Midnight top-down shake up of Babus in C'garh

In a midnight surgery of sorts, the bureaucracy in Chhattisgarh was shaken up in a big way, with district collectors accused by the Congress of siding with the previous BJP Government being shunted out.

The transfer orders were released to the media at 1 am on Monday. In a first since the state was formed, such a massive change has been effected ahead of the new council of ministers taking oath of office on December 25. Around 42 IAS officers and half a dozen district collectors have been transferred.

All IFS officers have been repatriated to their parent department, Forest.

'Credible Police'

A clean up of the "corrupt" police department is also on the cards. “Our vision is 'Credible Police, Strong Police'. The black spots on the police uniform will be cleaned. Police officials and personnel known for 'recovery' will be suspended, terminated and even criminal cases filed against them,” said State Director General of Police Durgesh Madhav Awasthi.

Interacting with media at Police Headquarters here on Monday, the officer said: “We will make efforts to create a sense of faith in the common man so that the fear of police is reduced while the criminals fear police.”

Corrupt to go

“Those doing additional and exemplary work would be awarded and given out of turn promotion. Crime Branch, one of the most corrupt and other such units indulging in corruption, would be wound up,” the DGP said.

“A committee under Neha Champavat, IPS, has been constituted for looking into the problems of police personnel. Doors of DGP office will be open for public from Monday to Thursday from 1 to 3 pm, and from Friday it will be for police personnel and their families,” he said.

Listing out future plans, Awasthi said, “On the lines of Army, police personnel will have a canteen system in state. Police Housing Corporation will also assist in construction of private houses of police personnel. It would be named ‘Sneh Chaya’ (Shade of Love).”

Children of personnel would get free coaching for engineering and medical entrance examinations, with even higher officials taking classes.