BABU’S DAY OUT
After going through the Article published in the WEEK dated 25th March, I would like to give my personal views on this type of Service Rules now being introduced:
The civil Officers of earlier periods were to perform well in their respective positions assigned to them with total commitment and loyalty without any “AXE TO GRIND” in the day to day working. The conduct rules and disciplinary actions were applied in full and there was no leniency given for any cases of misdoings or corrupt procedures from any officer at all levels.
The retirement age was 58yrs (Now 60 yrs) and the benefits of pension were given to those who completed 33 years of faithful service without any blemish in their service records. This remuneration by way of Pension could support the pensioners in their old age.
But now the whole procedure is TURTLED! The 20 years service eligibility for full pension is something beyond any prudent thinking. A person for his/her inefficiency or other reasons, if allowed to retire with full benefits at the age of 45-50 years, it will be a blessing in disguise as the retired employee will be getting pension as a BONUS as he/she will invariably acquire a job elsewhere and can work for another 20 years or more with extra monetary support.
Normally a person who is found unfit to hold a job has to be cautioned and if not shown any improvements, must be removed from service without any benefits if he/she has not completed 35 years of service in the present scenario. Such action will reduce the financial burden of the Government by way of pension given to the persons after 20 years- and that too with an unsatisfactory service records.
So it is worthwhile to revert back to the old scheme for Civil Services.
Abraham Mangalath Philip
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
INDIAN RAILWAYS- ILL TREATED
INDIAN RAILWAYS- ILL TREATED?
The Indian Railways was in its glorious period of existence in the early 60s and up to 90s, maintaining a steady growth in the service of the people as an integrated Transport System. Experts in the field with Technical and Administrative skill were manning the Indian Railways to deliver its intended purpose of public transportation and goods to the nook and corner of the Indian Union. Also the Railways contributed the Lion’s share of its earnings to the central Exchequer.
But there has been a continuous decline in the efficiency of the Railways due to the Political intervention in the day to day operation of the Prestigious Ministry. Such intrusion of vitiated political thinking caused irrevocable damage to the Railway net works. Politicians (Not all) –“Jack of all Trades Master of none” have created this dangerous situation and any amount of retrieval measures may not bring back the Pristine Glory of the Indian railways.
Railways were used as a political tool by unscrupulous people with introvert actions, culminating in the general slowdown of the operation of the railways. Many times the political intervention on technical matters has created an upsetting situation causing imbalance in the whole network. A “dog in the manger” was corroding the very nerves of the Indian railways. Now we are almost “driven to the wall”.
From my experience in the Indian railways, I can boldly say that people who maintain a FAMILY SETUP have proper feel & patience to maintain the Railway as a FAMILY UNIT. But those unmarried (bachelors& Spinsters) people who are indifferent without the experience in maintaining a FAMILY SETUP cannot have the patience to maintain the procedural orders & policy adopted by the Indian railways from in its inception. Such people look at this Ministry as a PLATFORM to please the political groups& followers. Being ignorant of the Technicalities of the Operating System, they must follow the Technical advice and suggestions of the Railway Officers to implement the Political Agenda or Policy. The direct action of the Railway Minister always proves to be detrimental to the National interest and the System gets paralyzed when politicians overact.
No other Ministry has such complicated and unique nature of working. Therefore if this important Ministry is headed by people who take shortcuts and do not follow the systematic procedures laid out for efficient operation of the Railways, we are bound to sustain heavy loss and attended difficult situations in the coming years.
Abraham Mangalath Philip.
The Indian Railways was in its glorious period of existence in the early 60s and up to 90s, maintaining a steady growth in the service of the people as an integrated Transport System. Experts in the field with Technical and Administrative skill were manning the Indian Railways to deliver its intended purpose of public transportation and goods to the nook and corner of the Indian Union. Also the Railways contributed the Lion’s share of its earnings to the central Exchequer.
But there has been a continuous decline in the efficiency of the Railways due to the Political intervention in the day to day operation of the Prestigious Ministry. Such intrusion of vitiated political thinking caused irrevocable damage to the Railway net works. Politicians (Not all) –“Jack of all Trades Master of none” have created this dangerous situation and any amount of retrieval measures may not bring back the Pristine Glory of the Indian railways.
Railways were used as a political tool by unscrupulous people with introvert actions, culminating in the general slowdown of the operation of the railways. Many times the political intervention on technical matters has created an upsetting situation causing imbalance in the whole network. A “dog in the manger” was corroding the very nerves of the Indian railways. Now we are almost “driven to the wall”.
From my experience in the Indian railways, I can boldly say that people who maintain a FAMILY SETUP have proper feel & patience to maintain the Railway as a FAMILY UNIT. But those unmarried (bachelors& Spinsters) people who are indifferent without the experience in maintaining a FAMILY SETUP cannot have the patience to maintain the procedural orders & policy adopted by the Indian railways from in its inception. Such people look at this Ministry as a PLATFORM to please the political groups& followers. Being ignorant of the Technicalities of the Operating System, they must follow the Technical advice and suggestions of the Railway Officers to implement the Political Agenda or Policy. The direct action of the Railway Minister always proves to be detrimental to the National interest and the System gets paralyzed when politicians overact.
No other Ministry has such complicated and unique nature of working. Therefore if this important Ministry is headed by people who take shortcuts and do not follow the systematic procedures laid out for efficient operation of the Railways, we are bound to sustain heavy loss and attended difficult situations in the coming years.
Abraham Mangalath Philip.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Whither Goest Thou Railways?
The Indian Railways was the biggest earner to the central exchequer. During the early sixties and onwards the Railways were bringing massive wealth to the country from its efficient and systematic operations in all the departments synchronizing their efforts to maintain steady income through earnings from both Goods & Passenger fares. The operation ratio being heavy, Railways had to match its income with heavy expenses with a definite intention to support the central government with a Lion's share. Each departmental head had to strain every nerve to see that the overall performance of the Railways is maintained on an upward trend so that profit in each year is maintained at a high level.
The ministers in charge of the Indian Railways were also prompt in the policy decision of the Railway net work.Their close knit association with the Railway Board and the Zonal General managers,enabled them to work in unison with targeted projects of annual return. The passenger fares & goods tariff also were scrutinized every year before budget proposal so as to have overall efficiency in the railway transport system.
Of late there has been an "Overturning Moment" in the railway Planning and substantial reduction in the earning capacity of the Indian Railways were noticed during the past. The political will was lacking in bringing up the profit margin high and reducing the operation cost. No increase in the passenger fares & in transportation goods traffic for many years resulting in the rise of operating ratio. Such uncommitted approach has brought down the Railway's running efficiency resulting in almost a break-even level OR even LOSS.
MR. JAGJEEVAN RAM, when he was Minister of Railways once commented that " If the pilferage or theft in the Railways are checked we would have laid tracks on GOLDEN RAILS". That period was a glorious period for the Railways and the systematic growth brought in wealth in the railways for supporting the central government for distributing to the sister departments for their working expenses.
Since I was serving the Railways from 1956 to 1992, I could draw a line of progress from those days to my retirement in 1992 and thereafter.Unless we gear up our machinery and introduce methods to revitalize the Railway set up in its earning capacity, we may have a disastrous period ahead.
Mangalath Philip Abraham
The ministers in charge of the Indian Railways were also prompt in the policy decision of the Railway net work.Their close knit association with the Railway Board and the Zonal General managers,enabled them to work in unison with targeted projects of annual return. The passenger fares & goods tariff also were scrutinized every year before budget proposal so as to have overall efficiency in the railway transport system.
Of late there has been an "Overturning Moment" in the railway Planning and substantial reduction in the earning capacity of the Indian Railways were noticed during the past. The political will was lacking in bringing up the profit margin high and reducing the operation cost. No increase in the passenger fares & in transportation goods traffic for many years resulting in the rise of operating ratio. Such uncommitted approach has brought down the Railway's running efficiency resulting in almost a break-even level OR even LOSS.
MR. JAGJEEVAN RAM, when he was Minister of Railways once commented that " If the pilferage or theft in the Railways are checked we would have laid tracks on GOLDEN RAILS". That period was a glorious period for the Railways and the systematic growth brought in wealth in the railways for supporting the central government for distributing to the sister departments for their working expenses.
Since I was serving the Railways from 1956 to 1992, I could draw a line of progress from those days to my retirement in 1992 and thereafter.Unless we gear up our machinery and introduce methods to revitalize the Railway set up in its earning capacity, we may have a disastrous period ahead.
Mangalath Philip Abraham
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Revamp the Judiciary
A Better Deal in Judicial Matters
The judiciary was encountering problems in settling the pending cases in the courts for the past decades. But there could not be any substantial solution in reducing the quantum of cases pending final disposal. The petitioner waits for long period of time and gets disheartened is/and finally dies before the disposal of his/her case in favour or against! Even in some cases, the judge who initiated the proceedings does not live to see the end result of the case. The case goes on for unlimited time extending to Life time!
Has anyone in the judiciary or elsewhere thought of this peculiar state of affairs of the court cases? I do not think, anyone has taken a serious note on this important aspect in anyone’s life. When we have a Limitation Act for all official matters including representation to the Legal authorities, why we do not have “ Limitation “ for finalizing the court cases within a short time frame?. To have an effective control over the legal proceedings I have suggestions as note below.
1. The procedure of engaging a lawyer for the petitioner and separate lawyer for the defendant should be stopped forthwith. Instead there must be a Council of Legal Experts consisting of senior judges/lawyers to go into the details of each case, examination of witnesses, records, and site inspection etc as necessary. Witnesses should not be unwieldy, numbering 100 or more, but limited to 2 or 3 according to the merit of each case.
2. Separate advocate pleading for the complainant and the accused will always vitiate the whole process in different stages, as each advocate will try to excel over the other in the matter of interpretation and tactics, thereby drifting off or bypassing from the core issue on hand. Such situations will cause delay and also postponement of the case for unlimited period of time. Thus, the prolonged hearings and delay thereof will cause discontentment in the minds of the litigants resulting in loss of credibility of the Judiciary in public mind.
My personal experience has prompted me to write this note.
The procedure, I suggest is similar to the one that is adopted in the case of ARBITRATION OF DISPUTES BY SOLE OR PANEL OF ARBITRATORS, with a definite time frame.
M P Abraham IRSE (Rted)
Chartered Engineer
& International Valuer and Arbitrator.
The judiciary was encountering problems in settling the pending cases in the courts for the past decades. But there could not be any substantial solution in reducing the quantum of cases pending final disposal. The petitioner waits for long period of time and gets disheartened is/and finally dies before the disposal of his/her case in favour or against! Even in some cases, the judge who initiated the proceedings does not live to see the end result of the case. The case goes on for unlimited time extending to Life time!
Has anyone in the judiciary or elsewhere thought of this peculiar state of affairs of the court cases? I do not think, anyone has taken a serious note on this important aspect in anyone’s life. When we have a Limitation Act for all official matters including representation to the Legal authorities, why we do not have “ Limitation “ for finalizing the court cases within a short time frame?. To have an effective control over the legal proceedings I have suggestions as note below.
1. The procedure of engaging a lawyer for the petitioner and separate lawyer for the defendant should be stopped forthwith. Instead there must be a Council of Legal Experts consisting of senior judges/lawyers to go into the details of each case, examination of witnesses, records, and site inspection etc as necessary. Witnesses should not be unwieldy, numbering 100 or more, but limited to 2 or 3 according to the merit of each case.
2. Separate advocate pleading for the complainant and the accused will always vitiate the whole process in different stages, as each advocate will try to excel over the other in the matter of interpretation and tactics, thereby drifting off or bypassing from the core issue on hand. Such situations will cause delay and also postponement of the case for unlimited period of time. Thus, the prolonged hearings and delay thereof will cause discontentment in the minds of the litigants resulting in loss of credibility of the Judiciary in public mind.
My personal experience has prompted me to write this note.
The procedure, I suggest is similar to the one that is adopted in the case of ARBITRATION OF DISPUTES BY SOLE OR PANEL OF ARBITRATORS, with a definite time frame.
M P Abraham IRSE (Rted)
Chartered Engineer
& International Valuer and Arbitrator.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
A Flash Back tp Pre 1947 & Post 1947 Period
A Flash back on Life before and after Independence
The Senior citizens above 75 years can flash back their life before the independence. There will be quite a few episodes to narrate the life we had before the year 1947 & the life we have after the independence. Mainly the difference between the Autocracy & the Democracy is compared. Both are poles apart. The life was peaceful and the relation maintained with people of different denominations was very cordial. There was no ill will amongst men with feelings of caste creed and religion. The social functions were peacefully conducted by all without any pride or prejudice. Even during the times of world wars the people did not starve as the food preserved for the “Rainy days” were available to maintain life & property during the crisis period. A comparative study will reveal the factual position in India during the Pre 1947 & Post 1947 period.
Description Autocracy- King’s Rule Democracy- Janatha Kings
1.Administration
2.Justice
3. Security
4.Food & Shelter
5. Criminal Assaults
6. Service to public.
7. Corruption Fair deal to all without cast creed or religion
Justice to all within a time frame. Justice delayed is Justice denied. This dictum was honoured in full
Security of the Subjects ensured by the King for their life and property.
Everyone gets his/her share of food and water. No scarcity.
Criminals are apprehended and punished without any delay, applying the law forthwith.
Timely attention to the problems of the people in their day to day life. Here I am reminded of old VELUTHAMPY DALAVA.
Very rare. If detected severe punishments meted out to the culprit. Here again the Veluthampy Dalava is remembered!
Unfair deal to all except the followers of the party in power.
Justice to none within a time frame. In most cases the justice is delayed beyond limit causing irrecoverable loss to the people.
Unsecured life and property in the janatha rule. Dangerous situations arise daily.
No fair distribution of food & water and living conditions .
Undue delay takes place and the criminals escape from the clutches of law by intervention of men in authority.
No action taken in time. The requests from people delayed for days together in the departments.
Corruption everywhere. Corrupt thoughts and actions are prevalent in the whole administration. LOKPAL MAY NOT HELP!
I have given here only few of the things which came to my mind while comparing the pre independence and post independence period. I am sure many of us will have a say in this matter. Please add your opinion in this column.
ABRAHAM MANGALATH
.
The Senior citizens above 75 years can flash back their life before the independence. There will be quite a few episodes to narrate the life we had before the year 1947 & the life we have after the independence. Mainly the difference between the Autocracy & the Democracy is compared. Both are poles apart. The life was peaceful and the relation maintained with people of different denominations was very cordial. There was no ill will amongst men with feelings of caste creed and religion. The social functions were peacefully conducted by all without any pride or prejudice. Even during the times of world wars the people did not starve as the food preserved for the “Rainy days” were available to maintain life & property during the crisis period. A comparative study will reveal the factual position in India during the Pre 1947 & Post 1947 period.
Description Autocracy- King’s Rule Democracy- Janatha Kings
1.Administration
2.Justice
3. Security
4.Food & Shelter
5. Criminal Assaults
6. Service to public.
7. Corruption Fair deal to all without cast creed or religion
Justice to all within a time frame. Justice delayed is Justice denied. This dictum was honoured in full
Security of the Subjects ensured by the King for their life and property.
Everyone gets his/her share of food and water. No scarcity.
Criminals are apprehended and punished without any delay, applying the law forthwith.
Timely attention to the problems of the people in their day to day life. Here I am reminded of old VELUTHAMPY DALAVA.
Very rare. If detected severe punishments meted out to the culprit. Here again the Veluthampy Dalava is remembered!
Unfair deal to all except the followers of the party in power.
Justice to none within a time frame. In most cases the justice is delayed beyond limit causing irrecoverable loss to the people.
Unsecured life and property in the janatha rule. Dangerous situations arise daily.
No fair distribution of food & water and living conditions .
Undue delay takes place and the criminals escape from the clutches of law by intervention of men in authority.
No action taken in time. The requests from people delayed for days together in the departments.
Corruption everywhere. Corrupt thoughts and actions are prevalent in the whole administration. LOKPAL MAY NOT HELP!
I have given here only few of the things which came to my mind while comparing the pre independence and post independence period. I am sure many of us will have a say in this matter. Please add your opinion in this column.
ABRAHAM MANGALATH
.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Politics in Educational Institutions
POLITICS IN COLLEGE CAMPUS
COLLEGE CAMPUS- A POLITICAL ASYLUM?
The recent disturbances in the Educational institutions all over the State of Kerala indicate that imminent disaster will take place very soon in the student community. The youngsters in the college/schools are being misguided and their young spirit of action & energy are misused and misdirected by the introvert politicians to gain their own ends. Violent and destructive methods are unleashed using the young children as weapons and tools to achieve the goal through the watch word “End justifies the means”.
A loyal politician will definitely follow a well defined and planned mode of action for a successful journey towards the goal and will not adopt short cuts and direct action, destroying life & public property. In fact the whole course of action adopted by the ill oriented politicians in motivating the young blood in schools & colleges is highly objectionable and detrimental to the future of the students and the state in general.
The college students during the course of studies in their Alma meter will learn the subjects on different disciplines including the political science. Once they come out of the college they can successfully practice the science of administration for the betterment of the society. But interferences in their studies and spoiling the career by the politician’s entry in the campus will ruin the whole process of learning for grooming the students to be better citizens of the country.
The Government machinery must consider these invasions of politicians in the college campus as a serious crime and the party officials responsible for such trespass must be punished without fear or favour.
Abraham Mangalath
COLLEGE CAMPUS- A POLITICAL ASYLUM?
The recent disturbances in the Educational institutions all over the State of Kerala indicate that imminent disaster will take place very soon in the student community. The youngsters in the college/schools are being misguided and their young spirit of action & energy are misused and misdirected by the introvert politicians to gain their own ends. Violent and destructive methods are unleashed using the young children as weapons and tools to achieve the goal through the watch word “End justifies the means”.
A loyal politician will definitely follow a well defined and planned mode of action for a successful journey towards the goal and will not adopt short cuts and direct action, destroying life & public property. In fact the whole course of action adopted by the ill oriented politicians in motivating the young blood in schools & colleges is highly objectionable and detrimental to the future of the students and the state in general.
The college students during the course of studies in their Alma meter will learn the subjects on different disciplines including the political science. Once they come out of the college they can successfully practice the science of administration for the betterment of the society. But interferences in their studies and spoiling the career by the politician’s entry in the campus will ruin the whole process of learning for grooming the students to be better citizens of the country.
The Government machinery must consider these invasions of politicians in the college campus as a serious crime and the party officials responsible for such trespass must be punished without fear or favour.
Abraham Mangalath
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Mullaperitar Dam- Remedy
MULLAPERIYAR DAM – REMEDY
Fatigue is a natural phenomenon for both living & inanimate things. The structures also get fatigued due to aging. Normally structures have a designed useful life. Beyond the designed life of any structure, constant vigil is to be exercised to check up any deterioration in the ability of the structure to withstand the designed job of that structure.
In the case of the Mullaperiyar dam, it is an old dam constructed with Surki mortar in the 19th century during the British rule. This “Gravity dam” is supported on its own weight against the pressure imposed on it by the impounding water in the reservoir. The pressure of water is concentrated on the Dam at its 2/3rd height above floor level. The principle is that the over turning effect (Upsetting Couple) of the Dam against the water pressure must counter balance by the (Restoring couple) acting at the centre of gravity of the Dam. If the Upsetting Moment is higher than the Restoring Moment, then the Dam is exposed to danger by overturning. Therefore the restoring couple or Moment must be greater than the upsetting couple or Moment. To attain this, the design is taken care of to see that the Resultant thrust of water & the weight of Dam is kept ALWAYS WITHIN THE MIDDLE THIRD RULE. That is the resultant line of force should be within the middle third of the base of the Dam.
The authorities must immediately check the stability of Dam and ensure that the Gravity Force of the dam is greater than the impounding pressure of the water in the reservoir. If the restoring Moment is not sufficient the dam must be strengthened by additional masonry structure at the tail race by widening the base width and masonry stem up to the 2/3 height.
Another aspect to be checked is the strength of the dam against shear force acting at the 2/3rd height. This strength may be low as the Dam is very old. To increase the shear strength of the structure, pressure grouting of the dam with high grade cement must be done at suitable spacing with modern equipments under close supervision by experts specialized in such critical jobs.
But there is no need to get panicky about life of the people around if the present water level is brought down to a safe level as suggested by the Engineers.
M P Abraham IRSE (Retd)
Chartered Engineer & Registered Valuer
Fatigue is a natural phenomenon for both living & inanimate things. The structures also get fatigued due to aging. Normally structures have a designed useful life. Beyond the designed life of any structure, constant vigil is to be exercised to check up any deterioration in the ability of the structure to withstand the designed job of that structure.
In the case of the Mullaperiyar dam, it is an old dam constructed with Surki mortar in the 19th century during the British rule. This “Gravity dam” is supported on its own weight against the pressure imposed on it by the impounding water in the reservoir. The pressure of water is concentrated on the Dam at its 2/3rd height above floor level. The principle is that the over turning effect (Upsetting Couple) of the Dam against the water pressure must counter balance by the (Restoring couple) acting at the centre of gravity of the Dam. If the Upsetting Moment is higher than the Restoring Moment, then the Dam is exposed to danger by overturning. Therefore the restoring couple or Moment must be greater than the upsetting couple or Moment. To attain this, the design is taken care of to see that the Resultant thrust of water & the weight of Dam is kept ALWAYS WITHIN THE MIDDLE THIRD RULE. That is the resultant line of force should be within the middle third of the base of the Dam.
The authorities must immediately check the stability of Dam and ensure that the Gravity Force of the dam is greater than the impounding pressure of the water in the reservoir. If the restoring Moment is not sufficient the dam must be strengthened by additional masonry structure at the tail race by widening the base width and masonry stem up to the 2/3 height.
Another aspect to be checked is the strength of the dam against shear force acting at the 2/3rd height. This strength may be low as the Dam is very old. To increase the shear strength of the structure, pressure grouting of the dam with high grade cement must be done at suitable spacing with modern equipments under close supervision by experts specialized in such critical jobs.
But there is no need to get panicky about life of the people around if the present water level is brought down to a safe level as suggested by the Engineers.
M P Abraham IRSE (Retd)
Chartered Engineer & Registered Valuer
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