Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan (Retd.IAS:1978:UP) has described the UP government’s decision to link District Magistrates (DMs) and Divisional Commissioners to investment and employment generation as unfair. Ranjan, while talking to a leading national daily, said that it would put additional pressure on them whose primary responsibility is to ensure law and order and look after the administration.
According to the government’s order, all district magistrates and commissioners have to submit self-assessment report regarding investment
and employment generated in their respective districts. UP Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh (IAS:1988:UP) said that DM and Commissioner will have to write about the progress related to investment and loan in their district in the annual ACR and that there will be grading on the basis of investment in the ACR of DM.
Ranjan is particularly against the grading system based on their performance in promoting investments in their respective districts, and including this in their Annual Confidential Report (ACR). Further, he pointed out that if investment promotion is made a prime criteria, officials may disregard their basic job and divert their attention.
He corroborated his point by saying that districts bordering Delhi, like NOIDA and Ghaziabad claim lion’s share in the total volume of investments but it is difficult to find investors for district like Balia or Ghazipur. So how could the performance be evaluated? he asked.
Also Read: DMs, Commissioners linked to investment and employment generation in UP
