Friday, 02 February 2024 | Gajendra Singh Negi | Dehradun
Wooing women
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami’s decision to hand over the reins of the babudom of the Himalayan State to Radha Raturi is being dubbed as a political masterstroke by his camp followers. They claim that this smartly crafted move will further endear the State government to about 40 lakh women voters of the State. It is no wonder that the first reaction of the newly anointed chief secretary was the proclamation of her resolve on women empowerment in the State. She also listed effective implementation of Uniform Civil Code (UCC) – meant to provide more rights to women to help them break free of constricting societal norms- as one of her top priorities. This, however, is not the first case of Dhami’s women- centric plans. He earlier showed astute political sense by removing legal and other impediments blocking 30 per cent reservation in government jobs to women of the State. CM is also making it a point to attend women congregations being organised across the State aside from generously deputing women officers in key positions in the State administration. All these largesse suggest that the saffron party is banking on the women voters to get decisive lead in all the five constituencies up for grabs in the State.
Journo connection
The scribes in the provisional State capital here are enthused by the elevation of Radha Raturi to the top slot of the bureaucratic hierarchy of the State. They are missing no opportunity to flaunt that Raturi was once in journalism before transitioning to the more challenging realm of civil services. Interestingly, the top cop of the State- the director general of State police force- Abhinav Kumar also had a brief stint as a journalist at the start of his career. One may discern reflection of their past (albeit brief) profession in their working style saddled on two topmost positions of the State and the journalistic fraternity is hoping that the duo at the helm will deal with their issues with empathy and understanding.
Dhami ‘Meharban’
In the recent reshuffle in the bureaucracy, the Dhami government sprang up a surprise by assigning the plum assignment of the district magistrate of Uttarkashi to Meharban Singh Bisht. The upright officer with a no- nonsense approach towards work was considered to be among the most powerful officers in the State during the reign of Trivendra Singh Rawat. However, the tag of being the blue-eyed boy of TSR proved detrimental for the efficient officer as the subsequent chief ministers Tirath Singh Rawat and Pushkar Singh Dhami kept him out in the cold. He was completely sidelined and only non-descript postings in the administration were given to him. However, understanding the value of the efficient officer and ostensibly acting on the advice of a saffron veteran, CM Dhami has now brought him back in the mainstream of the State administration. With Dhami becoming ‘Meharban’ on Bisht, many babus languishing in wilderness are hoping that they too will be brought back into the mainstream.
