By N. Ibungochoubi
\nPuducherry, Feb 13 : Putting every speculation to an end regarding the much talked about lateral entry into Indian Police Service (IPS) from para-military and Indian Army, the Minister of State for Prime Minister\u2019s Office (PMO) V Narayanasamy categorically stated that there is no provision for such a thing although many personnel from different services are taken on deputation for various national agencies.
\nThe minister of state of PMO\u2019s Office was replying to a specific question asked by this writer during the Editors\u2019 Conference on Social Sector Issues organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and held at Poducherry last week.
\nEarlier, there was an alternative policy floated and discussed at different levels to counter the armed political upheaval in Central India by the Maoists. The deployment of the Indian Army being ruled out to manage a vast area spread over 87 districts in five states, an idea was believed to have been mooted to take young officers from different para-military, specially the Indian Army as IPS officers, which also received critical observations from many corners including IPS Officers Association.
\nThe PMO is believed to have even imagined and worked out a modality for a lateral entry policy setting certain criteria. With minimum five years of service and those below the age of thirty-five years and successfully undergone commando courses were among some of the criteria, which were doing the round.
\nV Narayanasamy also reiterated the highlights of major initiatives taken up by the UPA government. He said, the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions brought landmark legislations to check corruption in the last two and half years. Besides the RTI, the Grievances Redressal and Whistleblowers\u2019 Bill would confer right on every citizen to time bound delivery of goods and provision for services and redressal of grievances.
\nHe categorically stated that the performances of bureaucrats will be seriously reviewed at different intervals.<\/p>\n\n