NEW DELHI (06.01.2024): The Railway Board rejig effected last night has offered several striking features with several interesting catch points of the senior level management at Railway Board under the Ministry of Railways. Three Apex-level appointments -- Seema Kumar, Naveen Gulati and Satish Kumar -- were reported well in advance by Indianmandarins but to many top sources the key position of Member Finance still remains unexplained.
MEMBER FINANCE WITH A CATCH:
The top-level reshuffle effected last night remains silent over the appointment of a regular Member Finance (MF). This assumes significance in the backdrop of Roopa Srinivasan’s (IRAS: 1987) appointment as DG, National Academy of Indian Railways (NAIR), Vadodara. It leaves people perplexed as who will be heading the Directorate of Finance in the Railway Board? Will Uma Ranade (IRAS: 1986), the senior most IRAS, be appointed as MF for her seven remaining months in the service, or Srinivasan will continue as interim MF. A few days back Srinivasan was given additional charge of MF vice Anjali Goyal (IRAS: 1985) who retired on 31.12.2023.
Two aspects make the situation complex. The appointment of Vice Chancellor of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalay (VC, GSV) has practically put the complete establishment of NAIR at the disposal of Vice Chancellor, GSV. A section of insiders says that post GSV order dated 18.12.2023 the post of DG, NAIR remains merely a ceremonial post. Does it imply that the newly appointed DG NAIR would continue as Member Finance under ad hoc arrangement. It sounds logical as well. Uma Ranade is senior to Srinivasan yet non-empanelment as IRMS may blunt her chances as MF whereas Srinivasan, empanelled as IRMS, may not be ruled out as Member Finance (L/A).
GATI-SHAKTI VS STREE-SHAKTI:
On a lighter note, Indian Railways riding high on ‘Gati-Shakti’ wave ahead of 2024 LS polls, appears to have carved out a Railway Board with ‘Stree-Shakti’. Even if Uma Ranade is given the additional charge of Member Finance, the Railway Board witnesses the dominance of women power (Stree-Shakti) for the first time with three women officers in a five-member board comprising Jaya Varma Sinha (Chairman & CEO); Seema Kumar (Member Ops & BD) Roopa Srinivasan (Member Finance L/A); Braj Mohan Agrawal (Member, Infra) and Satish Kumar (Member, Traction & Rolling Stock). Considering the key post of Secretary, Railway Board given to Aruna Nayar consolidates the ‘Stree-Shakti’ further with five women officers in the seats of power.
A GOOGLY FOR NAVEEN GULATI:
A sudden though not unexpected lateral shift of Naveen Gulati (IRSEE:1986) from the key post of Member (Traction & Rolling Stock) to relatively lesser important is seen as a googly thus has triggered a murmur. A section of insiders looks at the development as outcome of minister’s annoyance whereas the other section says that the deck is cleared for Seema Kumar which could be a questionable without taking Satish Kumar on board in the Board. SUN SHINES FOR SATISH: With Satish Kumar having service up to September 2025 as Member Railway Board, people in power corridors have started forecasting him as strongest contender for CRB & CEO after Jaya Varma Sinha. Interestingly, the very section of speculators appears to be in a hurry as it would not be apt to overlook the outcome and scenario post 2024 LS Polls. Even if the NaMo-Shah regime repeats for third successive term in New Delhi, the political scenario in the Ministry of Railways may and may not be the same again.
(By Rakesh Ranjan)
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