Respecting MPs, MLAs: Babus In Odisha To Get Training

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to train newly recruited administrative officials on how to deal with MPs and MLAs properly and show them respect.

The move comes after the House Committee on Ethics expressed displeasure that Odisha government officials were not showing proper respect to MPs and MLAs, and recommended that officials scrupulously abide by ‘Book Circular No 47’.

The Parliamentary Affairs department has directed all Secretaries, Revenue Divisional Commissioners, DGP, IGPs, all heads of departments, Collectors and SPs to include ‘Book Circular No 47’ in the training programme for newly recruited OAS, ORS, OTAS and other officials.

“The provisions of ‘Book Circular No 47’ should be included in the agenda of the training programme for the newly recruited officers so that they can know how to implement it. The personal staff of the officers should also be sensitised on implementation of the circular in its true spirit,” Principal Secretary G Mathi Vathanan stated in the letter.

After tours to Deogarh, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sonepur and Boudh districts, the House Committee members had raised the issue with the Parliamentary Affairs department.

The four-page circular prescribes guidelines on how government servants should deal with MPs and MLAs.

* Every official on duty will act in a courteous manner and not adopt dilatory tactics in her/ his dealings with the members.

* When a member comes to see an official, the latter should stand up and receive her/him forthwith courteously.

* The official should also give her/him a polite send-off.

* If any member contacts any officer over telephone, the latter should promptly respond to the call while in the office and if absent from office, should give a call back for which a register should also be maintained, the circular states.