All Sain and done, does BARC want the truth?

MAY 5: What would normally have been considered a routine human resource development HRD survey is causing ripples in the Bhabha Atomic ...

MAY 5: What would normally have been considered a routine human resource development HRD survey is causing ripples in the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre BARC. A document, DIR/c-63/00/232, dated April 27 signed by BARC director Anil Kakodkar has been sent to all scientific officers SOs of the grades D, E and F. Attached to it is a questionnaire which the officers concerned are supposed to answer in yes8217; or no8217;.

Coming as it does in the wake of the much-publicised Prithwish Sain controversy 8212; wherein the officer alleged extreme harassment at BARC 8212; the 8220;middle8221; scientist managers are worried that honest responses to the questionnaire would land them up in a situation like that of Sain who has claimed he was harassed for pointing our deficiencies.

8220;Even without Sain hovering over you, the questions are difficult to answer, because our name, designation, department, have all to be entered in the attached proforma of Kakodkar8217;s directive. Look at the very first question which asks Do you know what is expected of you at work?8217; How can a middle management level scientist after spending years in BARC ever answer No8217;? Do you think he will jeopardise his career by answering truthfully? That question is better directed at one-year or two-year olds in the department,8221; said an SO.

Of the 15,000 odd staff in the BARC, some 11,000 belong to scientific categories. Of these about 2500 belong to the categories the Kakodkar directive is aimed at. Usually all SOs in categories D, E ad F are considered to be quite senior scientists and a lot of them are holders of PhD as well.

There are twelve questions to answer. The other questions are: Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right? At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day? In the last seven days, have I received recognition or praise for good work? Does my supervisor, or someone at work, care about me as a person? Is there someone at work who encourages my development? At work do my opinions seem to count? Does the mission/purpose of the BARC make me feel like my work is important? Are my co-workers committed to doing quality work? In the last six months, have I talked to someone about my progress? At work have I had the opportunities to learn and grow?

Said another perturbed SO: quot;Had they offered anonymity, majority of my answers might have been 8216;no8217;. I will of course say 8216;yes8217; to all. I am sure they will send the results of this survey to Delhi to show everything is well with BARC.8221;

Dr Garg, head, Training and Management Sevices Division, said: 8220;I have no answer to such hypothetical fears. The survey is Dr Kakodkar8217;s brainchild aimed at toning up managerial capabilities, but let me tell you there is no tradition to victimise people who are honest in BARC.8221;