(Published in Economic Times of 11 july 2012)
Let's have another perspective, hitherto unnoticed by most intellectuals, on the way the ministries are run in the country.
Most departments can be headed by an officer who may not have devoted significant practice and time in that department so as to be confident enough to infuse motivation in the staff as far as technical experience and creative prowess are concerned. An example is Indian Railways that has its chairman who invariably gets groomed in the same organisation.
We are in an era where 'expertise-oriented administration' has become a crying need for the nation. Generalist-led administration of any particular department should be occupied by politicians only, such as ministers heading departments that are generally supposed to have political vision.
Such systems would certainly not result into stymying the desired research and technical excellence of the department. In the changing milieu of increasing competitiveness and professional dynamism, this thought process must be imbibed in earnest.
