staff on their whims and fancies. Senior the offices of Cabinet Ministers for three years. It was in officers were astonished to find that some KAS officers response to grievances raised by citizens. What action was were not even graduates, which is the bare minimum taken has not been disclosed. Modi has said many times qualification to become an officer. Not only that, “some that the travel time of files should be minimised. The of these backdoor and under qualified KAS officers menace of holding onto files is not only vogue among occupying prime posts in the administration were ministers but also civil servants. The practice is more forwarded for induction into IAS totally bypassing the rampant in states. The Fifth Central Pay Commission had rules and depriving senior the following to say on the public impression about civil KAS officers of their servants: “Not only are public servants perceived to be too right.” Sources also many in number, it is also believed that they do not disclosed that a high- contribute to the gross domestic product (GDP).” Public level official panel has servants are alleged to invariably come late to office, spend submitted its report to the a large part of the day sipping tea, smoking, and indulging J&K administration for in gossip, and leave office early. Consequently, productivity mitigating the seniority is said to be abysmally low, estimates of their actual dispute of many KAS officers as working hours ranging from one to two-and-a-half hours there have been allegations of favouritism, illegal in a day. One wonders why is red tapism so prevalent, promotions and backdoor appointments. Sources especially in the states. Most of the time Chief Ministers disclosed a committee was constituted on March 2. are an insecure species. Pressure of MLAs to get their job They said, “the report on the issue of the seniority of a done is so heavy that to seek any administrative reforms large number of the KAS officers has been submitted seems almost impossible. One will be surprised to know to the government for resolution of decade-long that under normal circumstances in most states, the dispute as per rules.” The seniority list of officers movement of one file takes 20 to 30 days. It has been should be prepared based on year-wise vacancy while observed a single file travels through eight to nine officers. “backdoor appointees’ should be placed at the bottom If any officer puts an objection, then nobody knows how of that particular year, the report is believed to have many days it will take to have a decision. The central suggested. Those who do not possess the minimum government has instructed officials that file movements qualification of graduation should be placed should be restricted to a maximum of four officers. The completely at the bottom of the list irrespective of the dictum sounds good, but state civil servants work at their year of “backdoor appointee’s empanelment,” it has own pace and time, because most of the Chief Ministers suggested. It is learnt that there are clear-cut directions are not accustomed to the procedural framework and they from Lieutenant Governor Murmu and Chief Secretary don’t have zeal to reform the system. So adhocism prevails BVR Subrahmanyam to resolve the dispute once and and their coterie of officers ensure that files from the Chief for all strictly as per the rules without any favouritism Ministers office don’t move faster. g and pressure. g

gfiles inside the government www.indianbuzz.com https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 73 ...by the way

PMO overhaul

rime Minister Narendra Modi has reshuffled his Poffice during the Covid-19 crisis. His Private Secretary Rajeev Topno, the 1996-batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre, has been appointed as senior advisor to World Bank Executive Director S. Aparna, a 1988-batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre. Now Vivek Kumar, a 2004-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is the only Private Secretary to the Prime Minister of India. Modi has transferred his two most trusted officers—Additional Secretaries Arvind Kumar Sharma of the Gujarat cadre as Secretary, MSME, and Tarun Bajaj of the Haryana cadre as Hole in Pocket Secretary, Economic Affairs (both 1988 batchmates). Another officer who served in the PMO as Joint ovid-19 has without doubt created havoc in India. It Secretary, Brajendra Navnit, a 1999-batch IAS officer Chas impacted even those government servants, MPs, of the Tamil Nadu cadre, has been sent to the World and MLAs who normally steer clear of such crises. The Trade Organisation (WTO) as Ambassador and Government has started doing damage control but many Permanent Representative of are bewildered by the direction. The Ministry of Finance India. Modi has inducted and Revenue has ordered its employees to ‘willfully’ three new officers in the donate one-day salary to the “Prime Minister’s Citizen PMO in June. The 1991- Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund” batch IAS officer of the (PMCARES). Even dearness allowance of government Tamil Nadu cadre S. employees has been frozen untill July 2021. Surprisingly, Gopalakrishnan has most of the state government employees have also been been appointed as ‘motivated’ to donate one-day salary in Chief Minister’s Additional Secretary relief fund. As per the India Spend survey, PMCARES in the PMO. He has been Fund has received about `4,000 crore from government moved from the Ministry side contributions. Apart from this, on April 7, 2020, the of Electronics and Information Union Cabinet gave its nod to the temporary suspension Technology, where he was of Member of Parliament Local Area Development serving as Additional Secretary. (MPLAD) Funds during 2020-21 and 2021-22 in view of Chiruvolu Sridhar, a 2001-batch IAS officer of the the Covid-19 outbreak in India. It is reported: “The Bihar cadre and who was serving as Deputy Director consolidated amount of MPLAD Funds for 2 years – in the IAS training academy in Mussoorie, has been `7,900 crore – will go to Consolidated Fund of India.” appointed as Joint Secretary in the PMO. Meera The states are also not lagging behind with most of the Mohanty, a 2005-batch IAS officer of the Himachal states suspending MLAs funds. The central government Pradesh cadre, has been inducted into the PMO as employees’ federation is keeping mum. Finally, former Director. She has been moved from the Cabinet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reacted to the salary Secretariat. In NDA 3 regime after taking oath Modi donation: “We should be on the side of people whose first brought PK Sinha, former Cabinet Secretary, as dearness allowance is being cut. I sincerely believe it is his Principal Advisor. This year Modi appointed not necessary at this stage to impose hardships on Amarjeet Sinha and Bhaskar Khulbe, both 1983-batch government servants and also on the armed forces IAS officers, as his new advisors. Now after Topno’s people.” MPs and MLAs are also keeping silent, but transfer, the second most important civil servant in knowing the tribe of politicians they may strike when the the PMO after Dr. PK Mishra is Sanjay Bhavsar, a iron is hot. g 2009-batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre. g

gfiles inside the government 74 vol. 14, issue 2-3 | May-June 2020 https://twitter.com/gfilesmagazine https://www.facebook.com/gfilesmagazine www.gfilesindia.com If you believe in the truth in the post-truth era

Support Independent Journalism

gfiles is a 13-year-old magazine, the first to focus on governance and civil services

For seven years, gfiles Awards are given annually to honest, deserving, and dedicated civil servants across services, across India

gfiles believes in, and adheres to, fearless, independent journalism

First to expose the Exposé on Haryana Investigations shenanigans of Chief Minister into the Jignesh Shah, who Bhupinder Singh mechanisations of duped farmers through Hooda, and his real duping Air India commodity exchanges estate scandals

Donate to

Pay through our bank account gfiles Foundation Bank: SBI www.gfilesfoundation.com A/c: 38674080647 www.gfilesfoundation.org IFSC code: SBIN0001278

75 Regn.No. DL (C)-14/1161/2019-2021 Licence No. U (C)-03/2019-2020, Licence to post without prepayment Posted on 14th & 15th of every month at SPM SRT Nagar, Post Office, New Delhi 110055 R.N.I. No: DELENG/2007/19719. `200, vol. 14, issue 2-3 | Date of Publication: 25/06/2020 | Pages 76

Scan and Share