Many experts, as well as common men, have ultimately come to a firm conclusion about sticky characters. Be it heads of PSUs, Govt Bodies, etc. some have in them that vital quality of clinging on to their official wickets far beyond the innings. Be it the CMD of a Fortune 500 Company who got repeated extensions, the lucky Head Honcho who headed an OMC and now an Upstream Major a rather controversial head of a recruitment organization for PSUs who has once again got an extension seem to have that special quality which most others lack. The proclivity of certain governments for old blood is homicidal to fresh blood. It’s known to all regular overhauling of equipment is essential, lest it give way at crucial times. The risk of continually using outdated models is grievous. Most would agree that Status quo leads to inertia in body corporates and social systems.
The fact that most of these companies or Vital Government Bodies are essentially run on Taxpayers’ money requires that the citizens are made aware of the crucial decision-making which ultimately impacts them. Choosing leaders of Govt. bodies and PSEs is an important function and cannot be taken in a manner which puts some misgivings in mind of the citizens. Why is it that some persons become indispensable? Why only these individuals? Why is the leadership pipeline not able to produce capable substitutes? Is the nation of 1.4 Billion not able to produce that one leader? Exceptions can certainly be there, but now extensions are becoming more and more regular almost a routine. Those in the know, state that the bureaucrats are just not able to have faith in fresh talent. They are very scared of fresh talented incumbents. Trust in old timers puts them in a comfort zone. Remember the policy of mid level induction from the private sector? It died an early and natural death. All this makes everyone doubt the entire process of lining up a leadership profile which can deliver without fear or favour.
The matter gets compounded when a selection committee head gets repeated extensions. The consequent selections made by the committee would tend to suffer from fatal error due to repeated use in the current tool. Mostly a system would abort.Just as one sees rejection of candidates and passing on of the process to Search Committees etc. It’s now jokingly referred to as Rejection Board.
The citizenry in India may not be very formally educated but has an uncanny ability to seek out the truth. It often uses its gumption and chutzpah to telling effect. Ask the poll predictors!
