Surprise – you got early retirement
27 June 2008
When the RCSC issued a press release on BBS on June 19 about the premature retirement of senior civil servants, it’s impact was no different from the ‘shock and awe’ approach taken in Iraq by President George W Bush. That is the complete surprise in which the release was received by the senior civil servants in question.
This was followed up by the same press release published in the print media in the next few days. The release stated that the former Zhung Kalyon, Dasho Rinzin Gyaltshen, the former secretary of MoEA, Dasho Karma Dorjee, the former Secretary of MoL&HR, Dasho Pema L. Dorji, the former Secretary of MoW&HS, Tshering Dorji, the former Director General of the Department of Forest, Dasho Dawa Tshering and the former Director of Dratshang Lhentshog, Ngawang Phuntsho, were to be retired from July 1.
The early retirees had not been consulted or informed about their fate, and came to know about it from the media. “It’s a big disappointment to be put off by the government at this time without a notice,” said Tshering Dorji, who served in the civil service for 33 years and had two more years before superannuation. He said that if this was how the RCSC rewarded civil servants for hard work and dedication, it would be a discouragement to the younger generation.
The RCSC had replaced the post of these senior officials last year except for Dasho Rinzin Gyaltshen, who was still doing the ground work for the National Council when he saw the BBS broadcast.
The RCSC had told the officers to wait for further announcement from the commission, an announcement that they did not quite expect or welcome.
Ngawang Phuntsho said he was always given a positive answer from the RCSC and had expected something but not retirement. “If the government had difficulty absorbing us we could have voluntarily resigned instead of announcing it to the public before us. They should have come clean,’’ he said. Ngawang Phuntsho served in the civil service for 37 years and had more than four years before superannuation.
“Such a major action was taken against our services without any consultation and I did not have a hint that I’d have to retire,” said Dasho Dawa Tshering, who has served in the civil service for 34 years and had six more years left before retirement.
The officers complained that the RCSC had not sent them off in a way befitting the years that they had served the government. They felt that there was no accountability and transparency in the way they were treated.
“I’m quite confused and lost to know the decision was taken by the RCSC and why me, when I’m still willing to serve the new king and the new government,” said Dasho Karma Dorjee. The fourth King had even nominated him as a ministerial candidate in 2003 for his dedication to the country, he said. Dasho Karma Dorjee served in the civil service for 34 years.
Dasho Pema L.Dorji, who served in the civil service for 33 years, said that although he was shocked to know about the announcement, he did not have much comment as he was mired in a court case.
Some of the officials also said that there might be some politics involved in the decision. “RCSC is established under the royal charter and should be autonomous. They are there to protect and look continued from p1into the welfare of the civil servants but if they listen to personal conflicts and take wrong decisions, it’s a wrong thing to do,” said Tshering Dorji.
“I hope RCSC is not playing any politics as it should be apolitical for the sake of highly motivated and dedicated service to the Tsa Wa Sum, irrespective of which political parties comes to power,” said Dasho Karma Dorjee. The RCSC had introduced an Early Retirement Scheme (ERS) for eligible senior civil servants desiring to retire early. But this does not apply to the officials in question as they had not applied for retirement.
The spokesperson of the RCSC declined to comment and this reporter was berated by the personal assistant of the secretary for trying to contact a red scarf officer directly by telephone.
By Tandin Pem
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It is one thing to be dedicated but another thing to be capable and efficient. RSCC is the employer on the behalf of the people of Bhutan. When the employer sees that some of the employess are unfit with the change of time, it has the right to retire them.
I agree to what Dechen has to say but there is a proper way of doing things. It is true that RCSC is the employer but after all you are being paid for your work and not for just getting employed. There is a system of giving a months notice in advance. A landlord also gives that to the tenent. so why not RCSC give them a notice. They are high ranked people but what about ordinary people working for RCSC. when the RCSC can do that to officials like them then there is no protection for lower ranked people. RCSC can just kick them off when ever they want……just think about it seriously.
While I do not question their CR based on their performance, the way they were sent out was unbecoming of a professional. The RCSC should have done it in a better way.
refering to the comment made by Dechen, it seems she is not a civil servent or knows nothing of BSR etc.
Going through the above article, I think hereafter people will not opt to join civil service . Till now during selection interview when a candidate is questioned why you prefer to Join civil service, the immediate response -the employment is secure till retirement. The recent action taken by RCSC will make people think twice to join and may repel the interested ones. I definitely feel RCSC should have taken this action in a very proffesional way. when a person want to retire/resign he or she should put up the request in advance (before one month) but when somebody is kicked out without prior notice, IT IS NOT FAIR.
When i read about the early retirement of these individuals a while back in the news, i assumed that they would have already been notified of it in advance of the announcement in the media, after all, that is the norm isn’t it? I am now quite taken aback to learn about the way the RCSC has handled this – how can anyone expect a “dynamic & professional civil service” to take root in the country if the civil service commission itself fails to lead by example of professionalism & common decency?
High ranked or low ranked, kick them off or pull them in; but with prior notice and tangible reasons. I suggest.
Guys, I don’t think its the RCSC who has sacked these senior civil servants. Isn’t that obvious? Or are we just beating around the bush? Well whoever ordered their retirement, it was definitely not a proper way to send them off after having served the government for several years. May be we can agree that their performances and attitudes may have not evolved as expected of them in today’s society, but still these guys were our one-eyed leader of the blind and did bring Bhutan to where we are now. The whole gang, including the current older MPs and cabinet ministers, by virtue of belonging to that era were also non-performers by today’s standards. So why them? And more importantly why in a disgraceful manner? And yeah why so secretive?
Ahh may be this is “RCSC”‘s way of instilling fear in civil sevants and probably a message that none of us are indespensable.. Our government is just a big ball of secret anyway, they have been till now and they will be from now on.
Oi
Changes are inevitable and I guess with time, things are destined to change whether u like them or not. I am a civil servant and am proud to be one. I am not proud because the system (civil service) that i am part of is FLAWLESS. Neither am I saying that the system that i work for is PERFECT. Everyone has his or own capabilities and different people see things from different perspectives. During my brief ongoing stint with the Civil Service, I have come across different types of people like
1. Type-I – Talkative ones who bull doze their way and climb the success ladder by less work and more sweet talk.
2. Type-II – Silent ones who work hard but talk less ( hence less noticed)
3. Type-III – Talkative ones as well as hard workers( more noticed)
You may fall in any category and that’s perfectly fine. No Category is the PERFECT category. Each has its own pros and cons. And no one single person in any of the categories is CLEAN or for the matter DIRTY. By CLEAN, I mean he or she at one stage of time has definitely proved to be incompetent in the assigned tasks. How do we go about measuring the competency and efficiency of the civil servants? Even a machine’s efficiency deteriorates over a give span of time period, we are after all HUMANS.
DEMOCRACY has catapulted Mr. X, Y and Z from nowhere into the limelight. Do we call this a competent and efficient decision? Politics is fine as it brings in its own element of surprises and you can’t expect miracles to take place overnight. Despite being so called efficient or less efficient( if that’s the SOLE REASON FOR EARLY RETIREMENT), the retired civil servants served the Government for so many years and all it would have taken the Govt. was to give them a warm farewell. I still remember the farewell dinner my Department gave for a P-4 grade colleague who left the Civil service for good. I wouldn’t say he or she was competent and efficient to deserve that dinner but it always helps to show that you care for the service he or she provided.
I am getting more curious day by day whether this decision is the FATHER of future decisions to follow. If the system is going for drastic changes and more changes are expected, it seems that the system is definitely going to keep each and every civil servant (especially the higher ranked ones) on its toes. I am a small fish in the big ocean so as of now I think (efficient or not), I really need not panic. But years down the line, if I become a higher ranked official and am practically WHIPPED for not being efficient, I am at FAULT. What if I get WHIPPED despite being so called EFFICIENT AND COMPETENT? If that happens, I would be at a loss of words………………………………..
All these people are old and they have been out of their jobs for months. Their positions have been filled by others. They are not high performers and some of them have been associated with dubious dealings and faced court charges. If they still didn’t know that they would be retired, then I don’t know what to say about them. RCSC has done the right thing. This is a clear warning to all: get off your butt work hard, you are not a French wine, older is not necessarily better.
Its all politics , I feel sorry for all these guys. Most of them have been at loggerheads with the DPT leadership.
New DG of DoR and new Director of Info and Media have been spared. You all know the reason.
Our civil service is getting politicized
1. Formation of numerous committees in the NA
2. Mandatory inclusion of MPs in study tours, seminars and workshops meant for civil servants.
3. Establishment of many divisions under the cabinet secretariat some of which are headed by rejected NA candidates.
Politicization cannot be checked, you know the reason
RCSC secretary, the corrupt no one. He can create scholarship slots as he wishes for whom he desires.He is a civil servant intimate to DPT(u all know why)
If such is the situation, today we have compulsory retirement. Tomorrow we will see many voluntary ones.
Our king saw the future of the economy in Hydro power. DPT govt talks about their entitlements and nothing about developing the economy.
Did we vote for the right party!!!
God bless us not to make the same mistake after five years.
ts all politics , I feel sorry for all these guys. Most of them have been at loggerheads with the DPT leadership.
New DG of DoR and new Director of Info and Media have been spared. You all know the reason.
Our civil service is getting politicized
1. Formation of numerous committees in the NA
2. Mandatory inclusion of MPs in study tours, seminars and workshops meant for civil servants.
3. Establishment of many divisions under the cabinet secretariat some of which are headed by rejected NA candidates.
Politicization cannot be checked, you know the reason
RCSC secretary, the corrupt no one. He can create scholarship slots as he wishes for whom he desires.He is a civil servant intimate to DPT(u all know why)
If such is the situation, today we have compulsory retirement. Tomorrow we will see many voluntary ones.
Our king saw the future of the economy in Hydro power. DPT govt talks about their entitlements and nothing about developing the economy.
Did we vote for the right party!!!
God bless us not to make the same mistake after five years.
I think the message was clear in the way they were left hanging for so many months! Innovative ones would not wait until the announcement came; guess we got to learn to sniff and act.
This is not the age of expecting to be praised for what you did, rather the other way around…you might be rewarded for what you’ll be doing in the future!!
So pull up the socks dear senior citizens and get going without wasting time looking back…world hasnt collapsed anyways!
Ha ha ha and Jigme
Are you genuine when you say DPT may suffer after five years? That many years, particularly for the old wine there, is more than enough for these hypocrytes to enjoy power. They will be too old by that time to even seek re-election. Fishes have weeping – like mouths for refusing to listen to Buddha’s sermons and then weeping inconsolably when they suffered and the Buddha is long gone. You have to drink the wine you purchased, sweet or sower. Now just shut up and suffer. This is the fate you deserve.
Just one comment.
This time RCSC or any agency behind this has made a strategic move for the performance of our government and for the better delivery of services to the people. RCSC did the right thing.
We are living in an environment where you either have to lead, or follow or step out of the way. If a person is not aligned to one of these forms, the person is detrimental to an optimal performance.
The survival of the people and the country is dependent on the speed of economic development and the economic prosperity of each citizen rather than through the accumulation of henchmen in civil service and their un-progressive cultural intoxications.
These group of people, who shamelessly hinge on outdated experience, were not aligned to the three forms, therefore, they have to be moved out through the above course of action.
There are many such non-aligned civil servants in our civil service, who do not perform, 8 am-4.30 pm work time oriented civil servants, relying on arrogance and corrupt practices, etc.
So it is time for RCSC to move in and clean these unproductive people. RCSC, as mandated by people for carrying out the job description, must do some more.
Our civil service must be the guiding pillars of knowledge and wisdom for economics, social, sciences, technology, nature and culture for economic prosperity of each citizen and for the sovereignty of the country.
Any civil servants who do not promote and practice knowledge on these fields, but receiving monthly payrolls, should be sent home for greater good.
is it some dirty politics going on?? if they were to be sacked why didnt the RCSC do it before when they were replaced instade of waiting for the new government……..people you should really think a lot in this lines……………..