BJP leader urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to choose a woman senior IAS officer as the Cabinet Secretary, this time around. In his letter, he pointed out that for the past 70 years; the Government has not considered a woman IAS officer for the post of Cabinet Secretary, the country’s topmost post in bureaucracy.
“The International Women’s Day is being celebrated the World over on March 8. This is in keeping with the United Nations Women’s Rights for International Peace. I write this letter to make a suggestion for your consideration, namely, that the next Cabinet Secretary should be a woman who has sufficient seniority in the IAS and is presently occupying a Secretary level post in the Government.
“This will send a big message from India that in the history of 70 years of India’s Independence there had never been a woman appointed as a Cabinet Secretary. The name to be chosen is your prerogative, and I am sure that you will be able to accept a member of the IAS who is sufficiently senior for the post of Cabinet Secretary,” said Swamy in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The current Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha who served for three years including a year of extension is to leave the post on May 10 and it is a convention that new Cabinet Secretary will be decided one month before his retirement. The newly selected person will be posted as an Officer on Special Duty ( OSD) in the Cabinet Secretariat for a month to familiarise the biggest office in the Union Government. Currently, IAS officers holding Secretary Level posts in Centre from 1980 and 1981 batch is to be considered for the top job. There are around three lady IAS officers eligible for this top post in the country. Cabinet Secretaries are appointed for a fixed period of two years and it usually got extended several times.
The top post – Cabinet Secretary – is always the choice of Prime Ministers from the senior-most IAS officials. Till date, no Prime Minister has selected a lady for this coveted post in bureaucracy, though there were senior most ladies available. In short, in India, Cabinet Secretary’s post is meant for IAS’ Boys’ Club. Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi break the glass ceiling of the Boys’ Club?
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Hey Indian women are the worst being on earth.
I believe that the person chosen for any job should be fit for purpose. One must be appointed/hired based on merit and strengths they bring. Gender, either favouring or against man or woman, should not be a consideration.
Will PGurus along with VHS take some steps to prevent violence against Brahmins in Tamilnadu? Criticising religious practices and expressing opinion is a fundamental right. But physical assault on Brahmins in Triplicane recently, cutting the ‘Poonal(sacred thread), cutting their hair etc is not acceptable. Tamilnadu police is not helping. Government is not helping. Could there be a talk between the DK leaders and leaders of Hindu community like Sankaracharya, Jaggi Vasudev or Sri Sri Ravishankar? There must be some amicable solution for this. Is there no one to support Brahmins who follow their faith without affecting the right of others?
Ms. Sarla Grewal was the first woman Cabinet Secretary of India between 2 April 1980 to 30 April 1981.
Ms. Sarla Grewal was the first woman Cabinet Secretary in India from 2 April 1980 to 30 April 1981. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_secretary_of_India.
No woman was selected as Cabinet Secretary in India. Sarla Grewal was OSD to PM Rajiv Gandhi, not Cabinet Secretary. Wikipedia is just what someone files info. I repeat Madam Sarla Grewal was OSD to PM Rajiv Gandhi in mid 80s. In 1980 she was Jt.Sec or Additional Sec office. Wikipedia is just a bunkum where any dick and harry can write or edit any nonsense
Thank you very much for the clarification. Immensely appreciate this correction.
I checked the GOI – Government of India website – https://cabsec.gov.in/content.php?page=14. It lists Shri. SS Grewal IAS as occupying the position of Cabinet Secretary from 02/04/1980 through 30/04/1981. Thank you, Mr. Vinay Gautam, once again for the correction.
Smt. Sarla Grewal was Shri. SS Grewal’s wife. She predeceased him on January 29, 2002. https://tribuneindia.com/2002/20020130/main2.htm.
many capable women bureaucrats were sidelined by the Boys’ Club for Cabinet Secretary’s post
From the ‘women empowerment’ point of view, what Swamiji demands may be considerded appropriate. But at the same time due diligence is must while choosing the CS. CS is the ‘brain’ of the cabinet. ‘Impeccable service record’, ‘high levels of efficency’, ‘unquestionable integrity’ should be the ‘prime considerations’ for picking a CS. If there really is a ‘woman officer’ who fulfills the above criteria – SWAMIJI KI MUNG MEIN GHEE AUR GUD(Jaggery)
PM should not chose a lady simply because of the gender. If anyone is capable and qualified, she is welcome to be chosen!