First Impressions and Working Environment

AGMUTAbhishek Dev (Chandigarh, abhishekdev@gmail.com)Ameya Abhyankar (Arunachal Pradesh, ameya16@gmail.com) Jawahar P. (Puducherry, jawahar.ias@gmail.com) Juhi Mukherjee (Andaman & Nicobar, juhi.mukherjee@gmail.com) Nila Mohanan (Arunachal Pradesh, nilamohanan18@yahoo.com)Udit Prakash (Andaman & Nicobar, uditprakashrai@gmail.com)

Arunachal Pradesh

?Rich Tribal diversity in a geographically remote state

?Low population density and low volume of work

?Relaxed and informal work environment

?Less emphasis on rules and procedures, but need to balance between customary law of tribals and common law

?Great respect for and expectation from the IAS

?Limited political interference and dignified conduct of political representatives

?Sufficient autonomy to do meaningful work

Andaman & Nicobar

?It could come as a shock to some on account of its location

?Relaxed working environment

Chandigarh

?Chandigarh is a very well developed city with all amenities

Arunachal Pradesh

?Unstructured training pattern; DC determines the components of training

?Pay attention to the judicial attachment, since you will have JMFC powers

Andaman & Nicobar

?Attachments are flexible, so you can focus on areas that you like.

?You can get good exposure on disaster management

Chandigarh

?Adviser to the Administrator takes a keen interest in the probationers training

?Police attachment and Social Welfare Department attachment are two areas you should focus on

Puducherry

?Training is highly structured; an elaborate training schedule is prepared and adhered to

?Interaction to the maximum extent possible with field functionaries of various departments should be your priority

Training Structure and Focus Areas

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

Arunachal Pradesh.

?Maintain good relations with APCS officers. You can learn a lot from them.

?Visit as many villages as possible

?Acquaint yourself with the customary laws and practices of the dominant tribe.

?Gain as much knowledge of court proceedings in Phase I as you will be given charge as JMFC and expected to try cases .

Editorial?Work environment is good and conducive

Puducherry

?Nice place to be in

District training is one of the most exciting and challenging phases of probation, when the classroom inputs of

the Academy give way to the practical insights of the field. However, it also signifies a move away from the

camaraderie of the Foundation Course and Phase I to the isolation of the district, where you are entirely on your

own in a new place, amongst new people who have a different way of life. As a probationer in the district, there are

several questions which will bother you and often, it is difficult to find the right answers. Having faced such a

situation ourselves, we in the 2007 Batch deliberated over how we could pass on at least some of the answers to

subsequent batches, so that you would not have to reinvent the wheel. And the outcome is this repository of our

collective experiences during District Training, proudly presented to you by the Management Circle of the Golden

Jubilee Batch of 2007.

In these pages, we have attempted to address some of the concerns that you are likely to have as you prepare to

go to the field, such as the working environment in the cadre, the training structure, what to do and what not to

do, interaction with the DM/DC and other officers in the district, whom to approach for advice, creature comforts

and so on. There can be no definitive ways of looking at these issues and what we present here is strictly our own

perspective based on first-hand experience. Yet, we believe that what we can share here will help you cope better

with district training.

We also request all subsequent batches to keep adding their own experiences to this collection and update it

every year, so that it will be a continuing legacy that is passed on from batch to batch. Happy Reading and all the

best for a fulfilling career in the IAS!

Nila Mohanan

Dr. Nirupama Dange

Dr. Adarsh Singh

Ameya Abhyankar

Vyasan R.

First Impressions and Working Environment

AGMUTAbhishek Dev (Chandigarh, abhishekdev@gmail.com)Ameya Abhyankar (Arunachal Pradesh, ameya16@gmail.com) Jawahar P. (Puducherry, jawahar.ias@gmail.com) Juhi Mukherjee (Andaman & Nicobar, juhi.mukherjee@gmail.com) Nila Mohanan (Arunachal Pradesh, nilamohanan18@yahoo.com)Udit Prakash (Andaman & Nicobar, uditprakashrai@gmail.com)

Arunachal Pradesh

?Rich Tribal diversity in a geographically remote state

?Low population density and low volume of work

?Relaxed and informal work environment

?Less emphasis on rules and procedures, but need to balance between customary law of tribals and common law

?Great respect for and expectation from the IAS

?Limited political interference and dignified conduct of political representatives

?Sufficient autonomy to do meaningful work

Andaman & Nicobar

?It could come as a shock to some on account of its location

?Relaxed working environment

Chandigarh

?Chandigarh is a very well developed city with all amenities

Arunachal Pradesh

?Unstructured training pattern; DC determines the components of training

?Pay attention to the judicial attachment, since you will have JMFC powers

Andaman & Nicobar

?Attachments are flexible, so you can focus on areas that you like.

?You can get good exposure on disaster management

Chandigarh

?Adviser to the Administrator takes a keen interest in the probationers training

?Police attachment and Social Welfare Department attachment are two areas you should focus on

Puducherry

?Training is highly structured; an elaborate training schedule is prepared and adhered to

?Interaction to the maximum extent possible with field functionaries of various departments should be your priority

Training Structure and Focus Areas

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

Arunachal Pradesh.

?Maintain good relations with APCS officers. You can learn a lot from them.

?Visit as many villages as possible

?Acquaint yourself with the customary laws and practices of the dominant tribe.

?Gain as much knowledge of court proceedings in Phase I as you will be given charge as JMFC and expected to try cases .

Editorial?Work environment is good and conducive

Puducherry

?Nice place to be in

District training is one of the most exciting and challenging phases of probation, when the classroom inputs of

the Academy give way to the practical insights of the field. However, it also signifies a move away from the

camaraderie of the Foundation Course and Phase I to the isolation of the district, where you are entirely on your

own in a new place, amongst new people who have a different way of life. As a probationer in the district, there are

several questions which will bother you and often, it is difficult to find the right answers. Having faced such a

situation ourselves, we in the 2007 Batch deliberated over how we could pass on at least some of the answers to

subsequent batches, so that you would not have to reinvent the wheel. And the outcome is this repository of our

collective experiences during District Training, proudly presented to you by the Management Circle of the Golden

Jubilee Batch of 2007.

In these pages, we have attempted to address some of the concerns that you are likely to have as you prepare to

go to the field, such as the working environment in the cadre, the training structure, what to do and what not to

do, interaction with the DM/DC and other officers in the district, whom to approach for advice, creature comforts

and so on. There can be no definitive ways of looking at these issues and what we present here is strictly our own

perspective based on first-hand experience. Yet, we believe that what we can share here will help you cope better

with district training.

We also request all subsequent batches to keep adding their own experiences to this collection and update it

every year, so that it will be a continuing legacy that is passed on from batch to batch. Happy Reading and all the

best for a fulfilling career in the IAS!

Nila Mohanan

Dr. Nirupama Dange

Dr. Adarsh Singh

Ameya Abhyankar

Vyasan R.

Creature Comforts:

?Circuit House accommodation is available which is reasonable good across territories.

?In case you are not provided with a TV in the room, you could request the DC for it.

?Food in the circuit house could require getting adjusted to. You should state your preferences and the cooks normally comply. Timely monetary incentives can go a long way in ensuring good quality of food.

?In Puducherry, Adyar Anand Bhavan and Hotel Sarguru can be visited for North Indian cuisine. Otherwise seafood and south Indian items are available in plenty.

?Try and move in to your own quarters as soon as possible, since your privacy in the circuit house may get constrained. Liaise with PWD for furniture and other necessary items. Ensure that you return all items outsourced from different government sources when you are leaving the district.

Interacting with the DC/DM

?Gauge the personality of the DM. Sometimes a person may be an introvert (may take time to open up), may be an extrovert. Get to know your DC and interact with him/her accordingly.

?Be very modest with the DC. Even if you have lots of talent, do not flaunt it

?Give advice/suggestions only when they are solicited, especially in official meetings

?Do keep your DC in good humour. Meet him daily until he says no to it

Coping with Assignments

?Depends on whether you belong to the eager, lukewarm or indifferent category

?Village assignments should be completed during the BDO stint. Take tips from immediate seniors on the nuances of gathering data and preparing reports.

?D.O letters could be submitted every month if possible. More than content timeliness matters.

?As far as analytical notes are concerned you may rely on the

After Office- hours

Arunachal Pradesh

?Play badminton

?Sunday Picnics by the riverside

?If you are a teetotaller and a vegetarian you may have a bad time. Its not too late to change habits.

?Travel as extensively as you can. The environs are incredibly beautiful

?Read and watch movies

?Have outings with the ITBP, SIB personnel. They can be great fun

Andaman & Nicobar

?Get married

Chandigarh

?Sports and hobbies

Puducherry

?Visit Promenade Auroville

?Go biking along ECR

?Visit Mahabalipuram shore temple

?IG Stadium

internet, institutional memory of batches 2/3 years senior, reports of various government bodies which you will find in plenty. Use the services of a stenographer to save yourself from the drudgery.

?Take/collect lots of photos. They especially come in handy during the DAP/ESP presentations.

?Complete whatever law assignments that you are able to lay your hands on. Dont be overzealous. In case you are not able to muster up the required number, just relax. Its not that big a deal.

?As far as language assignments are concerned the best approach is to delegate. There will be more takers than you can imagine.

?Dont send assignments before time. They get lost.

?Maintain a personal copy of all your assignments (borrowed & original) and give it to your juniors without fail.

?Dont expect creature comforts beyond a limit

?Dont expect people and officers to be servile. North East is an egalitarian society

?Dont be disrespectful to tribal customs and traditions

Andaman & Nicobar

?Visit as many areas of your training district as possible

?Get acquainted with the activities related to tsunami relief and rehabilitation

?Visit as many of the scenic spots as possible

?Pursue entitlements like laptop, data card, mobile phone etc. with concerned officials

?Dont be overfriendly with your DM/DC and other officials and their relations

Chandigarh

?DC Office attachment

?Extra efforts to be expended for revenue training and village attachments

?Pay attention to Urban Planning and Management Issues

?Pay special attention to the problem of slums in Chandigarh

Puducherry

?Call on all senior officers (IAS, IPS) without fail

?Pay a courtesy visit to the offices of the PCS officers

?Meet DM/DC periodically

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

?Shri A. B Shukla, IAS ( Arunachal Pradesh)

?Shri P.S Lokhande, IAS (Arunachal Pradesh)

?Shri Ankur Garg, IAS (Arunachal Pradesh)

?Shri P.K Sain, IAS (Arunachal Pradesh)

?Shri Amjad Tak, IAS (Arunachal Pradesh)

?Shri Ashish More, IAS (Andaman & Nicobar)

?Smt. Niharika Rai, IAS (Chandigarh)

?Smt. Prerna Puri, IAS (Chandigarh)

?Shri Franklin Lalthinkhuma, IAS (Puducherry)

?Dr. Vasant Kumar, IAS (Puducherry)

?Shri D.C Sahoo, IAS (Puducherry)

?Even the state service officers are quite accessible and helpful. It is best to consult immediate seniors when some advice is needed.

Pecuniary Matters

?Liaise with the accounts officer in the DC Office for matters related to your pay.

?Claim your salary arrears as soon as you arrive.

?If you are claiming TTA be sure to produce bills for transport of belongings from Mussoorie to the place of district training.

?HRA deductions will be made in-case you decide to go in for government quarters

?TA/DA rates vary according to the territories. Acquaint yourself with Swamys Handbook and state specific rates.

?If service book is not started as a matter of practice be sure to take the initiative and pursue the matter with the P&AR Department and the Establishment Section of the DC Office.

?Obtain a pension account number under the NPS as soon as is possible.

?Tax deductions are generally made at the time of the financial year ending. Invest the income tax exemptible amount in a mutual fund, public provident fund, fixed deposit (5 years) to save some tax.

Leave Rules and Conventions

?Leave is generally not a problem.

?Keep your DC in the loop as far as leave related matters are concerned.

?Conversing with your DC about tricks of the trade could be enlightening.

Creature Comforts:

?Circuit House accommodation is available which is reasonable good across territories.

?In case you are not provided with a TV in the room, you could request the DC for it.

?Food in the circuit house could require getting adjusted to. You should state your preferences and the cooks normally comply. Timely monetary incentives can go a long way in ensuring good quality of food.

?In Puducherry, Adyar Anand Bhavan and Hotel Sarguru can be visited for North Indian cuisine. Otherwise seafood and south Indian items are available in plenty.

?Try and move in to your own quarters as soon as possible, since your privacy in the circuit house may get constrained. Liaise with PWD for furniture and other necessary items. Ensure that you return all items outsourced from different government sources when you are leaving the district.

Interacting with the DC/DM

?Gauge the personality of the DM. Sometimes a person may be an introvert (may take time to open up), may be an extrovert. Get to know your DC and interact with him/her accordingly.

?Be very modest with the DC. Even if you have lots of talent, do not flaunt it

?Give advice/suggestions only when they are solicited, especially in official meetings

?Do keep your DC in good humour. Meet him daily until he says no to it

Coping with Assignments

?Depends on whether you belong to the eager, lukewarm or indifferent category

?Village assignments should be completed during the BDO stint. Take tips from immediate seniors on the nuances of gathering data and preparing reports.

?D.O letters could be submitted every month if possible. More than content timeliness matters.

?As far as analytical notes are concerned you may rely on the

After Office- hours

Arunachal Pradesh

?Play badminton

?Sunday Picnics by the riverside

?If you are a teetotaller and a vegetarian you may have a bad time. Its not too late to change habits.

?Travel as extensively as you can. The environs are incredibly beautiful

?Read and watch movies

?Have outings with the ITBP, SIB personnel. They can be great fun

Andaman & Nicobar

?Get married

Chandigarh

?Sports and hobbies

Puducherry

?Visit Promenade Auroville

?Go biking along ECR

?Visit Mahabalipuram shore temple

?IG Stadium

internet, institutional memory of batches 2/3 years senior, reports of various government bodies which you will find in plenty. Use the services of a stenographer to save yourself from the drudgery.

?Take/collect lots of photos. They especially come in handy during the DAP/ESP presentations.

?Complete whatever law assignments that you are able to lay your hands on. Dont be overzealous. In case you are not able to muster up the required number, just relax. Its not that big a deal.

?As far as language assignments are concerned the best approach is to delegate. There will be more takers than you can imagine.

?Dont send assignments before time. They get lost.

?Maintain a personal copy of all your assignments (borrowed & original) and give it to your juniors without fail.

?Dont expect creature comforts beyond a limit

?Dont expect people and officers to be servile. North East is an egalitarian society

?Dont be disrespectful to tribal customs and traditions

Andaman & Nicobar

?Visit as many areas of your training district as possible

?Get acquainted with the activities related to tsunami relief and rehabilitation

?Visit as many of the scenic spots as possible

?Pursue entitlements like laptop, data card, mobile phone etc. with concerned officials

?Dont be overfriendly with your DM/DC and other officials and their relations

Chandigarh

?DC Office attachment

?Extra efforts to be expended for revenue training and village attachments

?Pay attention to Urban Planning and Management Issues

?Pay special attention to the problem of slums in Chandigarh

Puducherry

?Call on all senior officers (IAS, IPS) without fail

?Pay a courtesy visit to the offices of the PCS officers

?Meet DM/DC periodically

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

?Shri A. B Shukla, IAS ( Arunachal Pradesh)

?Shri P.S Lokhande, IAS (Arunachal Pradesh)

?Shri Ankur Garg, IAS (Arunachal Pradesh)

?Shri P.K Sain, IAS (Arunachal Pradesh)

?Shri Amjad Tak, IAS (Arunachal Pradesh)

?Shri Ashish More, IAS (Andaman & Nicobar)

?Smt. Niharika Rai, IAS (Chandigarh)

?Smt. Prerna Puri, IAS (Chandigarh)

?Shri Franklin Lalthinkhuma, IAS (Puducherry)

?Dr. Vasant Kumar, IAS (Puducherry)

?Shri D.C Sahoo, IAS (Puducherry)

?Even the state service officers are quite accessible and helpful. It is best to consult immediate seniors when some advice is needed.

Pecuniary Matters

?Liaise with the accounts officer in the DC Office for matters related to your pay.

?Claim your salary arrears as soon as you arrive.

?If you are claiming TTA be sure to produce bills for transport of belongings from Mussoorie to the place of district training.

?HRA deductions will be made in-case you decide to go in for government quarters

?TA/DA rates vary according to the territories. Acquaint yourself with Swamys Handbook and state specific rates.

?If service book is not started as a matter of practice be sure to take the initiative and pursue the matter with the P&AR Department and the Establishment Section of the DC Office.

?Obtain a pension account number under the NPS as soon as is possible.

?Tax deductions are generally made at the time of the financial year ending. Invest the income tax exemptible amount in a mutual fund, public provident fund, fixed deposit (5 years) to save some tax.

Leave Rules and Conventions

?Leave is generally not a problem.

?Keep your DC in the loop as far as leave related matters are concerned.

?Conversing with your DC about tricks of the trade could be enlightening.

First Impressions and Working Environment

ANDHRA PRADESHMutyalaraju Revu (Karimnagar, rmutyalaraju@gmail.com)Pausumi Basu (West Godavari, pausumi@gmail.com)

?General working environment is good in Andhra and Rayalseema regions. All records are properly maintained in the coastal districts

?It is not so good in Telengana region (Proper land records are not recorded and jamabandis are not done in the last three years here)

?People are generally aware of their rights and laws

Training Structure and Focus Areas

?Training is structured and participatory

?The following attachments should not be missed: 1)PD DRDA 2) PD DWMA, 3)DPO 4) CEO 5)ZP 6)Municipal Commissioner 7) VRO, RI and MRO 8) DM&HO 9) Agriculture JD

?Rest of the attachments like DIC, Animal Husbandry, JD, DEO, DCO etc. can be done in one or two days

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

?Call on District Judge, ADJ, SP and other AIS officers in the district

?Follow protocol strictly while sitting for meetings

?Follow protocol in the seating plan within vehicles and movement of convoy

?Try and tour as much as possible

?Respect RDOs, DRO, MROs and other officers. You can learn a lot from them

?Do not leave the district without informing the Collector

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

?Smt G. Jayalakshmi, IAS, Horticulture Commissioner

?Shri K.Raju, IAS, Principal Secretary, Rural Development

?Shri K.Sasidhar, IAS (2003 )

?Smt Yogita IAS (2003 )

?Shri Manick Raj IAS (2006 )

?Shri Ronald Rose, IAS (2006 )

Pecuniary Matters

?Make sure that TA/DA account is sanctioned from CCLA. Apply for TA/DA bills regularly.

?Initially, probationer can take advance money till he gets salary, because it takes time for salary to start. But once it starts, it is regular

?Contact Pay and Accounts Office to get your Last Pay Certificate

Leave Rules and Conventions

?Leave can vary from one day to one month. It is better to take permission of the Collector before proceeding on leave. Do not take leave too often.

?Often, if the Collector permits, there is no need to apply on paper for leave

Creature Comforts:

?It is easy to get the following:

Accomodation in a Quarters or Guest House

One cook, one Camp Clerk, one driver

One attendant and one A.C vehicle with a driver

One laptop

One mobile phone

One office room in the Collectorate

Interacting with the DC/DM

?Since the DM has his/her own problems, do not approach him/her for small problems. You can instead approach the SDMs or DRO.

?Meet your DM at least once in two days

?Study stock files and get your doubts cleared from the DM. This sends a strong signal that you are interested in training

Coping with Assignments

?First select a village and do your village assignment. Try and complete this by September

?Meet District Judge and get some IPC cases transferred to your court. Try at least six cases before December

?Do some revenue cases, CrPC cases and administrative enquiries before December

After Office- hours

?You can play badminton in the Revenue Club or other Officers Club

?Plan your marriage

?Concentrate on IT projects and try to improvise

I gained a lot of satisfaction by doing my bit to control suicides of

weavers as Special Officer in Sircilla and to distribute pattas to 22,000

people after regularising their unauthorised encroachments in

Ramagundam - Mutyalaraju Revu

First Impressions and Working Environment

ANDHRA PRADESHMutyalaraju Revu (Karimnagar, rmutyalaraju@gmail.com)Pausumi Basu (West Godavari, pausumi@gmail.com)

?General working environment is good in Andhra and Rayalseema regions. All records are properly maintained in the coastal districts

?It is not so good in Telengana region (Proper land records are not recorded and jamabandis are not done in the last three years here)

?People are generally aware of their rights and laws

Training Structure and Focus Areas

?Training is structured and participatory

?The following attachments should not be missed: 1)PD DRDA 2) PD DWMA, 3)DPO 4) CEO 5)ZP 6)Municipal Commissioner 7) VRO, RI and MRO 8) DM&HO 9) Agriculture JD

?Rest of the attachments like DIC, Animal Husbandry, JD, DEO, DCO etc. can be done in one or two days

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

?Call on District Judge, ADJ, SP and other AIS officers in the district

?Follow protocol strictly while sitting for meetings

?Follow protocol in the seating plan within vehicles and movement of convoy

?Try and tour as much as possible

?Respect RDOs, DRO, MROs and other officers. You can learn a lot from them

?Do not leave the district without informing the Collector

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

?Smt G. Jayalakshmi, IAS, Horticulture Commissioner

?Shri K.Raju, IAS, Principal Secretary, Rural Development

?Shri K.Sasidhar, IAS (2003 )

?Smt Yogita IAS (2003 )

?Shri Manick Raj IAS (2006 )

?Shri Ronald Rose, IAS (2006 )

Pecuniary Matters

?Make sure that TA/DA account is sanctioned from CCLA. Apply for TA/DA bills regularly.

?Initially, probationer can take advance money till he gets salary, because it takes time for salary to start. But once it starts, it is regular

?Contact Pay and Accounts Office to get your Last Pay Certificate

Leave Rules and Conventions

?Leave can vary from one day to one month. It is better to take permission of the Collector before proceeding on leave. Do not take leave too often.

?Often, if the Collector permits, there is no need to apply on paper for leave

Creature Comforts:

?It is easy to get the following:

Accomodation in a Quarters or Guest House

One cook, one Camp Clerk, one driver

One attendant and one A.C vehicle with a driver

One laptop

One mobile phone

One office room in the Collectorate

Interacting with the DC/DM

?Since the DM has his/her own problems, do not approach him/her for small problems. You can instead approach the SDMs or DRO.

?Meet your DM at least once in two days

?Study stock files and get your doubts cleared from the DM. This sends a strong signal that you are interested in training

Coping with Assignments

?First select a village and do your village assignment. Try and complete this by September

?Meet District Judge and get some IPC cases transferred to your court. Try at least six cases before December

?Do some revenue cases, CrPC cases and administrative enquiries before December

After Office- hours

?You can play badminton in the Revenue Club or other Officers Club

?Plan your marriage

?Concentrate on IT projects and try to improvise

I gained a lot of satisfaction by doing my bit to control suicides of

weavers as Special Officer in Sircilla and to distribute pattas to 22,000

people after regularising their unauthorised encroachments in

Ramagundam - Mutyalaraju Revu

First Impressions and Working Environment

ASSAM-MEGHALAYAAbhishek Bhagotia (North Lakhimpur, abhishekbhagotia@gmail.com)N.Geoffrey (Nagaon, gningthoujam@gmail.com)Vijay Kumar Mantri (Sibsagar, mantrivijaykumar@gmail.com)Virendra Mittal (Dibrugarh, virendra8@rediffmail.com)

?We went without any prejudices and enjoyed our training

?Working environment is good, though it is quite casual and people are generally friendly

?Bureaucracy is cohesive and socio-economic conditions are quite similar to those in states like UP and Bihar

?The pace of work is slow

?Files are invariably put up by assistants in Assamese

Training Structure and Focus Areas

?There is a well-structured training programme in the cadre, though it is ultimately the DC who decides the specific training inputs. Hence do whatever he/she wants you to do

?The schedule for attachments, though very tight, can prove to be a good guide about what to look out for in each attachment. If

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

?Learn as much as you can and enjoy your probation to the fullest

?Give due respect to all seniors, be they from an All India Service or otherwise. Their response to your training needs hinges critically on this

?Make good friends with all ACS officers of your district. They will generally not leave you alone in problems.

?Do not avoid taking up responsibilities during probation, as you can exercise authority without being held totally accountable for your mistakes. Seniors will always be willing to overlook your mistakes and correct them

?Do not be allergic towards addressing your seniors as Sir it pays in the long run

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

?Shri K.K. Dwivedi, IAS (1996)

?Shri G.D. Tripathi, IAS (1998)

?Shri. Ashutosh Agnihotri, IAS (1999)

?Shri Sanjay Goel, IAS (2004)

?Shri Anurag Agarwal, IPS

?Shri Anurag Singh, IFoS

?Shri Sarangpani Sharma, ACS

?For service related issues, contact dependable seniors in the IAS. For other problems, you should approach Addl. D.C.s who are generally ACS officers.

Pecuniary Matters

?Go to AG Office in Guwahati while you are in Guwahati for the ATI training and request them to expedite the preparation and despatch of your Pay Bill. Try and get the pay bill in your hand before leaving for the district

?As soon as you go to the district, meet the Finance and Accounts Officer and settle all your TA/DA bills and salary arrears.

?When applying for HRA, apply as Assistant Commissioner and not as IAS(P).

?Your TA/DA are determined by Assam Govt. Rules

?Get yourself a copy of Swamys handbook, since the accounts staff are not very well-versed and you will have to tell them the relevant rules.

?Be in touch with your immediate seniors

Leave Rules and Conventions

?This varies from DC to DC. Generally they are receptive to your requests for leave.

?Talk to your DC about what he used to do during his probation days this could be a pointer for you

Creature Comforts:

?Circuit House accommodation is provided, which is good in most districts

?In case you are not provided with a TV in the room, you could request the DC for it.

?The cooks in the Circuit House can be asked to make food according to your choice. Paying him periodic tips can ensure his loyalty and sincerity.

Interacting with the DC/DM

?Try to be a good listener and observer to understand the DC

?Talk to him/her, ascertain his/her priority areas in the district and try and get involved in these with prior permission

?Be very modest with the DC. Even if you have lots of talent, do

Coping with Assignments

?Do not go for daily diaries; instead go for analytical notes

?Be regular with your D.O letters. This is not so much for the marks awarded by the Academy, but your Secretary (Personnel) is constantly watching and assessing you. He stays in regular touch with your DC to ascertain your training progress

?For the village study assignment, consult your immediate seniors.

?Take up law cases as early as possible in your training, with your DCs permission.

?As long as you are carrying all the required data, you can complete the DAP/ESP once you reach the Academy

After Office- hours

During my BDO charge, I slapped a school headmaster and had a

tough time subsequently, negotiating with the Headmasters

Association. Elections taught me the tricks of fire-fighting with utmost

secrecy - Geoffrey

time is not a constraint, try and go through relevant files during each attachment.

?Normally, independent SDO(Civil) charge is not given; you can expect charge as Circle Officer

?Do not miss attachments with District Jail, SP and Police

?Since bifurcation of Assam and Meghalaya officers is done only at the end of district training, officers allotted to Meghalaya miss out on detailed exposure to the state, beyond the common one month Meghalaya attachment

not flaunt it

?Give advice/suggestions only when they are solicited, especially in official meetings

?Do keep your DC in good humour. Meet him daily until he says no to it

?Build up a good social circle in the district amongst ACS/APS, CRPF/Army/Assam Rifles officers.

?Accept party invitations; dont be a hopeless teetotaller!

?Wimax is there in all districts. So get a connection to your Circuit House Room for internet. Be good with NIC officers for all computer related favours.

?If you are single, try and fix up your marriage!

First Impressions and Working Environment

ASSAM-MEGHALAYAAbhishek Bhagotia (North Lakhimpur, abhishekbhagotia@gmail.com)N.Geoffrey (Nagaon, gningthoujam@gmail.com)Vijay Kumar Mantri (Sibsagar, mantrivijaykumar@gmail.com)Virendra Mittal (Dibrugarh, virendra8@rediffmail.com)

?We went without any prejudices and enjoyed our training

?Working environment is good, though it is quite casual and people are generally friendly

?Bureaucracy is cohesive and socio-economic conditions are quite similar to those in states like UP and Bihar

?The pace of work is slow

?Files are invariably put up by assistants in Assamese

Training Structure and Focus Areas

?There is a well-structured training programme in the cadre, though it is ultimately the DC who decides the specific training inputs. Hence do whatever he/she wants you to do

?The schedule for attachments, though very tight, can prove to be a good guide about what to look out for in each attachment. If

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

?Learn as much as you can and enjoy your probation to the fullest

?Give due respect to all seniors, be they from an All India Service or otherwise. Their response to your training needs hinges critically on this

?Make good friends with all ACS officers of your district. They will generally not leave you alone in problems.

?Do not avoid taking up responsibilities during probation, as you can exercise authority without being held totally accountable for your mistakes. Seniors will always be willing to overlook your mistakes and correct them

?Do not be allergic towards addressing your seniors as Sir it pays in the long run

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

?Shri K.K. Dwivedi, IAS (1996)

?Shri G.D. Tripathi, IAS (1998)

?Shri. Ashutosh Agnihotri, IAS (1999)

?Shri Sanjay Goel, IAS (2004)

?Shri Anurag Agarwal, IPS

?Shri Anurag Singh, IFoS

?Shri Sarangpani Sharma, ACS

?For service related issues, contact dependable seniors in the IAS. For other problems, you should approach Addl. D.C.s who are generally ACS officers.

Pecuniary Matters

?Go to AG Office in Guwahati while you are in Guwahati for the ATI training and request them to expedite the preparation and despatch of your Pay Bill. Try and get the pay bill in your hand before leaving for the district

?As soon as you go to the district, meet the Finance and Accounts Officer and settle all your TA/DA bills and salary arrears.

?When applying for HRA, apply as Assistant Commissioner and not as IAS(P).

?Your TA/DA are determined by Assam Govt. Rules

?Get yourself a copy of Swamys handbook, since the accounts staff are not very well-versed and you will have to tell them the relevant rules.

?Be in touch with your immediate seniors

Leave Rules and Conventions

?This varies from DC to DC. Generally they are receptive to your requests for leave.

?Talk to your DC about what he used to do during his probation days this could be a pointer for you

Creature Comforts:

?Circuit House accommodation is provided, which is good in most districts

?In case you are not provided with a TV in the room, you could request the DC for it.

?The cooks in the Circuit House can be asked to make food according to your choice. Paying him periodic tips can ensure his loyalty and sincerity.

Interacting with the DC/DM

?Try to be a good listener and observer to understand the DC

?Talk to him/her, ascertain his/her priority areas in the district and try and get involved in these with prior permission

?Be very modest with the DC. Even if you have lots of talent, do

Coping with Assignments

?Do not go for daily diaries; instead go for analytical notes

?Be regular with your D.O letters. This is not so much for the marks awarded by the Academy, but your Secretary (Personnel) is constantly watching and assessing you. He stays in regular touch with your DC to ascertain your training progress

?For the village study assignment, consult your immediate seniors.

?Take up law cases as early as possible in your training, with your DCs permission.

?As long as you are carrying all the required data, you can complete the DAP/ESP once you reach the Academy

After Office- hours

During my BDO charge, I slapped a school headmaster and had a

tough time subsequently, negotiating with the Headmasters

Association. Elections taught me the tricks of fire-fighting with utmost

secrecy - Geoffrey

time is not a constraint, try and go through relevant files during each attachment.

?Normally, independent SDO(Civil) charge is not given; you can expect charge as Circle Officer

?Do not miss attachments with District Jail, SP and Police

?Since bifurcation of Assam and Meghalaya officers is done only at the end of district training, officers allotted to Meghalaya miss out on detailed exposure to the state, beyond the common one month Meghalaya attachment

not flaunt it

?Give advice/suggestions only when they are solicited, especially in official meetings

?Do keep your DC in good humour. Meet him daily until he says no to it

?Build up a good social circle in the district amongst ACS/APS, CRPF/Army/Assam Rifles officers.

?Accept party invitations; dont be a hopeless teetotaller!

?Wimax is there in all districts. So get a connection to your Circuit House Room for internet. Be good with NIC officers for all computer related favours.

?If you are single, try and fix up your marriage!

First Impressions and Working Environment

BIHARDeepak Anand (Bhagalpur, dipaksitamarhi@gmail.com)Dr. Neeraj Kharwal (Jehanabad, neeraj.kharwal@gmail.com)Gopal Meena (Motihari, gopalmeena.ias@gmail.com)Jai Singh (Gaya, jaisinghsonu@gmail.com)Manoj Kumar (Gopalganj, manojkr81@gmail.com)Sanjay Kumar Singh (Muzzafarpur,sanjaysingh.ias@gmail.com)Vinod Singh Gunjiyal (Patna, vsgun2000@gmail.com)

?First impression is that its not a good cadre-there is excessive political interference. People were also apprehensive about our safety. After spending one year in the district, one realises that the cadre is good and people have a lot of faith and respect for an IAS officer

?Working environment is good

?Officers have a substantial degree of autonomy

?Systems are well entrenched

?Unlike other capital cities, Patna qualifies as a good training district (thanks to the efforts of Dr. B. Rajendra, IAS, 1995 batch) as long as you are prepared to be proactive

Training Structure and Focus Areas

?Attend all the meetings conducted by the DM atleast once

?Handle some of the files in the sections during attachments. Read the Citizens charter of each section

?Do your court work properly. Ensure that you handle atleast one encroachment and one certificate case

?Independent charge as BDO is the highlight. Make the most of it

?Read the basic State Acts and guidelines

?Go through the Dak in the office religiously

?The treasury training however, is excessively long and the duration can be easily reduced

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

?Call on ALL the seniors officers atleast once

?Sit with the Bada Babu of each section

?Check the cash book and bank reconciliation statements before taking any independent charge

?Call on the Accountant General

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

?Mr. Vivek Kumar, IAS (1989)

?Dr. B. Rajendra, IAS (1995)

?Mr. Ratn Sanjay, IPS (1998)

?Mr. Bala Murgan, IAS (2005)

?DG, BIPARD

Pecuniary Matters

?Go through the files of earlier probationers in the Sthapna section

?ADM(Establishment) is the key person

?Go through the booklet provided by BIPARD on powers of DDO and office procedures

?Keep in touch with some section officer in the AG office in order

Leave Rules and Conventions

?Leave depends on the District Magistrate, but is generally not a problem

?If you want a long leave (earned leave) or during independent charge, apply in a formal way

Creature Comforts:

?Accommodation is provided in the Circuit house. There is no need to pay in the Circuit house, but you cant claim HRA

?Vehicle (Tata SUMO) is easily available

?Food in the Circuit House is tolerable

?You are also provided a bodyguard and peon

Interacting with the DC/DM

?Dont pester him too much. Be a silent observer

?Be polite and courteous to him and try and read his mind

?Accompany him on tours

?Discuss personal issues with him as and when required

Coping with Assignments

?At the very beginning, read the district training manual carefully so that you remain vigilant enough to grasp and document any opportunity/situation that you observe during the training period

?Else, solicit the help of your seniors.

After Office- hours

An enterprising lady Block Pramukh had made life hell for all previous

BDOs in a particular block. On assuming BDOship of this particular

block, she tried to extract favours out of me and get cuts in the block

developmental projects. When persuasion and coercion didnt work, she

resorted to threats and started maligning my character. Thanks to the

support of my DM, I succeeded in falsifying her allegations and putting

her behind bars.- Gopal Meena

?Play games with the DM, SP, IPS/BPS probationer

?If in Patna, utilise the facilities of the Secretariat Sports Club and Patna Club. Even the Circuit house has a gym and a Table tennis table

?Listen to music, watch TV

?Interact with your batch mates

to sort out any confusions

?Maintain a file to record details of each months salary, TA/DA, etc.

First Impressions and Working Environment

BIHARDeepak Anand (Bhagalpur, dipaksitamarhi@gmail.com)Dr. Neeraj Kharwal (Jehanabad, neeraj.kharwal@gmail.com)Gopal Meena (Motihari, gopalmeena.ias@gmail.com)Jai Singh (Gaya, jaisinghsonu@gmail.com)Manoj Kumar (Gopalganj, manojkr81@gmail.com)Sanjay Kumar Singh (Muzzafarpur,sanjaysingh.ias@gmail.com)Vinod Singh Gunjiyal (Patna, vsgun2000@gmail.com)

?First impression is that its not a good cadre-there is excessive political interference. People were also apprehensive about our safety. After spending one year in the district, one realises that the cadre is good and people have a lot of faith and respect for an IAS officer

?Working environment is good

?Officers have a substantial degree of autonomy

?Systems are well entrenched

?Unlike other capital cities, Patna qualifies as a good training district (thanks to the efforts of Dr. B. Rajendra, IAS, 1995 batch) as long as you are prepared to be proactive

Training Structure and Focus Areas

?Attend all the meetings conducted by the DM atleast once

?Handle some of the files in the sections during attachments. Read the Citizens charter of each section

?Do your court work properly. Ensure that you handle atleast one encroachment and one certificate case

?Independent charge as BDO is the highlight. Make the most of it

?Read the basic State Acts and guidelines

?Go through the Dak in the office religiously

?The treasury training however, is excessively long and the duration can be easily reduced

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

?Call on ALL the seniors officers atleast once

?Sit with the Bada Babu of each section

?Check the cash book and bank reconciliation statements before taking any independent charge

?Call on the Accountant General

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

?Mr. Vivek Kumar, IAS (1989)

?Dr. B. Rajendra, IAS (1995)

?Mr. Ratn Sanjay, IPS (1998)

?Mr. Bala Murgan, IAS (2005)

?DG, BIPARD

Pecuniary Matters

?Go through the files of earlier probationers in the Sthapna section

?ADM(Establishment) is the key person

?Go through the booklet provided by BIPARD on powers of DDO and office procedures

?Keep in touch with some section officer in the AG office in order

Leave Rules and Conventions

?Leave depends on the District Magistrate, but is generally not a problem

?If you want a long leave (earned leave) or during independent charge, apply in a formal way

Creature Comforts:

?Accommodation is provided in the Circuit house. There is no need to pay in the Circuit house, but you cant claim HRA

?Vehicle (Tata SUMO) is easily available

?Food in the Circuit House is tolerable

?You are also provided a bodyguard and peon

Interacting with the DC/DM

?Dont pester him too much. Be a silent observer

?Be polite and courteous to him and try and read his mind

?Accompany him on tours

?Discuss personal issues with him as and when required

Coping with Assignments

?At the very beginning, read the district training manual carefully so that you remain vigilant enough to grasp and document any opportunity/situation that you observe during the training period

?Else, solicit the help of your seniors.

After Office- hours

An enterprising lady Block Pramukh had made life hell for all previous

BDOs in a particular block. On assuming BDOship of this particular

block, she tried to extract favours out of me and get cuts in the block

developmental projects. When persuasion and coercion didnt work, she

resorted to threats and started maligning my character. Thanks to the

support of my DM, I succeeded in falsifying her allegations and putting

her behind bars.- Gopal Meena

?Play games with the DM, SP, IPS/BPS probationer

?If in Patna, utilise the facilities of the Secretariat Sports Club and Patna Club. Even the Circuit house has a gym and a Table tennis table

?Listen to music, watch TV

?Interact with your batch mates

to sort out any confusions

?Maintain a file to record details of each months salary, TA/DA, etc.

First Impressions and Working Environment

CHATTISGARHBasavaraju S. (Rajnandgaon, bbenaka@gmail.com)Him Shikar Gupta (Kawardha, himshikhargupta@gmail.com)K.C. Devasenapathi (Bilaspur, kc_deva@rediffmail.com)Mohammad Qaiser Abdulhaque (Kanker, mqadbulhaque@yahoo.com)Shammi Abidi (Raipur, shammiabidi@gmail.com) Yashwant Kumar (Sarguja, yashwant_ias@rediffmail.com)

?There were loads of apprehensions to start with- Naxalism, backwardness, poverty, etc. Most of them proved to be unfounded at the end of the year. Naxalism is an issue, but one gets used to it

?There is immense to scope to do welfare work for the tribals

?The hierarchy is strict and formal.

?Since there is a paucity of officers, be prepared to hold substantial independent charges (including that of SDM) during probation itself

?It is as good or as bad as any mainland north Indian cadre. The legacy of Madhya Pradesh continues

Training Structure and Focus Areas

?Training is not well structured; the ATI doesnt have much of a role

?Do not miss out on revenue training, independent charges as prescribed, meetings called by the Collector (especially Time Limit meetings)

?It would be advisable to complete all attachments to get a holistic view of the administrative setup

?Be prepared for independent charges during the second half of your training

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

?Complete all important attachments like police, finance, judiciary, treasury, municipal corporation, tribal section, etc. before you take up independent charges

?Try to call on as many senior officers as possible

?Learn as much as you can by observing and travelling

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

?Mr. Vikas Sheel, IAS (1994 )

?Mr. Subodh Kumar Singh, IAS (1997 )

? Mr. Amit Kataria, IAS (2004 )

?Mr. O.P. Choudhary, IAS (2005 )

?Mr. Rajat Kumar, IAS (2005 )

?Mr. Arif Sheikh, IPS (2005 )

?Ms. Shruti Singh, IAS (2006 )

Pecuniary Matters

?Tax planning needs personal attention- consult a professional tax consultant

?There is no need to worry about salary and allowance related issues- they get sorted out

?Remember to claim the tribal allowance of Rs.300 in tribal areas

Leave Rules and Conventions

?Granting of leave depends on the DM

?It is better to ask for leave in the second half of training

?The best way is to ask for leave for a few days and then extend it afterwards!

?French leave is possible in some cases

Creature Comforts:

?Accommodation is easily available. Cook, peon, etc can also be managed

?The type of facilities available differs from district to district

?One easily gets a vehicle (even an A/C one)-generally a Bolero. In Bilaspur and Raipur, an Ambassador is given

?For South Indians, food is a bit problematic, if not accustomed to North Indian cuisine

Interacting with the DC/DM

?Be a silent observer

?It will pay to keep him/her in good humour, he/she will be more than willing to share his experiences with you

?You can request the DC to give independent charge when you feel you are prepared

Coping with Assignments

?Punctuality is rewarded-matter (content) doesnt matter so much

?Get hold of your seniors assignments and use them as guides

After Office- hours

Observing two elections, back to back, in a Naxal infested district was

quite an experience. One of the polling booths was in an area which was

so completely dominated by Naxals that any outsider venturing into it

was greeted with a hail of bullets. In such a scenario, there was no way

the polling party could go there and bogus voting (with equal votes to

each candidate) was resorted to. When the Election Commission found

out, it ordered re-polling. Three futile and unsuccessful repolls later, the

Commission finally decided to shift the location of the polling station to

a non-naxal area! - Mohammad Qaiser Abdulhaque

?Generally, most of the districts have an Officers Club-join it asap.

?Read books, listen to music, watch movies

?Getting trained in the capital (Raipur) is problematic as nobody has time

First Impressions and Working Environment

CHATTISGARHBasavaraju S. (Rajnandgaon, bbenaka@gmail.com)Him Shikar Gupta (Kawardha, himshikhargupta@gmail.com)K.C. Devasenapathi (Bilaspur, kc_deva@rediffmail.com)Mohammad Qaiser Abdulhaque (Kanker, mqadbulhaque@yahoo.com)Shammi Abidi (Raipur, shammiabidi@gmail.com) Yashwant Kumar (Sarguja, yashwant_ias@rediffmail.com)

?There were loads of apprehensions to start with- Naxalism, backwardness, poverty, etc. Most of them proved to be unfounded at the end of the year. Naxalism is an issue, but one gets used to it

?There is immense to scope to do welfare work for the tribals

?The hierarchy is strict and formal.

?Since there is a paucity of officers, be prepared to hold substantial independent charges (including that of SDM) during probation itself

?It is as good or as bad as any mainland north Indian cadre. The legacy of Madhya Pradesh continues

Training Structure and Focus Areas

?Training is not well structured; the ATI doesnt have much of a role

?Do not miss out on revenue training, independent charges as prescribed, meetings called by the Collector (especially Time Limit meetings)

?It would be advisable to complete all attachments to get a holistic view of the administrative setup

?Be prepared for independent charges during the second half of your training

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

?Complete all important attachments like police, finance, judiciary, treasury, municipal corporation, tribal section, etc. before you take up independent charges

?Try to call on as many senior officers as possible

?Learn as much as you can by observing and travelling

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

?Mr. Vikas Sheel, IAS (1994 )

?Mr. Subodh Kumar Singh, IAS (1997 )

? Mr. Amit Kataria, IAS (2004 )

?Mr. O.P. Choudhary, IAS (2005 )

?Mr. Rajat Kumar, IAS (2005 )

?Mr. Arif Sheikh, IPS (2005 )

?Ms. Shruti Singh, IAS (2006 )

Pecuniary Matters

?Tax planning needs personal attention- consult a professional tax consultant

?There is no need to worry about salary and allowance related issues- they get sorted out

?Remember to claim the tribal allowance of Rs.300 in tribal areas

Leave Rules and Conventions

?Granting of leave depends on the DM

?It is better to ask for leave in the second half of training

?The best way is to ask for leave for a few days and then extend it afterwards!

?French leave is possible in some cases

Creature Comforts:

?Accommodation is easily available. Cook, peon, etc can also be managed

?The type of facilities available differs from district to district

?One easily gets a vehicle (even an A/C one)-generally a Bolero. In Bilaspur and Raipur, an Ambassador is given

?For South Indians, food is a bit problematic, if not accustomed to North Indian cuisine

Interacting with the DC/DM

?Be a silent observer

?It will pay to keep him/her in good humour, he/she will be more than willing to share his experiences with you

?You can request the DC to give independent charge when you feel you are prepared

Coping with Assignments

?Punctuality is rewarded-matter (content) doesnt matter so much

?Get hold of your seniors assignments and use them as guides

After Office- hours

Observing two elections, back to back, in a Naxal infested district was

quite an experience. One of the polling booths was in an area which was

so completely dominated by Naxals that any outsider venturing into it

was greeted with a hail of bullets. In such a scenario, there was no way

the polling party could go there and bogus voting (with equal votes to

each candidate) was resorted to. When the Election Commission found

out, it ordered re-polling. Three futile and unsuccessful repolls later, the

Commission finally decided to shift the location of the polling station to

a non-naxal area! - Mohammad Qaiser Abdulhaque

?Generally, most of the districts have an Officers Club-join it asap.

?Read books, listen to music, watch movies

?Getting trained in the capital (Raipur) is problematic as nobody has time

First Impressions and Working Environment

GUJARATArdra Agarwal (Bharuch, ardra22@gmail.com)Dilip Kumar Rana (Banaskantha, deelip_rana@yahoo.com)Ravi Shankar (Mehsana, ravi.ias@nic.in)Remya Mohan (Valsad, remyalara@gmail.com)Sandip Sagale (Junagadh, sandipsagale@gmail.com)

?Simplicity of the people is the first thing that strikes you-the people are welcoming and friendly

?Systematic and well-set administrative structure

?Officer-oriented functioning with a large multi-tasking burden formally placed on all Class-I officers

?The hierarchy is not very strict and rigid. From the seniormost to the junior most levels, there is a lot of interaction and seniors are very accessible and open to problems and concerns of the juniors. It is in essence a very informal cadre

?Corporate style of functioning with parts of the office starting by 9 and going on till night time

?A large number of development theme based functions and festivals are run by government in the form of mahotsavs and yatras.

?Close links exist between administration and corporate world

Training Structure and Focus Areas

?Language grasp and understanding revenue and law and order issues from SDM perspective is a must do.

?Understanding village forms is essential

?All independent charges must be exercised earnestly as they are great learning opportunities

?One should maintain a low profile and good relationships with all officers in district of All India and State Services as far as possible.

?One should never throw weight around unless actually pushed to the brink. In Gujarat, humility is highly respected and the culture is that of getting respect only if one gives it to any other person irrespective of any other criteria.

?All attachments are not useful unless the officer one is attached with is interested in training. So, after a few days, if it is obvious that the attachment is giving no results, one can try to involve oneself in something more productive with the permission of the collector.

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

?Do spend maximum time under the guidance and leadership of the collector and try to get independent assignments from him/her.

?Never try to take decisions without consulting the collector or do things which the collector has explicitly asked you to stay away from.

?Do call on all senior officers

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

?Mr. I.P. Gautam, IAS (1984)

?Mr. B.B. Swain, IAS (1988)-Director General of the ATI (SPIPA). In case of any difficulties in Ahmedabad, you can approach him.

?Mrs. Anita Karwal, IAS (1988)

? Mr. Ashwini Kumar, IAS (1997)

?Mr. Ajay Bhadoo, IAS (1999)

?Mrs. Arti Kanwar, IAS (2001)

?In the case of Valsad, either the Collector, Mr.R.B. Dave or the Resident Deputy Collector and A.D.M, Mr.Gunwant Sinh Solanki can be approached.

Pecuniary Matters

?Claim TA for travel from Mussoorie as soon as possible before it lapses.

?Submit Bharat Darshan bills well in time.

?Medical bills cannot be reimbursed. One gets a regular Rs.100 per month.

?Regularly get train tickets and accommodation bills for official purposes reimbursed.

?Be in touch with the Account Section head of the Collectorate regarding entitlements, increments

?Maintain a regular file of copies of bills etc

Leave Rules and Conventions

?This largely depends on the Collector. However, when there are situations of exigency, Elections or other Government programs, it is a regular practice in Gujarat for leave to be banned. In such situations, leave is granted only in case of extremely urgent situations.

?It is best to be frank with the Collector and discuss ones problems in order to take leave.

Creature Comforts:

?Food in the Circuit house is rather unpalatable (but beyond a point, one gets used to that as well) and eating out regularly is also not a good option as generally, there is high oil content and lots of sugar.

?While in office, generally food is provided by the officers with whom we are attached or by the Collector.

?If one is inclined, it is best to try for a quarter through the Collector or Resident Deputy Collector and start cooking as soon as possible. An application has to be filed with the Roads and Building Executive Engineer in order to get a quarter.

?Provision of facilities such as a cook, vehicle etc solely depends on the discretion of the collector or the Resident Deputy Collector. However, the basic needs such as pick up and drop to and from office, vehicle for touring and other matters are always taken care of.

?A lot of these matters depend on the relationship maintained between the probationer and the other officers.

?But, during independent charge, one always gets the vehicle allotted to the officer whose charge you are temporarily holding.

Interacting with the DC/DM

?Keep an open mind regarding direct recruit and state service officers, keep no preconceived notions about either

?It is just about understanding the nature and priorities of the person and fitting in to his/her scheme of things without being a hindrance

?The probationer is a very good sounding board for the DC in many cases. This is a very good learning opportunity for the probationer.

?Travelling with the Collector can be a good learning opportunity

?Be friendly and pleasant, without overdoing it.

?Officers are highly respected by and also in turn give respect to MLAs, MPs and Ministers

?District Administration is an event management set up in nature which also administers.

?Accommodation at ATI is reasonably good with all creature comforts provided for by Government standards. However, the food is oily and the staff is scarce leading to unreturned calls for tea or other such essentials

First Impressions and Working Environment

GUJARATArdra Agarwal (Bharuch, ardra22@gmail.com)Dilip Kumar Rana (Banaskantha, deelip_rana@yahoo.com)Ravi Shankar (Mehsana, ravi.ias@nic.in)Remya Mohan (Valsad, remyalara@gmail.com)Sandip Sagale (Junagadh, sandipsagale@gmail.com)

?Simplicity of the people is the first thing that strikes you-the people are welcoming and friendly

?Systematic and well-set administrative structure

?Officer-oriented functioning with a large multi-tasking burden formally placed on all Class-I officers

?The hierarchy is not very strict and rigid. From the seniormost to the junior most levels, there is a lot of interaction and seniors are very accessible and open to problems and concerns of the juniors. It is in essence a very informal cadre

?Corporate style of functioning with parts of the office starting by 9 and going on till night time

?A large number of development theme based functions and festivals are run by government in the form of mahotsavs and yatras.

?Close links exist between administration and corporate world

Training Structure and Focus Areas

?Language grasp and understanding revenue and law and order issues from SDM perspective is a must do.

?Understanding village forms is essential

?All independent charges must be exercised earnestly as they are great learning opportunities

?One should maintain a low profile and good relationships with all officers in district of All India and State Services as far as possible.

?One should never throw weight around unless actually pushed to the brink. In Gujarat, humility is highly respected and the culture is that of getting respect only if one gives it to any other person irrespective of any other criteria.

?All attachments are not useful unless the officer one is attached with is interested in training. So, after a few days, if it is obvious that the attachment is giving no results, one can try to involve oneself in something more productive with the permission of the collector.

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

?Do spend maximum time under the guidance and leadership of the collector and try to get independent assignments from him/her.

?Never try to take decisions without consulting the collector or do things which the collector has explicitly asked you to stay away from.

?Do call on all senior officers

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

?Mr. I.P. Gautam, IAS (1984)

?Mr. B.B. Swain, IAS (1988)-Director General of the ATI (SPIPA). In case of any difficulties in Ahmedabad, you can approach him.

?Mrs. Anita Karwal, IAS (1988)

? Mr. Ashwini Kumar, IAS (1997)

?Mr. Ajay Bhadoo, IAS (1999)

?Mrs. Arti Kanwar, IAS (2001)

?In the case of Valsad, either the Collector, Mr.R.B. Dave or the Resident Deputy Collector and A.D.M, Mr.Gunwant Sinh Solanki can be approached.

Pecuniary Matters

?Claim TA for travel from Mussoorie as soon as possible before it lapses.

?Submit Bharat Darshan bills well in time.

?Medical bills cannot be reimbursed. One gets a regular Rs.100 per month.

?Regularly get train tickets and accommodation bills for official purposes reimbursed.

?Be in touch with the Account Section head of the Collectorate regarding entitlements, increments

?Maintain a regular file of copies of bills etc

Leave Rules and Conventions

?This largely depends on the Collector. However, when there are situations of exigency, Elections or other Government programs, it is a regular practice in Gujarat for leave to be banned. In such situations, leave is granted only in case of extremely urgent situations.

?It is best to be frank with the Collector and discuss ones problems in order to take leave.

Creature Comforts:

?Food in the Circuit house is rather unpalatable (but beyond a point, one gets used to that as well) and eating out regularly is also not a good option as generally, there is high oil content and lots of sugar.

?While in office, generally food is provided by the officers with whom we are attached or by the Collector.

?If one is inclined, it is best to try for a quarter through the Collector or Resident Deputy Collector and start cooking as soon as possible. An application has to be filed with the Roads and Building Executive Engineer in order to get a quarter.

?Provision of facilities such as a cook, vehicle etc solely depends on the discretion of the collector or the Resident Deputy Collector. However, the basic needs such as pick up and drop to and from office, vehicle for touring and other matters are always taken care of.

?A lot of these matters depend on the relationship maintained between the probationer and the other officers.

?But, during independent charge, one always gets the vehicle allotted to the officer whose charge you are temporarily holding.

Interacting with the DC/DM

?Keep an open mind regarding direct recruit and state service officers, keep no preconceived notions about either

?It is just about understanding the nature and priorities of the person and fitting in to his/her scheme of things without being a hindrance

?The probationer is a very good sounding board for the DC in many cases. This is a very good learning opportunity for the probationer.

?Travelling with the Collector can be a good learning opportunity

?Be friendly and pleasant, without overdoing it.

?Officers are highly respected by and also in turn give respect to MLAs, MPs and Ministers

?District Administration is an event management set up in nature which also administers.

?Accommodation at ATI is reasonably good with all creature comforts provided for by Government standards. However, the food is oily and the staff is scarce leading to unreturned calls for tea or other such essentials

Coping with Assignments

?Village study assignment is the most painful and unproductive of the lot. It really needs to be re-designed. Try and finish it off during the T.D.O independent spell.

?The history of land reforms component in the land reforms study (part of village study) is common for each year. It is still unclear why probationers year after year are asked to compile it afresh when it is a static piece of data. Please procure it from senior batches who have served in the same district.

?Maintain at least two to three lines of a daily diary so that sending it at the end of the month (or year) does not mean weekends and holidays lost slogging over a laptop.

?Space out the projects throughout the year so that they all dont end up burdening you at the end of probation when you need time to pack up and go home.

?Choose District Assignments and Experience Sharing Presentations with care and make sure you have interest in the topic. Otherwise, it will be difficult to handle questions later when presenting it in front of your batch in the academy.

After Office- hours

?Develop a good social circle with suitable officers and their families

?Bring family over to stay with you, as in probation, it is easier to manage time and spend time with them

?Try not to get in a rut by pursuing whatever hobbies and interests you had before joining service.

?If you are an outsider, make it a point to spend some time at least on weekends with a vernacular newspaper

?In Bharuch, one can play/work out in the Sports Complex situated in GNFC township

We were once travelling to Baroda during our state darshan in a Lal

Batti Innova. Half an hour into the journey we were stopped by a

couple of bystanders who wanted a lift. On being told that we were IAS

probationers on an official journey, they assured us that they would

pay for the trip and enquired Which company do you people work

for?!

Coping with Assignments

?Village study assignment is the most painful and unproductive of the lot. It really needs to be re-designed. Try and finish it off during the T.D.O independent spell.

?The history of land reforms component in the land reforms study (part of village study) is common for each year. It is still unclear why probationers year after year are asked to compile it afresh when it is a static piece of data. Please procure it from senior batches who have served in the same district.

?Maintain at least two to three lines of a daily diary so that sending it at the end of the month (or year) does not mean weekends and holidays lost slogging over a laptop.

?Space out the projects throughout the year so that they all dont end up burdening you at the end of probation when you need time to pack up and go home.

?Choose District Assignments and Experience Sharing Presentations with care and make sure you have interest in the topic. Otherwise, it will be difficult to handle questions later when presenting it in front of your batch in the academy.

After Office- hours

?Develop a good social circle with suitable officers and their families

?Bring family over to stay with you, as in probation, it is easier to manage time and spend time with them

?Try not to get in a rut by pursuing whatever hobbies and interests you had before joining service.

?If you are an outsider, make it a point to spend some time at least on weekends with a vernacular newspaper

?In Bharuch, one can play/work out in the Sports Complex situated in GNFC township

We were once travelling to Baroda during our state darshan in a Lal

Batti Innova. Half an hour into the journey we were stopped by a

couple of bystanders who wanted a lift. On being told that we were IAS

probationers on an official journey, they assured us that they would

pay for the trip and enquired Which company do you people work

for?!

First Impressions and Working Environment

HARYANAAtul Kumar Dwivedi (Faridabad, atulkrdwivedi@gmail.com)Dusmanta Kumar Behera (Rohtak, b_dusmanta@yahoo.co.in)Makarand Khetmalis (Hissar, just.makarand@gmail.com)Mona P. Sreenivas, 2006 Batch (Hissar, Mahendragarh, monapruthi@gmail.com)

?First impressions were good and only kept improving during training

?Positive work environment

?Officers from other states are respected and seen as more impartial

?Camp office culture is prevalent

?The cadre is really appreciative of good work.

?Being a small cadre, there is a close-knit relationship between seniors and juniors in the service.

?The working of the bureaucracy has a tendency to revolve around the Chief Minister

?Since routine work is not very pressing, newer initiatives that are off the beaten track can be taken up

Training Structure and Focus Areas

?Training at HIPA is not very productive.

?Inputs on local laws and the Haryana Darshan are very good; inputs on Haryana are inadequate

?Several independent charges are given. Do ask for a month of SDO (Civil) charge

?Focus on your revenue training

?Get week long attachments with other departments reduced to a day or two

?Try and work on some independent project

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

?Attend all informal gatherings; these can teach a lot about the society and culture of the state

?Call on all senior officers in the Secretariat

?Maintain good relations with the HCS officers. Some of them are very knowledgeable

?Be careful of what you speak. It is a very small cadre, so spoken words and reputation travels far and fast.

?Learn to respect the local traditions and culture

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

?Shri R.S Doon, IAS (DPS to CM)

?Shri P.C Meena, IAS ( DC, Rohtak)

?Divisional Commissioner

?Special Secretary (Personnel)

?Officers of 2001 batch onwards are generally receptive and friendly

Pecuniary Matters

?Take the help of the Nazir and the Dealing Assistant in the Establishment section.

?Join in the district as fast as possible. This will ensure that you get your salary and other dues in time.

?Getting any bill cleared in Ambala is generally a big problem. Circumvent it

Leave Rules and Conventions

?Leave depends entirely on the DC. Normally you can expect ten days of leave.

?Tactic of asking for leave is dependent on the nature of your DC. You can always try out repeated polite requests and excuses that cannot be denied

?Do not disappear from the district without informing the DC

Creature Comforts:

?Accommodation is provided in the PWD Guest House (try and capture an AC room) or a house ( in case you have your family with you). Accommodation can be a problem in places like Gurgaon

?You can expect a Bolero at the least to be at your disposal

?Food is never a problem

?For other creature comforts, you can always tap the resources of the ADC

Interacting with the DC/DM

?See the DC at least once every day

?Ask him/her to entrust a project like SSA with you

?Do take a look at his/her file notings closely

?You can learn something even from a bad boss

?Request him/her to mark files/enquiries to you

?Find the right time and place to discuss your problems with the DC

Coping with Assignments

?Start off an assignment early on

?Solicit the help of an English-knowing Panchayat Secretary for the Village Study

?Try and send off all assignments from the district so that you have no burden of work during Phase II. But do keep a copy for yourself because they tend to get misplaced in the Academy

?Dig out old reports, especially by NGOs in your district for help in writing assignments

After Office- hours

?Call on officers in other districts

?Read up on state laws

?Use sports facilities

?Get married

?Never miss any party

?The cadre also encourages officers to go on training programmes

First Impressions and Working Environment

HARYANAAtul Kumar Dwivedi (Faridabad, atulkrdwivedi@gmail.com)Dusmanta Kumar Behera (Rohtak, b_dusmanta@yahoo.co.in)Makarand Khetmalis (Hissar, just.makarand@gmail.com)Mona P. Sreenivas, 2006 Batch (Hissar, Mahendragarh, monapruthi@gmail.com)

?First impressions were good and only kept improving during training

?Positive work environment

?Officers from other states are respected and seen as more impartial

?Camp office culture is prevalent

?The cadre is really appreciative of good work.

?Being a small cadre, there is a close-knit relationship between seniors and juniors in the service.

?The working of the bureaucracy has a tendency to revolve around the Chief Minister

?Since routine work is not very pressing, newer initiatives that are off the beaten track can be taken up

Training Structure and Focus Areas

?Training at HIPA is not very productive.

?Inputs on local laws and the Haryana Darshan are very good; inputs on Haryana are inadequate

?Several independent charges are given. Do ask for a month of SDO (Civil) charge

?Focus on your revenue training

?Get week long attachments with other departments reduced to a day or two

?Try and work on some independent project

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

?Attend all informal gatherings; these can teach a lot about the society and culture of the state

?Call on all senior officers in the Secretariat

?Maintain good relations with the HCS officers. Some of them are very knowledgeable

?Be careful of what you speak. It is a very small cadre, so spoken words and reputation travels far and fast.

?Learn to respect the local traditions and culture

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

?Shri R.S Doon, IAS (DPS to CM)

?Shri P.C Meena, IAS ( DC, Rohtak)

?Divisional Commissioner

?Special Secretary (Personnel)

?Officers of 2001 batch onwards are generally receptive and friendly

Pecuniary Matters

?Take the help of the Nazir and the Dealing Assistant in the Establishment section.

?Join in the district as fast as possible. This will ensure that you get your salary and other dues in time.

?Getting any bill cleared in Ambala is generally a big problem. Circumvent it

Leave Rules and Conventions

?Leave depends entirely on the DC. Normally you can expect ten days of leave.

?Tactic of asking for leave is dependent on the nature of your DC. You can always try out repeated polite requests and excuses that cannot be denied

?Do not disappear from the district without informing the DC

Creature Comforts:

?Accommodation is provided in the PWD Guest House (try and capture an AC room) or a house ( in case you have your family with you). Accommodation can be a problem in places like Gurgaon

?You can expect a Bolero at the least to be at your disposal

?Food is never a problem

?For other creature comforts, you can always tap the resources of the ADC

Interacting with the DC/DM

?See the DC at least once every day

?Ask him/her to entrust a project like SSA with you

?Do take a look at his/her file notings closely

?You can learn something even from a bad boss

?Request him/her to mark files/enquiries to you

?Find the right time and place to discuss your problems with the DC

Coping with Assignments

?Start off an assignment early on

?Solicit the help of an English-knowing Panchayat Secretary for the Village Study

?Try and send off all assignments from the district so that you have no burden of work during Phase II. But do keep a copy for yourself because they tend to get misplaced in the Academy

?Dig out old reports, especially by NGOs in your district for help in writing assignments

After Office- hours

?Call on officers in other districts

?Read up on state laws

?Use sports facilities

?Get married

?Never miss any party

?The cadre also encourages officers to go on training programmes

First Impressions and Working Environment

HIMACHAL PRADESHShainamol A. (Kangra, shainaias@gmail.com)

?I was told by seniors that HP is a very peaceful state, an informal cadre with a good working environment and very little political interference. Everything except the last was proved to be correct. There is a lot of political interference, however criminalisation of politics has yet not happened.

?There are lots of areas in which you can work without any interference from outside agencies. However, if you disturb anyones vested interest, you will start getting calls from above

Training Structure and Focus Areas

?The training programme is very well-structured in Kangra, since it is a traditional training district

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

?During the first two weeks of training, you will be attached to HIPA and the main task during this period is to call on Secretaries. Make full use of it , since everyone will be very affectionate and considerate to you as the juniormost officer of the cadre. This is the best time to establish good relations with your senior colleagues in the cadre.

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

?Most of the officers are approachable. My DC, Mr. Kamlesh Pant, was very supportive.

?Ms. Mamta, IAS (2004)

?Ms. Meera Mohanti (2005)

Pecuniary Matters

?All money matters are routed through the ATI and therefore you will not have much of a problem

Leave Rules and Conventions

?During probation, it is easy to get leave. If you complete your assignments well in time, there will not be any problem in taking leave.

Creature Comforts:

?In Kangra, there is a single room that has traditionally been earmarked for the probationers with a small kitchen attached to it.

?With regard to other amenities, it will be advisable not to go with any great expectations

Interacting with the DC/DM

?Be polite to your DC and try to develop a good personal equation with him/her from day one.

?You should periodically brief your DC about your training

Coping with Assignments

?In the initial months of training, you will have plenty of time at your disposal. The only time when you will be busy is when you start handling independent charges. So, prepare a schedule and fix a time line for the completion of the assignments

After Office- hours

?In Kangra, there is a police ground near the place where you stay. The Dhauladhar Range looks amazing from there. There are badminton and volleyball courts as well. You can make use of them.

First Impressions and Working Environment

HIMACHAL PRADESHShainamol A. (Kangra, shainaias@gmail.com)

?I was told by seniors that HP is a very peaceful state, an informal cadre with a good working environment and very little political interference. Everything except the last was proved to be correct. There is a lot of political interference, however criminalisation of politics has yet not happened.

?There are lots of areas in which you can work without any interference from outside agencies. However, if you disturb anyones vested interest, you will start getting calls from above

Training Structure and Focus Areas

?The training programme is very well-structured in Kangra, since it is a traditional training district

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

?During the first two weeks of training, you will be attached to HIPA and the main task during this period is to call on Secretaries. Make full use of it , since everyone will be very affectionate and considerate to you as the juniormost officer of the cadre. This is the best time to establish good relations with your senior colleagues in the cadre.

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

?Most of the officers are approachable. My DC, Mr. Kamlesh Pant, was very supportive.

?Ms. Mamta, IAS (2004)

?Ms. Meera Mohanti (2005)

Pecuniary Matters

?All money matters are routed through the ATI and therefore you will not have much of a problem

Leave Rules and Conventions

?During probation, it is easy to get leave. If you complete your assignments well in time, there will not be any problem in taking leave.

Creature Comforts:

?In Kangra, there is a single room that has traditionally been earmarked for the probationers with a small kitchen attached to it.

?With regard to other amenities, it will be advisable not to go with any great expectations

Interacting with the DC/DM

?Be polite to your DC and try to develop a good personal equation with him/her from day one.

?You should periodically brief your DC about your training

Coping with Assignments

?In the initial months of training, you will have plenty of time at your disposal. The only time when you will be busy is when you start handling independent charges. So, prepare a schedule and fix a time line for the completion of the assignments

After Office- hours

?In Kangra, there is a police ground near the place where you stay. The Dhauladhar Range looks amazing from there. There are badminton and volleyball courts as well. You can make use of them.

First Impressions and Working Environment

JAMMU & KASHMIRYasha Mudgal (Reasi, ryasha.k@gmail.com)

?Since J&K is perceived as a negative cadre I was a little apprehensive about it initially but at the same time, I was quite excited to go and see for myself as to what are the conditions prevalent in the cadre. It is a good cadre perceived negatively, and the perceived threat to life and security is exaggerated.

?Conditions are quite normal now in most of the areas. Like every other cadre it has its own positive and negative aspects. Well, does that sound rhetorical? Ok. Let me put it this way : on a scale of 0 to 10 where 0 is the worst cadre and 10 being the best I would not rate J&K as 0 or 10 but somewhere close to 6.5 to 7.

? The district was also good but being a new district I got less exposure of certain things.

Training Structure and Focus Areas

?Do all attachments. I learnt a lot on almost every attachment.

?The SICOP and SIDCO attachments are very long. Complete them quickly and take a trip home. It will be refreshing.

?While in your district, try to visit the office of the PWD and PHE Ex. En. Learn about their work. This will help when you take up your SDM charge.

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

?Do all attachments and independent charges for sure. Do a lot of touring. Be extremely cautious in law and order issues.

?Always try to be in touch with young recruits of your cadre and keep taking their advice on different matters. It is actually very helpful.

?Dont risk your life and never leave the police cordon. You are not armed and not experienced. I nearly lost my life once. In the end it boils down to each one for his/her own.

?Dont enter into unnecessary arguments with your DC. This would create an uncomfortable situation between you and him/her and this would not augur well for your training as well as your stay in the district.

?Dont mix up too much with your staff. Be polite, humble and pleasant but always maintain a safe distance. In J&K people do not know where to draw the line. They try to get extremely informal. Dont encourage them.

?Never be disrespectful to any of the state service officers. They know a lot. It is your only chance. Respect them and show a lot of courtesy to them. Learn from them. If you treat them as your teachers they would be more than forthcoming in sharing their knowledge and experience with you and would also give you a lot of respect and would keep reminding you that tomorrow you are going to be their BOSS!

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

?All officers starting from 2003 batch onward