Malda Training Diary - Administrative Training Institute

Page 119 of 119
Went to Gazol block. The BDO is on the verge of collapse. Even Congress has refused to
make lists for TR. People are out of their control. Running schemes is impossible—over 1000
people start working in place of 300.
15.7.1972
Work done
Redrafting district plan 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Information
The whole day was spent in completing redrafting of the plan. Today I did all the work,
adapting the III plan language as desired by the DM. a lot of verbiage which no one will ever
bother to read. From 4 pm the redrafted version was typed out, with me typing quite a bit as
the office typist found excuses to slip out every now and then. We took the completed version
to the DM who still began altering minuscule bits that hardly improved the syntax very much.
It was rather exhausting to see further corrections! He called us at 930 am tomorrow for
finally finishing the work—so we devoutly hope!
He granted me 5 days leave very reluctantly (18-22) yesterday saying I was doing “useful
work” and should not be away too long. Today he urged me to come back sooner in view of
the worsening drought (tho’ what I am to do to ease it I fail to see). In Cal I’ll try to expedite
BC’s release order. A BDO in 24 Parganas who had the UBI interview on the same day
joined work on 13 June being near Cal, while BC is still waiting.
16.7.1972
Work done
District plan 930 a.m. to 12 noon, 3 to 6 p.m.
Information
In the morning DM redrafted bits of our draft—not always for the better. Stencilling was
begun, but we ran out of stencils after 14 pages. About 15 more are needed. This will be done
tomorrow. It was necessary to sit constantly by the typist to read out DM’s pencilled
amendments. Kar was with me till 1 pm and I took over after that. In the evening told DM
about need to get a spring for the ambulance and he lamented that these things were not
brought to his notice—e.g. the CARE affair for which he was glad I had told him. Within 1
day reports pending for 2 months had been obtained! It seems daily reports are sent from
godowns by special messenger to DM FCI, but mysteriously these were not compiled at all
and DM FCI seems to be ignorant of their having been sent.
17.7.1972
Work done
District plan
Information
Today stencilling and cyclostyling of 25 pages was complete, only leaving the contents and
the very last page which DM had asked not to be done till he got back. He left with Irrigation
minister around 11 am for north Malda and had not got back at 6 pm when we finished the
cyclostyling. To get paper in time [getting stencils took 3 hours!] I grabbed the shopkeeper
and sent him off in a jeep. That worked. Also berated Madhu babu (now JP) for flouting
DM’s orders to move down the whole JM. He said no space was there downstairs, so I said
he should first obey orders and then plead his case. Also told OS who will put it up to DM.
told MVI (T) to see DM directly about spring for the ambulance.
Leaving today 10.30 p.m. by bus for Calcutta.
Returned on 23 rd morning with wife, put up at dak bungalow. In Cal I found I’ve lost 5 kg!
24-26.7.1972
Routine office work, nothing to record except joining of 2 more probationers: S.Rahman
WBCS & S.S.Maity WBJCS. Latter was a U.D.C. in Animal Husbandry; former a clerk in
Central Information Service. On 23 rd evening called on DM, ADM.