The IAS Officers’ Association of Odisha has taken strong exception to the remarks made by Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan against a senior IAS officer of the State at a function here on Monday.
In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the Association said that Mr. Pradhan, during the inauguration of the National Data Centre of the National Informatics Centre, had “personally targeted” State IT Secretary Ashok Meena, who was attending the function on invitation.
While addressing the gathering, Mr. Pradhan had remarked that senior IAS officers were unable to take decisions independently, and for every mundane issue they were seeking approval from “higher-ups”, in an apparent reference to the CMO.
Others who were present at the function included Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union IT Secretary Ajay Sawhney and State Revenue Secretary Chandra Shekhar Kumar.
Demoralised officials
Stating that several such incidents had been reported by field functionaries, the Association said, “This has vitiated the working atmosphere and has a demoralising effect on the officers and employees of the State government.”
“The IAS Association of Odisha strongly condemns such incidents and stands by all State government employees facing such situations,” Association secretary Vishal Dev said in the memorandum.
The Association requested the Mr. Patnaik to take up the matter at the appropriate level. The OAS Officers’ Association representatives also met the Chief Minister at the State Secretariat and demanded action in the matter.
