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Journalism of Courage
In a last-minute effort to set the house in order for the Commonwealth Games,the government has decided that Joint Secretaries of departments and ministries will supervise work at various sports venues. While there are 11 stadia,26 new training centres are being constructed for the Games that begin October 3.
Following the Prime Ministers intervention,it has been decided to form a team of 25-30 officials of Joint Secretary rank on Central deputation,drawn from the IAS,who will be asked to take over the venues and oversee progress. With just 45 days to go,the two dozen-plus Joint Secretaries will be spared of work at their parent departments and ministries.
A Secretary who has been asked to spare a JS said: The Cabinet Secretary has told several of us to spare a JS each. But it will be difficult for a JS-level official to get a grip of issues immediately. Another Secretary-level official who too did not wish to be quoted said it would take at least a fortnight for an official to be on top of the situation at the stadium.
The decision was communicated to the respective ministries less than two days ago,government sources said.
These officials will be in charge of a specified Games venue like a stadium or the Games Village. They will oversee works being carried out at that venue and monitor targets and their delivery, said the Secretary. The bureaucracy,though,does not seem very enthused about the new assignment. It appears to be a case of too little,too late, said a Joint Secretary,assigned the job.
