Task Accomplishment and Target Fulfillment
EVERYTHING YOU NEVER WANTED TO KNOW
(LEARNING LESSONS IN LIFE-1)
VANAM JWALA NARASIMHA RAO
Having born 76 years ago (8th August 1948), brought up, spent my early childhood in an orthodox family, and received early education in a remote village surrounded by Communist Party dominated villages, in Khammam district of Telangana State, I imbibed a mix of ‘Socialist and Spiritual Ideologies’ and learnt lessons in ‘Humanism.’ Since my late school days itself, I was ‘in quest of meaningful and acceptable Governance’ having witnessed the plight and exploitation of rural illiterate by Village Land Lords. Inadvertently, in my journey I had come across several Political Administrators, Public and Civil Servants, that included Legislators, Ministers, Chief Ministers, Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries etc. in some of whom I found few answers.
I was a School First student in my Higher Secondary Certificate in 1962, but ended up with third class and compartmental in PUC and BSc respectively. Even in my Nagpur University PG (MA Public Administration), I could secure only third class. I was never a ‘Brilliant Student.’ However, I secured University Second Rank in my Bachelor of Library and Information Science in 1974.
‘MA Public Administration’ provided me an intense and profound insight in to its value system, imperatives, implications, and essentiality to ensure quality life to an ordinary person and affluent alike. That was how the fundamental principles of Public Administration were precisely, concisely, and comprehensively taught to us, by Professor VS Murthy, a Telugu Person, and the Head of Public Administration Department for nearly three decades during 1960-89. The conceptual framework of ‘In quest of meaningful and acceptable Governance’ time and again has been lingering in my mind, as a disciple student of Professor Murthy. In fact, he was utmost happy, even happier than me, when I was drafted to work with Governor Kumud Ben Joshi and with Chief Minister Dr M Channa Reddy.
In addition to Professor VS Murthy, another distinguished and illustrious Teacher, Professor NGS Kini, who taught us Political Sociology enthused me a lot. Though both possessed conflicting ideologies (Views), they were very affectionate to me and always liked my interest of ‘Quest for knowledge of Administration.’ However, Professor Kini, always seriously decried my interest in Marxism and Professor Murthy, a staunch supporter of Indira Gandhi, always encouraged my responses on her style of functioning. Those were the days when Indira Gandhi was fighting the political battle with powerful Syndicate Group in Congress Party during VV Giri Election as President.
When I was leaving the Nagpur University after my studies, Professor Kini called me to his house and affectionately counseled me that, if I continue with the Marxism Path, one day I would be ‘in streets’ with none to support, and guided me to disconnect with it. I followed his advice in ‘Letter and Spirit’ all along my life. On the other hand, Professor Murthy gave me a Great ‘Testimonial’ incorporating an ideal and thought-provoking phrase, that, ‘Task Accomplishment and Target Fulfillment is more important to Jwala, than conforming to Rules and Regulations.’ Since that time, I have always been honestly self-assessing whether I could rise to his expectations.
Always I endeavored to be involved in the ‘Decision Making Process’ irrespective of my level in the hierarchy wherever I worked. Be as Qualified Librarian in a School, or be it Project (Administrative) Officer of a Rural Development Organization headed by Governor; be it as PRO to Chief Minister Dr M Chenna Reddy; be it as Senior Manager of Handicrafts Development Corporation; be it as Faculty and Additional Director of an Apex (Dr MCR HRD) State Training Institute; be it as Regional Director of Centre for Media Studies; be it as Lead Partner and Advisor of Emergency Response Services; be it as consultant of Health Management Institute dealing with non-emergencies, and finally be it as Chief Public Relations Officer to first Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, for a record nine and half years, ‘I have been What would always like to be’.
I sincerely believed that, prioritizing ‘Task Accomplishment and Target Fulfillment’ would lead to more ‘Efficient and Effective outcomes’ and minimal bureaucratic red tape. I also believed that, it encouraged innovative solutions and flexibility, allowing administrators to adapt to changing circumstances and find the best methods to achieve goals. As part of ‘Goal-Oriented Approach’ my focus in the ‘Decision Making Process’ was to ensure public resources are used to achieve tangible benefits for society, if necessary, through shortcuts, subject to accepted policies and procedures.
‘Public Interest’ was of more concern to me, whether I actively participated or allowed to participate passively in the decision-making process. I never hesitated to dissent either openly or subtly to the ‘Ultimate Decision Maker Boss.’ I have been consciously aware that, ‘Task Accomplishment and Target Fulfillment’ though crucial, balancing this with adherence to rules and regulations for legality, procedures, and public trust is also correspondingly important. A balanced approach ensures that goals are met without compromising the foundational principles of governance. The whole idea is, Public Administration and Governance presupposes, come what may, that, ‘Task Accomplishment and Target Fulfillment’ needs to be pursued vigorously, though with a balanced approach.
Against this background and context, recalling my earliest memory of knowing about and contact with political leaders, lawmakers in particular, dates back to 1960s. Bommakanti Satyanarayana Rao, Mohammad Rajab Ali, Kattula Shantiah, K Ananth Reddy etc. who were MLAs at one time or other, in addition to many block Level, and district Level functionaries were the first among them. Seelam Siddareddy and Hayagriva Chary were the first ministers whom I had known and met. The first Chief Minister whom I met was PV Narasimha Rao when he was working on the ‘Historic Land Reforms Bill.’ The first contact with IAS Officer was R Parthasarathy and later PVRK Prasad during early 1970s when they were Khammam District Collectors.
Personal, and reasonably close contact with IAS Officers, and through them initial glimpses of Governance was, when my Brother-In-Law Dr AP Ranga Rao worked as Medical Officer of Bhadrachalam Government Hospital on his return from United Kingdom. That contact and friendship with them continued till this day. They are: the then Sub-Collectors of Bhadrachalam, RC Samal; J Harinarayan, and Jainder Singh retired as Erstwhile AP Chief Secretary and Secretary in Government of India, respectively.
About these three young IAS Officers and their commitment to ‘Public Administration’ at their level, with emphasis on ‘Task Accomplishment’ ensuring their effective execution for the benefit of society is depicted enthrallingly by Dr Ranga Rao in his Auto Biography ‘Hopping Memories’ which would be a lesson to youngsters. For instance, about Samal he wrote that ‘Samal would measure, evaluate the issue, makeup his mind, and despite adversaries would not budge in execution’ which proved to be cent percent correct later, as Erstwhile AP Vigilance Commissioner.
Similarly writing about Hari Narayan, he mentioned about his advice to his subordinate to file a case, when he was denied reimbursement of expenses incurred in a private hospital by Government, that was decided in petitioner’s favor resulting in adequate compensation. Similarly, when Ranga Rao informed Hari Narayan about the plight of a Tribal Area bordering Madhya Pradesh, he instantaneously obtained authorization from District Collector to conduct preliminary survey. He went on a Weeks’s expedition with 22-member exploratory team, and made recommendations to the District Collector. As Chief Secretary 108 Services expansion decision was to his credit.
Hari Narayan successor Jainder Singh followed up with the then Chairman of Singareni Collieries BN Raman who sanctioned required funds for the Tribal Area. Dr Ranga Rao narrated how during the targeted family planning program, when Tribals demanded increased incentive for undergoing vasectomy, to compensate their wages loss, for which there was no provision, he in consultation with the Collector organized extra payments from the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA).
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