Open office, closed minds? Why babus feel exposed in Kartavya Bhavan

India Today

4 days ago

In a world that is killing silos, at least in office spaces, top central government officers are bemoaning the loss of cabin confidentiality in the Kartavya Bhavan that was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. To be fair to the officers, a cabin provides not just the feel of being in power, but also the shield from being seen and heard doing things that might be NSFW.advertisementThe Kartavya Bhavan on New Delhi's Kartavya Path is an ambitious project to bring central ministries and departments under one roof for seamless functioning.However, the government seems to have ignored the cornerstones of parampara, pratistha, anushashan while planning the corner offices. How can babus function openly in the open?
Babudom thrives in hushed voices, confidential calls and discreet deals. A cabin is a must for fearless functioning.Confidentiality is among the core necessities of their competencies. And babus have themselves complained that the rights of the Homo Derelictus, a species whose sightings in office spaces are rare, are being ignored.The Central Secretariat Service (CSS) Forum, which represents the "collective interests" of over 13,000 officers, expressed the grouse in its letter to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO)."CSS Officers are being allotted less space than mandated, impacting confidentiality and efficiency," says the letter from Yatendra Chandela, general secretary of the CSS Forum, on the seating arrangement in Kartavya Bhawan-3.It says Under Secretaries, who handle highly sensitive and confidential matters, require private workspace."However, they have been provided open office space, wherein their telephonic and in-person discussions with senior authorities and other officials can be easily overheard, posing a serious risk to confidentiality," the officers' forum argues in the letter to the Principal Secretary of the PMO.The state-of-the-art building, consisting of swanky conference rooms, modern amenities and CCTVs, will house the offices of the ministries of Home Affairs, External Affairs, Rural Development, MSMEs, DoPT, Petroleum and Natural Gas.Kartavya Bhavan-3, inaugurated by PM Modi on Wednesday, is the first of the 10 Common Central Secretariat (CCS) buildings in the complex. Two of the 10 buildings have neared completion and are likely to be inaugurated next month, according to a PTI report.The complex is part of the Central Vista redevelopment project.Though the vision is to create interdepartmental synergy among the many ministries, the open-space working culture is foreign to Indian babudom, which has roots in the British-era colonial system.In the older set-up, even Section Officers had rooms, though shared, while Deputy Secretaries and Under-Secretaries had individual rooms, according to reports.The letter from the officers' forum reveals that not just Section Officers, but even Under Secretaries have been sent to the open-seating area.advertisement"Such an arrangement... also creates a demoralising environment for officers who rightfully belong to the Central Secretariat's core staffing structure," the babus complain.The lack of cabins is "demoralising" for the officers, they say. That's understandable. How can officers who take calls on important matters be seen among junior staffers?Office spaces need to reinforce the class structure. Feed the sense of entitlement.In India's caste-conscious heartland, the babus (IAS and IPS officers) are considered to be a social class of their own, which transcends the varna system and tops the dowry charts.Open offices can never match the aural big O that comes from hearing the cautious, feeble knocks on the cabin door. That while sitting on files.The babus have also complained about how office space for Section Officers and Under Secretary-level officers "has been created by putting low-height almirahs, which not only compromises privacy but also causes intermittent distractions". This, they say, hits their "critical thinking essential for analytical work".The bemoaning of the loss of partition is understandable. Babus have been an integral part of erecting barriers, and not only corralling themselves from the common folks, but work with efficiency as well.advertisementCabins and red tape go hand in hand. The Ease of Doing Business runs contrary to their business.However, babus need to realise the world has moved on. Their cravings and demands are anachronistic. This is a world that works on pay-per-view and salary for service. But for that they will have to step out of the cabin and closet mindset. They have to realise the address is Kartavya Path, not Entitlement Path.- EndsTune InMust Watch