IAS

Editorial
District training is one of the most exciting and challenging phases of probation, when the classroom inputs of the Academy give way to the practical insights of the field. However, it also signifies a move away from the camaraderie of the Foundation Course and Phase I to the isolation of the district, where you are entirely on your own in a new place, amongst new people who have a different way of life. As a probationer in the district, there are several questions which will bother you and often, it is difficult to find the right answers. Having faced such a situation ourselves, we in the 2007 Batch deliberated over how we could pass on at least some of the answers to subsequent batches, so that you would not have to reinvent the wheel. And the outcome is this repository of our collective experiences during District Training, proudly presented to you by the Management Circle of the Golden Jubilee Batch of 2007. In these pages, we have attempted to address some of the concerns that you are likely to have as you prepare to go to the field, such as the working environment in the cadre, the training structure, what to do and what not to do, interaction with the DM/DC and other officers in the district, whom to approach for advice, creature comforts and so on. There can be no definitive ways of looking at these issues and what we present here is strictly our own perspective based on first-hand experience. Yet, we believe that what we can share here will help you cope better with district training. We also request all subsequent batches to keep adding their own experiences to this collection and update it every year, so that it will be a continuing legacy that is passed on from batch to batch. Happy Reading and all the best for a fulfilling career in the IAS!
Nila Mohanan Dr. Nirupama Dange Dr. Adarsh Singh Ameya Abhyankar Vyasan R.
? Work environment is good and conducive
Puducherry
? Nice place to be in
Training Structure and Focus Areas

Arunachal Pradesh
? Unstructured training pattern; DC determines the components of training ? Pay attention to the judicial attachment, since you will have JMFC powers
Andaman & Nicobar
AGMUT
Abhishek Dev (Chandigarh, abhishekdev@gmail.com) Ameya Abhyankar (Arunachal Pradesh, ameya16@gmail.com) Jawahar P. (Puducherry, jawahar.ias@gmail.com) Juhi Mukherjee (Andaman & Nicobar, juhi.mukherjee@gmail.com) Nila Mohanan (Arunachal Pradesh, nilamohanan18@yahoo.com) Udit Prakash (Andaman & Nicobar, uditprakashrai@gmail.com)
? Attachments are flexible, so you can focus on areas that you like. ? You can get good exposure on disaster management
Chandigarh
? Adviser to the Administrator takes a keen interest in the probationers training ? Police attachment and Social Welfare Department attachment are two areas you should focus on
First Impressions and Working Environment

Arunachal Pradesh
? Rich Tribal diversity in a geographically remote state ? Low population density and low volume of work ? Relaxed and informal work environment ? Less emphasis on rules and procedures, but need to balance between customary law of tribals and common law ? Great respect for and expectation from the IAS ? Limited political interference and dignified conduct of political representatives ? Sufficient autonomy to do meaningful work
Puducherry
? Training is highly structured; an elaborate training schedule is prepared and adhered to ? Interaction to the maximum extent possible with field functionaries of various departments should be your priority
Dos/Donts in the District/ State

Arunachal Pradesh.
? Maintain good relations with APCS officers. You can learn a lot from them. ? Visit as many villages as possible ? Acquaint yourself with the customary laws and practices of the dominant tribe. ? Gain as much knowledge of court proceedings in Phase I as you will be given charge as JMFC and expected to try cases .
Andaman & Nicobar

? It could come as a shock to some on account of its location ? Relaxed working environment
Chandigarh
? Chandigarh is a very well developed city with all amenities
? Dont expect creature comforts beyond a limit ? Dont expect people and officers to be servile. North East is an egalitarian society ? Dont be disrespectful to tribal customs and traditions
? Dr. Vasant Kumar, IAS (Puducherry) ? Shri D.C Sahoo, IAS (Puducherry) ? Even the state service officers are quite accessible and helpful. It is best to consult immediate seniors when some advice is needed.
Andaman & Nicobar

? Visit as many areas of your training district as possible ? Get acquainted with the activities related to tsunami relief and rehabilitation ? Visit as many of the scenic spots as possible ? Pursue entitlements like laptop, data card, mobile phone etc. with concerned officials
? Dont be overfriendly with your DM/DC and other officials and
Pecuniary Matters
? Liaise with the accounts officer in the DC Office for matters related to your pay. ? Claim your salary arrears as soon as you arrive. ? If you are claiming TTA be sure to produce bills for transport of belongings from Mussoorie to the place of district training. ? HRA deductions will be made in-case you decide to go in for government quarters ? TA/DA rates vary according to the territories. Acquaint yourself with Swamys Handbook and state specific rates. ? If service book is not started as a matter of practice be sure to take the initiative and pursue the matter with the P&AR Department and the Establishment Section of the DC Office. ? Obtain a pension account number under the NPS as soon as is possible. ? Tax deductions are generally made at the time of the financial year ending. Invest the income tax exemptible amount in a mutual fund, public provident fund, fixed deposit (5 years) to save some tax.
their relations Chandigarh

? DC Office attachment ? Extra efforts to be expended for revenue training and village attachments ? Pay attention to Urban Planning and Management Issues ? Pay special attention to the problem of slums in Chandigarh
Puducherry
? Call on all senior officers (IAS, IPS) without fail ? Pay a courtesy visit to the offices of the PCS officers ? Meet DM/DC periodically
Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

? Shri A. B Shukla, IAS ( Arunachal Pradesh) ? Shri P.S Lokhande, IAS (Arunachal Pradesh)
? Shri Ankur Garg, IAS (Arunachal Pradesh) ? Shri P.K Sain, IAS (Arunachal Pradesh) ? Shri Amjad Tak, IAS (Arunachal Pradesh)
Leave Rules and Conventions

? Leave is generally not a problem. ? Keep your DC in the loop as far as leave related matters are concerned. ? Conversing with your DC about tricks of the trade could be enlightening.
? Shri Ashish More, IAS (Andaman & Nicobar) ? Smt. Niharika Rai, IAS (Chandigarh) ? Smt. Prerna Puri, IAS (Chandigarh) ? Shri Franklin Lalthinkhuma, IAS (Puducherry)
Creature Comforts:
? Circuit House accommodation is available which is reasonable good across territories. ? In case you are not provided with a TV in the room, you could request the DC for it. ? Food in the circuit house could require getting adjusted to. You should state your preferences and the cooks normally comply. Timely monetary incentives can go a long way in ensuring good quality of food. ? In Puducherry, Adyar Anand Bhavan and Hotel Sarguru can be visited for North Indian cuisine. Otherwise seafood and south Indian items are available in plenty. ? Try and move in to your own quarters as soon as possible, since your privacy in the circuit house may get constrained. Liaise with PWD for furniture and other necessary items. Ensure that you return all items outsourced from different government sources when you are leaving the district.
internet, institutional memory of batches 2/3 years senior, reports of various government bodies which you will find in plenty. Use the services of a stenographer to save yourself from the drudgery.
? Take/collect lots of photos. They especially come in handy during the DAP/ESP presentations. ? Complete whatever law assignments that you are able to lay your hands on. Dont be overzealous. In case you are not able to muster up the required number, just relax. Its not that big a deal. ? As far as language assignments are concerned the best approach is to delegate. There will be more takers than you can imagine. ? Dont send assignments before time. They get lost. ? Maintain a personal copy of all your assignments (borrowed & original) and give it to your juniors without fail.
After Office- hours

Arunachal Pradesh
? Play badminton ? Sunday Picnics by the riverside ? If you are a teetotaller and a vegetarian you may have a bad time. Its not too late to change habits. ? Travel as extensively as you can. The environs are incredibly beautiful ? Read and watch movies ? Have outings with the ITBP, SIB personnel. They can be great fun
Interacting with the DC/DM

? Gauge the personality of the DM. Sometimes a person may be an introvert (may take time to open up), may be an extrovert. Get to know your DC and interact with him/her accordingly. ? Be very modest with the DC. Even if you have lots of talent, do not flaunt it ? Give advice/suggestions only when they are solicited, especially in official meetings ? Do keep your DC in good humour. Meet him daily until he says no to it
Andaman & Nicobar

? Get married
Coping with Assignments

? Depends on whether you belong to the eager, lukewarm or indifferent category ? Village assignments should be completed during the BDO stint. Take tips from immediate seniors on the nuances of gathering data and preparing reports. ? D.O letters could be submitted every month if possible. More than content timeliness matters. ? As far as analytical notes are concerned you may rely on the
Chandigarh
? Sports and hobbies
Puducherry
? Visit Promenade Auroville
? Go biking along ECR ? Visit Mahabalipuram shore temple ? IG Stadium

? Call on District Judge, ADJ, SP and other AIS officers in the district ? Follow protocol strictly while sitting for meetings ? Follow protocol in the seating plan within vehicles and movement of convoy ? Try and tour as much as possible ? Respect RDOs, DRO, MROs and other officers. You can learn a lot from them ? Do not leave the district without informing the Collector
ANDHRA PRADESH
Mutyalaraju Revu (Karimnagar, rmutyalaraju@gmail.com) Pausumi Basu (West Godavari, pausumi@gmail.com)
? Smt G. Jayalakshmi, IAS, Horticulture Commissioner ? Shri K.Raju, IAS, Principal Secretary, Rural Development ? Shri K.Sasidhar, IAS (2003 ) ? Smt Yogita IAS (2003 ) ? Shri Manick Raj IAS (2006 ) ? Shri Ronald Rose, IAS (2006 )

? General working environment is good in Andhra and Rayalseema regions. All records are properly maintained in the coastal districts ? It is not so good in Telengana region (Proper land records are not recorded and jamabandis are not done in the last three years here) ? People are generally aware of their rights and laws
Pecuniary Matters
? Make sure that TA/DA account is sanctioned from CCLA. Apply for TA/DA bills regularly. ? Initially, probationer can take advance money till he gets salary, because it takes time for salary to start. But once it starts, it is regular ? Contact Pay and Accounts Office to get your Last Pay Certificate

? Training is structured and participatory ? The following attachments should not be missed: 1)PD DRDA 2)

? Leave can vary from one day to one month. It is better to take permission of the Collector before proceeding on leave. Do not take leave too often. ? Often, if the Collector permits, there is no need to apply on paper for leave
PD DWMA, 3)DPO 4) CEO 5)ZP 6)Municipal Commissioner 7) VRO, RI and MRO 8) DM&HO 9) Agriculture JD
? Rest of the attachments like DIC, Animal Husbandry, JD, DEO,
DCO etc. can be done in one or two days
Creature Comforts:
? It is easy to get the following:

I gained a lot of satisfaction by doing my bit to control suicides of weavers as Special Officer in Sircilla and to distribute pattas to 22,000 people after regularising their unauthorised encroachments in Ramagundam - Mutyalaraju Revu
Accomodation in a Quarters or Guest House
One cook, one Camp Clerk, one driver
One attendant and one A.C vehicle with a driver
One laptop One mobile phone
One office room in the Collectorate

? Since the DM has his/her own problems, do not approach him/her for small problems. You can instead approach the SDMs or DRO. ? Meet your DM at least once in two days ? Study stock files and get your doubts cleared from the DM. This sends a strong signal that you are interested in training

? First select a village and do your village assignment. Try and complete this by September ? Meet District Judge and get some IPC cases transferred to your court. Try at least six cases before December ? Do some revenue cases, CrPC cases and administrative enquiries before December
After Office- hours

? You can play badminton in the Revenue Club or other Officers Club ? Plan your marriage ? Concentrate on IT projects and try to improvise
time is not a constraint, try and go through relevant files during each attachment.
? Normally, independent SDO(Civil) charge is not given; you can expect charge as Circle Officer ? Do not miss attachments with District Jail, SP and Police ? Since bifurcation of Assam and Meghalaya officers is done only at the end of district training, officers allotted to Meghalaya miss out on detailed exposure to the state, beyond the common one month Meghalaya attachment

? Learn as much as you can and enjoy your probation to the fullest ? Give due respect to all seniors, be they from an All India Service or otherwise. Their response to your training needs hinges critically on this ? Make good friends with all ACS officers of your district. They will generally not leave you alone in problems. ? Do not avoid taking up responsibilities during probation, as you can exercise authority without being held totally accountable for your mistakes. Seniors will always be willing to overlook your mistakes and correct them ? Do not be allergic towards addressing your seniors as Sir it pays in the long run
ASSAM-MEGHALAYA
Abhishek Bhagotia (North Lakhimpur, abhishekbhagotia@gmail.com) N.Geoffrey (Nagaon, gningthoujam@gmail.com) Vijay Kumar Mantri (Sibsagar, mantrivijaykumar@gmail.com) Virendra Mittal (Dibrugarh, virendra8@rediffmail.com)

? We went without any prejudices and enjoyed our training ? Working environment is good, though it is quite casual and people are generally friendly ? Bureaucracy is cohesive and socio-economic conditions are quite similar to those in states like UP and Bihar ? The pace of work is slow ? Files are invariably put up by assistants in Assamese

? Shri K.K. Dwivedi, IAS (1996)
? Shri G.D. Tripathi, IAS (1998) ? Shri. Ashutosh Agnihotri, IAS (1999) ? Shri Sanjay Goel, IAS (2004)

? There is a well-structured training programme in the cadre, though it is ultimately the DC who decides the specific training inputs. Hence do whatever he/she wants you to do ? The schedule for attachments, though very tight, can prove to be a good guide about what to look out for in each attachment. If
? Shri Anurag Agarwal, IPS ? Shri Anurag Singh, IFoS ? Shri Sarangpani Sharma, ACS
? For service related issues, contact dependable seniors in the IAS. For other problems, you should approach Addl. D.C.s who are generally ACS officers.
Pecuniary Matters
? Go to AG Office in Guwahati while you are in Guwahati for the ATI training and request them to expedite the preparation and despatch of your Pay Bill. Try and get the pay bill in your hand before leaving for the district ? As soon as you go to the district, meet the Finance and Accounts Officer and settle all your TA/DA bills and salary arrears. ? When applying for HRA, apply as Assistant Commissioner and not as IAS(P). ? Your TA/DA are determined by Assam Govt. Rules ? Get yourself a copy of Swamys handbook, since the accounts staff are not very well-versed and you will have to tell them the relevant rules. ? Be in touch with your immediate seniors
not flaunt it
? Give advice/suggestions only when they are solicited, especially in official meetings ? Do keep your DC in good humour. Meet him daily until he says no to it

? Do not go for daily diaries; instead go for analytical notes ? Be regular with your D.O letters. This is not so much for the marks awarded by the Academy, but your Secretary (Personnel) is constantly watching and assessing you. He stays in regular touch with your DC to ascertain your training progress ? For the village study assignment, consult your immediate seniors. ? Take up law cases as early as possible in your training, with your DCs permission.

? This varies from DC to DC. Generally they are receptive to your requests for leave. ? Talk to your DC about what he used to do during his probation days this could be a pointer for you
? As long as you are carrying all the required data, you can complete the DAP/ESP once you reach the Academy
After Office- hours

? Build up a good social circle in the district amongst ACS/APS, CRPF/Army/Assam Rifles officers. ? Accept party invitations; dont be a hopeless teetotaller! ? Wimax is there in all districts. So get a connection to your Circuit House Room for internet. Be good with NIC officers for all computer related favours. ? If you are single, try and fix up your marriage!
Creature Comforts:
? Circuit House accommodation is provided, which is good in most districts ? In case you are not provided with a TV in the room, you could request the DC for it. ? The cooks in the Circuit House can be asked to make food according to your choice. Paying him periodic tips can ensure his loyalty and sincerity.

? Try to be a good listener and observer to understand the DC ? Talk to him/her, ascertain his/her priority areas in the district and try and get involved in these with prior permission ? Be very modest with the DC. Even if you have lots of talent, do
During my BDO charge, I slapped a school headmaster and had a tough time subsequently, negotiating with the Headmasters Association. Elections taught me the tricks of fire-fighting with utmost secrecy - Geoffrey

? Attend all the meetings conducted by the DM atleast once ? Handle some of the files in the sections during attachments. Read the Citizens charter of each section ? Do your court work properly. Ensure that you handle atleast one encroachment and one certificate case ? Independent charge as BDO is the highlight. Make the most of it ? Read the basic State Acts and guidelines ? Go through the Dak in the office religiously ? The treasury training however, is excessively long and the duration can be easily reduced
BIHAR
Deepak Anand (Bhagalpur, dipaksitamarhi@gmail.com) Dr. Neeraj Kharwal (Jehanabad, neeraj.kharwal@gmail.com) Gopal Meena (Motihari, gopalmeena.ias@gmail.com) Jai Singh (Gaya, jaisinghsonu@gmail.com) Manoj Kumar (Gopalganj, manojkr81@gmail.com) Sanjay Kumar Singh (Muzzafarpur,sanjaysingh.ias@gmail.com) Vinod Singh Gunjiyal (Patna, vsgun2000@gmail.com)
? Call on ALL the seniors officers atleast once ? Sit with the Bada Babu of each section ? Check the cash book and bank reconciliation statements before taking any independent charge ? Call on the Accountant General

? Mr. Vivek Kumar, IAS (1989)

? First impression is that its not a good cadre-there is excessive political interference. People were also apprehensive about our safety. After spending one year in the district, one realises that the cadre is good and people have a lot of faith and respect for an IAS officer ? Working environment is good ? Officers have a substantial degree of autonomy ? Systems are well entrenched ? Unlike other capital cities, Patna qualifies as a good training district (thanks to the efforts of Dr. B. Rajendra, IAS, 1995 batch) as long as you are prepared to be proactive
? Dr. B. Rajendra, IAS (1995) ? Mr. Ratn Sanjay, IPS (1998) ? Mr. Bala Murgan, IAS (2005) ? DG, BIPARD
Pecuniary Matters
? Go through the files of earlier probationers in the Sthapna section ? ADM(Establishment) is the key person ? Go through the booklet provided by BIPARD on powers of DDO and office procedures ? Keep in touch with some section officer in the AG office in order
to sort out any confusions

? Maintain a file to record details of each months salary, TA/DA, etc.
After Office- hours

? Play games with the DM, SP, IPS/BPS probationer ? If in Patna, utilise the facilities of the Secretariat Sports Club and Patna Club. Even the Circuit house has a gym and a Table tennis table ? Listen to music, watch TV ? Interact with your batch mates

? Leave depends on the District Magistrate, but is generally not a problem ? If you want a long leave (earned leave) or during independent charge, apply in a formal way
Creature Comforts:
? Accommodation is provided in the Circuit house. There is no need to pay in the Circuit house, but you cant claim HRA ? Vehicle (Tata SUMO) is easily available ? Food in the Circuit House is tolerable ? You are also provided a bodyguard and peon
An enterprising lady Block Pramukh had made life hell for all previous BDOs in a particular block. On assuming BDOship of this particular block, she tried to extract favours out of me and get cuts in the block developmental projects. When persuasion and coercion didnt work, she resorted to threats and started maligning my character. Thanks to the support of my DM, I succeeded in falsifying her allegations and putting her behind bars.- Gopal Meena

? Dont pester him too much. Be a silent observer ? Be polite and courteous to him and try and read his mind ? Accompany him on tours ? Discuss personal issues with him as and when required

? At the very beginning, read the district training manual carefully so that you remain vigilant enough to grasp and document any opportunity/situation that you observe during the training period ? Else, solicit the help of your seniors.
? Getting trained in the capital (Raipur) is problematic as nobody has time

? Training is not well structured; the ATI doesnt have much of a role ? Do not miss out on revenue training, independent charges as prescribed, meetings called by the Collector (especially Time Limit meetings) ? It would be advisable to complete all attachments to get a holistic view of the administrative setup ? Be prepared for independent charges during the second half of your training
CHATTISGARH
Basavaraju S. (Rajnandgaon, bbenaka@gmail.com) Him Shikar Gupta (Kawardha, himshikhargupta@gmail.com) K.C. Devasenapathi (Bilaspur, kc_deva@rediffmail.com) Mohammad Qaiser Abdulhaque (Kanker, mqadbulhaque@yahoo.com) Shammi Abidi (Raipur, shammiabidi@gmail.com) Yashwant Kumar (Sarguja, yashwant_ias@rediffmail.com)

? Complete all important attachments like police, finance, judiciary, treasury, municipal corporation, tribal section, etc. before you take up independent charges ? Try to call on as many senior officers as possible ? Learn as much as you can by observing and travelling
Key officers in the cadre who are supportive First Impressions and Working Environment
? There were loads of apprehensions to start with- Naxalism, backwardness, poverty, etc. Most of them proved to be unfounded at the end of the year. Naxalism is an issue, but one gets used to it ? There is immense to scope to do welfare work for the tribals ? The hierarchy is strict and formal. ? Since there is a paucity of officers, be prepared to hold substantial independent charges (including that of SDM) during probation itself ? It is as good or as bad as any mainland north Indian cadre. The legacy of Madhya Pradesh continues ? Mr. Vikas Sheel, IAS (1994 ) ? Mr. Subodh Kumar Singh, IAS (1997 ) ? Mr. Amit Kataria, IAS (2004 ) ? Mr. O.P. Choudhary, IAS (2005 ) ? Mr. Rajat Kumar, IAS (2005 ) ? Mr. Arif Sheikh, IPS (2005 ) ? Ms. Shruti Singh, IAS (2006 )
Pecuniary Matters
? Tax planning needs personal attention- consult a professional tax consultant ? There is no need to worry about salary and allowance related issues- they get sorted out ? Remember to claim the tribal allowance of Rs.300 in tribal areas

? Punctuality is rewarded-matter (content) doesnt matter so much ? Get hold of your seniors assignments and use them as guides
After Office- hours

? Generally, most of the districts have an Officers Club-join it asap.

? Granting of leave depends on the DM ? It is better to ask for leave in the second half of training ? The best way is to ask for leave for a few days and then extend it afterwards! ? French leave is possible in some cases
? Read books, listen to music, watch movies
Observing two elections, back to back, in a Naxal infested district was quite an experience. One of the polling booths was in an area which was
Creature Comforts:
? Accommodation is easily available. Cook, peon, etc can also be managed ? The type of facilities available differs from district to district ? One easily gets a vehicle (even an A/C one)-generally a Bolero. In Bilaspur and Raipur, an Ambassador is given ? For South Indians, food is a bit problematic, if not accustomed to North Indian cuisine
so completely dominated by Naxals that any outsider venturing into it was greeted with a hail of bullets. In such a scenario, there was no way the polling party could go there and bogus voting (with equal votes to each candidate) was resorted to. When the Election Commission found out, it ordered re-polling. Three futile and unsuccessful repolls later, the Commission finally decided to shift the location of the polling station to a non-naxal area! - Mohammad Qaiser Abdulhaque

? Be a silent observer ? It will pay to keep him/her in good humour, he/she will be more than willing to share his experiences with you ? You can request the DC to give independent charge when you feel you are prepared
? Officers are highly respected by and also in turn give respect to MLAs, MPs and Ministers ? District Administration is an event management set up in nature which also administers. ? Accommodation at ATI is reasonably good with all creature comforts provided for by Government standards. However, the food is oily and the staff is scarce leading to unreturned calls for tea or other such essentials

? Language grasp and understanding revenue and law and order issues from SDM perspective is a must do.
GUJARAT
Ardra Agarwal (Bharuch, ardra22@gmail.com) Dilip Kumar Rana (Banaskantha, deelip_rana@yahoo.com) Ravi Shankar (Mehsana, ravi.ias@nic.in) Remya Mohan (Valsad, remyalara@gmail.com) Sandip Sagale (Junagadh, sandipsagale@gmail.com)
? Understanding village forms is essential ? All independent charges must be exercised earnestly as they are great learning opportunities ? One should maintain a low profile and good relationships with all officers in district of All India and State Services as far as possible. ? One should never throw weight around unless actually pushed to the brink. In Gujarat, humility is highly respected and the culture is that of getting respect only if one gives it to any other person irrespective of any other criteria. ? All attachments are not useful unless the officer one is attached with is interested in training. So, after a few days, if it is obvious that the attachment is giving no results, one can try to involve oneself in something more productive with the permission of the collector.

? Simplicity of the people is the first thing that strikes you-the people are welcoming and friendly ? Systematic and well-set administrative structure ? Officer-oriented functioning with a large multi-tasking burden formally placed on all Class-I officers ? The hierarchy is not very strict and rigid. From the seniormost to the junior most levels, there is a lot of interaction and seniors are very accessible and open to problems and concerns of the juniors. It is in essence a very informal cadre ? Corporate style of functioning with parts of the office starting by 9 and going on till night time ? A large number of development theme based functions and festivals are run by government in the form of mahotsavs and yatras. ? Close links exist between administration and corporate world

? Do spend maximum time under the guidance and leadership of the collector and try to get independent assignments from him/her. ? Never try to take decisions without consulting the collector or do things which the collector has explicitly asked you to stay away from. ? Do call on all senior officers

? Mr. I.P. Gautam, IAS (1984) ? Mr. B.B. Swain, IAS (1988)-Director General of the ATI (SPIPA). In case of any difficulties in Ahmedabad, you can approach him. ? Mrs. Anita Karwal, IAS (1988) ? Mr. Ashwini Kumar, IAS (1997) ? Mr. Ajay Bhadoo, IAS (1999) ? Mrs. Arti Kanwar, IAS (2001) ? In the case of Valsad, either the Collector, Mr.R.B. Dave or the Resident Deputy Collector and A.D.M, Mr.Gunwant Sinh Solanki can be approached.
Creature Comforts:
? Food in the Circuit house is rather unpalatable (but beyond a point, one gets used to that as well) and eating out regularly is also not a good option as generally, there is high oil content and lots of sugar. ? While in office, generally food is provided by the officers with whom we are attached or by the Collector. ? If one is inclined, it is best to try for a quarter through the Collector or Resident Deputy Collector and start cooking as soon as possible. An application has to be filed with the Roads and Building Executive Engineer in order to get a quarter. ? Provision of facilities such as a cook, vehicle etc solely depends on the discretion of the collector or the Resident Deputy Collector. However, the basic needs such as pick up and drop to and from office, vehicle for touring and other matters are always taken care of. ? A lot of these matters depend on the relationship maintained between the probationer and the other officers. ? But, during independent charge, one always gets the vehicle allotted to the officer whose charge you are temporarily holding.
Pecuniary Matters
? Claim TA for travel from Mussoorie as soon as possible before it lapses. ? Submit Bharat Darshan bills well in time. ? Medical bills cannot be reimbursed. One gets a regular Rs.100 per month. ? Regularly get train tickets and accommodation bills for official purposes reimbursed. ? Be in touch with the Account Section head of the Collectorate regarding entitlements, increments ? Maintain a regular file of copies of bills etc

? Keep an open mind regarding direct recruit and state service officers, keep no preconceived notions about either ? It is just about understanding the nature and priorities of the person and fitting in to his/her scheme of things without being a hindrance ? The probationer is a very good sounding board for the DC in many cases. This is a very good learning opportunity for the probationer. ? Travelling with the Collector can be a good learning opportunity ? Be friendly and pleasant, without overdoing it.

? This largely depends on the Collector. However, when there are situations of exigency, Elections or other Government programs, it is a regular practice in Gujarat for leave to be banned. In such situations, leave is granted only in case of extremely urgent situations. ? It is best to be frank with the Collector and discuss ones problems in order to take leave.

? Village study assignment is the most painful and unproductive of the lot. It really needs to be re-designed. Try and finish it off during the T.D.O independent spell. ? The history of land reforms component in the land reforms study (part of village study) is common for each year. It is still unclear why probationers year after year are asked to compile it afresh when it is a static piece of data. Please procure it from senior batches who have served in the same district. ? Maintain at least two to three lines of a daily diary so that sending it at the end of the month (or year) does not mean weekends and holidays lost slogging over a laptop. ? Space out the projects throughout the year so that they all dont end up burdening you at the end of probation when you need time to pack up and go home. ? Choose District Assignments and Experience Sharing Presentations with care and make sure you have interest in the topic. Otherwise, it will be difficult to handle questions later when presenting it in front of your batch in the academy.
We were once travelling to Baroda during our state darshan in a Lal Batti Innova. Half an hour into the journey we were stopped by a couple of bystanders who wanted a lift. On being told that we were IAS probationers on an official journey, they assured us that they would pay for the trip and enquired Which company do you people work for?!
After Office- hours

? Develop a good social circle with suitable officers and their families ? Bring family over to stay with you, as in probation, it is easier to manage time and spend time with them ? Try not to get in a rut by pursuing whatever hobbies and interests you had before joining service. ? If you are an outsider, make it a point to spend some time at least on weekends with a vernacular newspaper ? In Bharuch, one can play/work out in the Sports Complex situated in GNFC township
? The cadre also encourages officers to go on training programmes

? Training at HIPA is not very productive. ? Inputs on local laws and the Haryana Darshan are very good; inputs on Haryana are inadequate ? Several independent charges are given. Do ask for a month of SDO (Civil) charge ? Focus on your revenue training ? Get week long attachments with other departments reduced to a day or two ? Try and work on some independent project
HARYANA
Atul Kumar Dwivedi (Faridabad, atulkrdwivedi@gmail.com) Dusmanta Kumar Behera (Rohtak, b_dusmanta@yahoo.co.in) Makarand Khetmalis (Hissar, just.makarand@gmail.com) Mona P. Sreenivas, 2006 Batch (Hissar, Mahendragarh, monapruthi@gmail.com)

? Attend all informal gatherings; these can teach a lot about the society and culture of the state ? Call on all senior officers in the Secretariat ? Maintain good relations with the HCS officers. Some of them are very knowledgeable ? Be careful of what you speak. It is a very small cadre, so spoken words and reputation travels far and fast. ? Learn to respect the local traditions and culture

? First impressions were good and only kept improving during training ? Positive work environment ? Officers from other states are respected and seen as more impartial ? Camp office culture is prevalent ? The cadre is really appreciative of good work. ? Being a small cadre, there is a close-knit relationship between seniors and juniors in the service. ? The working of the bureaucracy has a tendency to revolve around the Chief Minister ? Since routine work is not very pressing, newer initiatives that are off the beaten track can be taken up

? Shri R.S Doon, IAS (DPS to CM) ? Shri P.C Meena, IAS ( DC, Rohtak) ? Divisional Commissioner ? Special Secretary (Personnel) ? Officers of 2001 batch onwards are generally receptive and friendly
Pecuniary Matters
? Take the help of the Nazir and the Dealing Assistant in the Establishment section. ? Join in the district as fast as possible. This will ensure that you get your salary and other dues in time. ? Getting any bill cleared in Ambala is generally a big problem. Circumvent it

? Start off an assignment early on ? Solicit the help of an English-knowing Panchayat Secretary for the Village Study ? Try and send off all assignments from the district so that you have no burden of work during Phase II. But do keep a copy for yourself because they tend to get misplaced in the Academy ? Dig out old reports, especially by NGOs in your district for help in writing assignments

? Leave depends entirely on the DC. Normally you can expect ten days of leave. ? Tactic of asking for leave is dependent on the nature of your DC. You can always try out repeated polite requests and excuses that cannot be denied ? Do not disappear from the district without informing the DC
After Office- hours

? Call on officers in other districts ? Read up on state laws ? Use sports facilities ? Get married ? Never miss any party
Creature Comforts:
? Accommodation is provided in the PWD Guest House (try and capture an AC room) or a house ( in case you have your family with you). Accommodation can be a problem in places like Gurgaon ? You can expect a Bolero at the least to be at your disposal ? Food is never a problem ? For other creature comforts, you can always tap the resources of the ADC

? See the DC at least once every day ? Ask him/her to entrust a project like SSA with you ? Do take a look at his/her file notings closely ? You can learn something even from a bad boss ? Request him/her to mark files/enquiries to you ? Find the right time and place to discuss your problems with the DC

? Most of the officers are approachable. My DC, Mr. Kamlesh Pant, was very supportive. ? Ms. Mamta, IAS (2004) ? Ms. Meera Mohanti (2005)
Pecuniary Matters
HIMACHAL PRADESH
Shainamol A. (Kangra, shainaias@gmail.com)
? All money matters are routed through the ATI and therefore you will not have much of a problem
Leave Rules and Conventions First Impressions and Working Environment

? I was told by seniors that HP is a very peaceful state, an informal cadre with a good working environment and very little political interference. Everything except the last was proved to be correct. There is a lot of political interference, however criminalisation of politics has yet not happened. ? There are lots of areas in which you can work without any interference from outside agencies. However, if you disturb anyones vested interest, you will start getting calls from above ? During probation, it is easy to get leave. If you complete your assignments well in time, there will not be any problem in taking leave.
Creature Comforts:
? In Kangra, there is a single room that has traditionally been earmarked for the probationers with a small kitchen attached to it. ? With regard to other amenities, it will be advisable not to go with any great expectations

? The training programme is very well-structured in Kangra, since it is a traditional training district

? Be polite to your DC and try to develop a good personal equation with him/her from day one. ? You should periodically brief your DC about your training

? During the first two weeks of training, you will be attached to HIPA and the main task during this period is to call on Secretaries. Make full use of it , since everyone will be very affectionate and considerate to you as the juniormost officer of the cadre. This is the best time to establish good relations with your senior colleagues in the cadre.

? In the initial months of training, you will have plenty of time at your disposal. The only time when you will be busy is when you start handling independent charges. So, prepare a schedule and fix a time line for the completion of the assignments
After Office- hours

? In Kangra, there is a police ground near the place where you stay. The Dhauladhar Range looks amazing from there. There are badminton and volleyball courts as well. You can make use of them.

? Do all attachments and independent charges for sure. Do a lot of touring. Be extremely cautious in law and order issues. ? Always try to be in touch with young recruits of your cadre and keep taking their advice on different matters. It is actually very helpful. ? Dont risk your life and never leave the police cordon. You are not armed and not experienced. I nearly lost my life once. In the end it boils down to each one for his/her own.
JAMMU & KASHMIR

Yasha Mudgal (Reasi, ryasha.k@gmail.com)
? Dont enter into unnecessary arguments with your DC. This would create an uncomfortable situation between you and him/her and this would not augur well for your training as well as your stay in the district. ? Dont mix up too much with your staff. Be polite, humble and pleasant but always maintain a safe distance. In J&K people do not know where to draw the line. They try to get extremely informal. Dont encourage them. ? Never be disrespectful to any of the state service officers. They know a lot. It is your only chance. Respect them and show a lot of courtesy to them. Learn from them. If you treat them as your teachers they would be more than forthcoming in sharing their knowledge and experience with you and would also give you a lot of respect and would keep reminding you that tomorrow you are going to be their BOSS!

? Since J&K is perceived as a negative cadre I was a little apprehensive about it initially but at the same time, I was quite excited to go and see for myself as to what are the conditions prevalent in the cadre. It is a good cadre perceived negatively, and the perceived threat to life and security is exaggerated. ? Conditions are quite normal now in most of the areas. Like every other cadre it has its own positive and negative aspects. Well, does that sound rhetorical? Ok. Let me put it this way : on a scale of 0 to 10 where 0 is the worst cadre and 10 being the best I would not rate J&K as 0 or 10 but somewhere close to 6.5 to 7. ? The district was also good but being a new district I got less exposure of certain things.

? All officers starting from 2003 batch onwards in J&K can be approached without any apprehension. They all are cool, dynamic and helpful and extremely prompt in advising you on the right course of action.

? Do all attachments. I learnt a lot on almost every attachment. ? The SICOP and SIDCO attachments are very long. Complete them quickly and take a trip home. It will be refreshing. ? While in your district, try to visit the office of the PWD and PHE Ex. En. Learn about their work. This will help when you take up your SDM charge.
Pecuniary Matters
? As soon as you join the district start pressing them for your arrears as, they generally take a lot of time in calculating and crediting it to you. ? Take your DCs help if he/she is a direct recruit. ? Claim all your medical bills. ? Claim you TA/DA for State Darshan in time, it is a good amount. These have to be claimed from IMPA. Keep all your lodging bills of State Darshan intact as you would need these to attach them with your TA/DA claims. ? Ask the district people to prepare your tax statement. Try to save full one lakh that you are permitted to. This is the beginning of your life. You would be able to save a lot at this time.

? Do the work he/she gives you very seriously and regularly. ? Keep him/her updated about your attachments. Seek his/her advice on issues of your training attachments. ? Try to know his/her temperament and work accordingly. ? Attend every meeting that the DC is holding or attending. Try to attend high profile meetings as well. Try to assist him in event management activities. ? Press for independent charges. Please dont shy away from them as one learns tremendously during them. ? Tour a lot both with him/her as well as independently. You would learn a lot about field realities which is important as our initial 10 years are directly linked to the field.

? Two trips 10 days each is good enough. This is excluding the trip you will make home, at the end of your probation just before joining LBSNAA. Whether you will get leave or not depends on your DC. The best way to go about the leave is to say that you have become very Home Sick with a sad face. They really buy that in J&K. It worked for me. Worth giving a shot.!!

? Write about what you have really done and something that has touched you in some way. ? For the rest taking INSPIRATION from your seniors is not at all a bad idea!
After Office- hours Creature Comforts:

? As far as accommodation and vehicle are concerned it again depends on the DC. In the valley one might face a problem of vehicle but in the Jammu region these things are generally provided to the probationers. But the experiences widely differ across batches in this regard. My experience was very good. ? As far as food is concerned they put a lot of oil and spices in it. If you are a non vegetarian J&K is heaven for you. Vegetarians generally experience a problem in the Valley. But whenever you go there try to get a stay in the Tourist Reception Center there. They make delicious vegetarian food. ? Cultivate a hobby. ? Call on senior officers. ? Attend formal and official parties. ? Read the State acts and laws. ? Chat with your friends and batch mates on the phone. ? Be in regular touch with recent batch officers of your cadre. At times I really benefited from their advice.

? Go with passion to work for the development of the newly created state ? Interact with your clerical staff ? Observe and learn without commenting ? When you are with seniors, always be polite and discreet
JHARKHAND
Shuchi Tyagi (Ranchi, sty008@gmail.com)
? Avinash Kumar, IAS (1993) ? Sunil Burnval, IAS (1998) ? PA to DC Ranchi

? Naxal infested state but with immense potential ? Good working conditions ? Staff are generally obedient and co-operative
Pecuniary Matters
? Establishment section of the Collectorate takes care of these issues

? Leave is generally not a problem, but it depends on the DM

? There is a systematic training structure followed in the state that covers all the important aspects ? The ATI training is divided into two phases; the first phase is for seven weeks and the second phase is for four weeks which is held later on during district training ? The revenue training component is very important; so pay more attention to it ? Jharkand Darshan is an enjoyable experience; make the most of it
Creature Comforts:
? Circuit House accommodation is provided to the probationer ? Other creature comforts like vehicle, food etc. are not a problem ? Nazarat Deputy Collector is responsible for arranging all this for the probationer

? Try to spend as much time as possible with your DC ? Observe him/her carefully and ask your doubts if he/she is in the mood

? Complete and submit them before coming to the Academy
After Office- hours

? Pursue your hobbies ? Interact with your batch mates and seniors ? Read ? Listen to music ? Shop-not necessarily till you drop, but off and on!
? Closely observe the working of the DC office

? Equip yourself with complete information about service related matters ? Be polite with subordinates and build up a good rapport with all officers in the district ? Keep in close touch with your batchmates in other districts ? Read the District Gazette ? Try clearing all papers regularly
KARNATAKA
Anurag Tewari (Shimoga, anurag_tewari@rediffmail.com) K.P. Mohanraj (Belgaum, kpmohanrajias@gmail.com) Dr. Thrilok Chandra K.V. (Mangalore, drthrilokias@gmail.com)

? Shri M.Y. Reju, Deputy Secretary, DPAR, Bangalore ? Smt. Amita Prasad, D.G, ATI

? It was a mix of eager anticipation and apprehensions. However, the experience was very positive ? The working environment and the cadre management systems are fairly good ? The minutes system prevails in the district, which is given by peoples representatives recommending actions to a particular official within their area of jurisdiction. MLAs are very powerful ? There are different types of land records maintenance in Bombay, Karnataka, Hyderabad and Old Mysore areas ? Corruption and nepotism are rampant at the lower rungs
Pecuniary Matters
? Try to get all pending salary (pending from joining the Academy up to joining the ATI) during your stay at the ATI, before going to the district.This was done for our batch by our Course Coordinator at the ATI ? Be well-versed with all finance related GOs and rules ? File your IT returns on time
Leave Rules and Conventions Training Structure and Focus Areas

? ATI training is well structured ? Good exposure to all departments ? Take the Tehsildar charge seriously and learn how Taluk offices function. ? You will get leave as per rules ? Time your leaves properly, as per urgency of need, suitability and feelings of the DC. ? Give proper justification when asking for leave
Creature Comforts:
? A good rapport with the DC will help in getting accommodation and vehicle soon. Sometimes, accommodation is provided in the DC Bungalow; for instance in Belgaum, one room is set aside in the DC Bungalow for the probationer. You may also be given a separate quarters. ? You will be provided with a car or jeep depending on the availability. But do not expect to get it solely by virtue of your being an IAS probationer ? Food will be a problem for North Indians
I learnt a lot about policing by synchronizing my police attachment with the Ganapathy ablution in Belgaum. Also, the conduct of the Winter Session of Karnataka Legislative Assembly in Belgaum was a great experience. - K.P. Mohanraj

? Do not avoid spending time with the DC ? Be polite in your speech and do not pester him/her with silly demands ? Be eager to learn new things

? Consult with your seniors ? Try and finish most of it in the early part of training when you do not have much to do
After Office- hours

? Try to spend each weekend in a different place; you will learn a lot about the district and the state ? Devote time to learning Kannada and speaking it with locals ? In Belgaum, you can join the Belgaum club and learn golf at the Desur Club or at the Military Golf Club

? Training structure is highly flexible, which at times is a dampener ? Training is structured around a series of Government Orders (GOs) ? Be fully involved in the Collectorate attachment ? Attend the meetings of other departments called by the Collector ? The revenue part is a must do, the panchayat part is a let-go.

? Do not pick fights with the Deputy Collectors ? Keep calling on senior officers of all services
KERALA
Ajit Patil (Ernakulam, ajit.b.patil@gmail.com) Prasanth N. (Kozhikode, prasanthllb@gmail.com)
? Media is very active. Hence be careful and friendly while dealing with them ? Be courteous to politicians of all levels ? Reserve the epithet Sir for ministers & senior officers only. MLAs & MPs may be addressed as MLA or MP. ? Be friendly and courteous to subordinate staff and your driver

? Apprehensions about the cadre are misplaced ? Cadre-seniors are helpful and friendly ? IAS officers command a lot of respect ? Kerala Society places a high premium on education and knowledge and working with an educated, aware public is a good experience ? An egalitarian society that is as removed from a feudalistic and mai-baap administrative culture as possible; quite similar to a western setting. ? Near informal behaviour of Chief Minister, Ministers and all senior officers

? Dr. Venu IAS (1990 ) ? Dr. A Jayathilak IAS (1991) ? Dr. B Ashok IAS (1998 ) ? Dr. Beena IAS (1999) ? Shri. Dinesh Arora IAS (2002 ) ? Shri. Rathan Kelkar IAS (2003 ) ? Shri. Pranab Jyothinath IAS (2005)
Pecuniary Matters
? Call on the Accountant General (AG) while in Thiruvananthapuram for the ATI attachment ? Get the pay slip issued from the AGs Office in the first month itself ? February Salary bill should show Income-tax deduction ( Form 16 to be obtained from the District Treasury) ? Call on the Treasury Officer in your district ? Ensure that your Confidential Assistant (CA) consults other experienced CAs as well as the CA of your District Collector ? Gather an idea of your TA entitlements from your District Financial Officer ? Claim all your TAs by month end

? Ask intelligent questions ? Be a keen listener ? Show your competence ? Have the wisdom to keep ones mouth shut at the right place

? A lot of material on the topics given for DAP/ESP etc are available on the Internet ? You can use them to supplement what you have observed first hand ? Try to submit them on time, since this is what ultimately matters in the Academy

? Intimate the DC of your leave plans in advance ? The best way is to ask for leave giving the true reasons. Most Collectors are considerate about leave. ? Very often formal leave may not be necessary if the Collector has been taken into confidence. ? Be mentally prepared to work throughout the week when work load is high
After Office- hours

? Most districts have a stadium/badminton court/gymnasium etc ? Partying is also an available option as seniors are generous hosts ? Explore the tourist spots in and around your district ? Expand your acquaintances beyond the bureaucratic circle. ? You could consider the option of falling in love. It does not eliminate boredom or depression, but certainly delays it
Creature Comforts:
? Quarters/ Rental accommodation may be arranged. HRA can be availed, so you can claim it and rent a house ? Intimate the DC of your need for an accommodation in advance. ? Instruct the Assistant Executive Engineer in detail about the repairs that have to be undertaken while you are in ATI, Thiruvananthapuram ? Vehicle with attendant administrative paraphernalia to be arranged in consultation with the DC. This largely depends on the D.C and the district. ? Better get used to South Indian food; genuine North Indian food is rare to come by

? Take your ATI training seriously. It will help you during your stint in the district ? Accept independent charge of SDM etc. only after completing your assignments ? Draw up a schedule for attachments to various departments in the district in consultation with the Collector ? Keep 2-3 days aside for revenue courts every week

? At all times be reverent towards your Collector
MADHYA PRADESH
Madan Nagargoje (Ujjain, madankumar.ias@gmail.com) Sanket Bhondve (Jhabua, sanket.ias@gmail.com) Shriman Shukla (Jabalpur, shrimanshukla@gmail.com) Swatantra Kumar Singh (Sagar, swatantra81@gmail.com) Swati Meena (Gwalior, swatijhirwal@gmail.com)
? Develop good informal relations with your SDM/Tahsildar ? Take interest in all aspects of administration ? Try to go on raids with the Police/Forest officials ? Do not try to advise your DC ? Do not undervalue the importance of clarifying legal issues informally by interacting with the important district functionaries like the District Judge, Chief Judicial Magistrate and others ? Interaction with villagers is exciting. Hence make the most of it.

? A Hindi belt state with an eclectic cultural mix ? Neither too formal nor too informal ? Even insiders may have to do some coping up. ? Outsiders and insiders given an equal opportunity to prove their mettle ? Probationer is treated like the Collectors child. Hence behave like one.

? Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla, IAS (1994 ) ? Shri Ajatshatru Shrivastava, IAS (1996) ? Shri Pawan Sharma, IAS (1999 ) ? Collector is the first point of contact in all matters. Knowledgeable Additional Collectors may also be contacted for professional matters
Pecuniary Matters
? On money matters the first point of contact should be the Offcer-in-charge, Finance (Deputy Collector/ Joint Collector). Do not talk directly to the dealing clerk ? Discuss with batch mates to keep a tab on your pecuniary entitlements

? Village Assignments to be taken up when you have independent charge of CEO, Janpad Panchayat ? Ensure you finish your assignments in your district so that you can enjoy your Phase II with your batchmates ? Keep sending your assignments regularly. It is important to have submitted an assignment. The quality aspect is a later concern

? Intimate the DC about your leave plans in advance ? Requests for leave should be well-spaced ? You are entitled to approximately the following days: Casual Leave-10, Earned Leave-25, Medical Leave-10
After Office- hours

? Keep playing one sport of your choice ? MP is a good place to put your photographic skills to good use ? Regularly meet up with other officers in the district
Creature Comforts:
? Circuit House/Guest House accommodation will be given ? Request Divisional Commissioner for room allotment ( not at the first meeting) ? Vehicle is provided but do not demand a particular make or any specific vehicle ? The Collector is the key person, hence the provision of a lot of amenities and facilities may depend on him

? Be nice and loyal to the DC ? Do not pass on any privileged information of the Collector that you have on to others ? Do not try to manipulate your DC

? The five weeks of ATI training at Yashada are very systematic and structured ? There is a lot of focus on procedural aspects of legal matters and land records

? Keep in close touch with the Collector ? During attachments, build good relations with heads of departments as they can come in handy later on ? Call on Police, Forest, Judicial, Revenue, Customs and other Departmental Heads
MAHARASHTRA
Dr. Amit Saini (Ratnagiri, dr_amitsaini@yahoo.com) Ashwin Mudgal (Nashik, ashwin.mudgal@gmail.com) Dr. Madhavi Khode (Nagpur, drsurmadhu@gmail.com) Dr. Nirupama Dange (Aurangabad, docniru@gmail.com) Sachindra Pratap Singh (Kolhapur, sachindraps@gmail.com)
? Undertake maximum touring of the district to gain first hand knowledge ? If you smoke or drink, do not do so openly

? Shri.Shekar Gaikwad (Asst. Professor, Yashada) ? Shri Praveen Darade IAS (1998) (Collector, Nagpur)

? The positive first impressions have only been enhanced during the course of training ? One of the most professional cadres with a development oriented bureaucracy ? Formal working style ? Political interface is positive and cordial ? Good practices like maintaining monthly diaries and structured tour programmes exist ? People are helpful and listen to you patiently ? Knowledge of laws is a pre-requisite in this cadre ? There are regional variations: Marathwada presents certain challenges of an underdeveloped state; in Western Maharashtra work is well structured and there is an emphasis on timeliness; Vidarbha has a system of thorough file notings.
Pecuniary Matters
? Get your salary slip early on ? Accounts Officer of Collectorate ? HRA is deducted if house is availed and in case of accommodation in govt. guest houses, you have to pay your own bills ? Academy dues, TA and Salary Advances must be given first priority in money matters ? Get in touch with seniors/GAD for your service matters

? Unlimited, but with the consent of the Collector ? The schedule of training is very tight, however you can take leave during attachments ? Do not take leave during the last six months of independent charge

? Village Assignment should be completed during your BDO stint ? For the Law Assignments, do pass some orders and get them translated in English ? Submit the language assignments timely. You could take the help of your PAs ? For DAP/ESP, get photographs of work done ? Make one person in the office responsible for sending off the assignments on time ? Keep a personal copy of all assignments. They tend to get misplaced in the Academy
Creature Comforts:
? Accommodation: Govt. Bungalow, Flat or Govt. Guest House. It is better to take an independent house since many a times, one has to move out of the Circuit House temporarily on account of Cabinet meetings or other important programmes in the district ? Vehicle: It is provided attachment wise. There is no problem during last six months of independent charge. Normally it is an Ambassador or Tata Sumo ? Food: North Indian food is generally not available. However, Maharashtrian food is delicious. ? Office Room is not provided but can be requested for from the Collector
After Office- hours

? Join gyms or Officers Cricket competitions ? Visit tourist places, especially the numerous temples ? Outsiders can read good Marathi books and watch Marathi movies to develop their language skills

? The DC being a very busy person will not be able to exclusively devote time for you on all occasions. ? Tour with him/her whenever and wherever possible. ? Observe him/her and never interfere in his/her work ? Attend all important meetings with DC ? Give your advice only when solicited
When I was in Malegaon and went on a sand raid, my Collector called up at 3 in the morning to know how things were going on. Basically, dont take your Collector for a ride, because he/she knows what you are doing I received a Morcha of around 3000 persons headed by the local MLA on the very first day of assuming independent charge as Tehsildar, Malegaon - Ashwin Mudgal
? Law and rule books are less useful in comparison to common sense. However, openness, honesty, high moral integrity and the approach of cultural relativism can be valuable assets for the IAS officers

? Chandel, the district where we were undergoing training is very small and infrastructure is very limited. There is no existing structure for probationers and thats why we faced lots of problems. Situation is different in other districts like Ukhrul and Senapati where probationers go traditionally. ? There is no structured training. You will learn as much as your DC takes interest. ? Attachments with other departments are hardly of any use.
MANIPUR
Chipang Arthur W. (Chandel, c_arthur_w@yahoo.com) Dr. Shailesh Chourasia (Chandel, shailesh.chourasia@gmail.com)
? For outsiders, adapting to the existing local constraints is the
biggest thing.

? We were value neutral towards the cadre before we reached Imphal and then to the district Chandel. The initial three week training in the ATI (Imphal) was frustrating. We started becoming critical especially when, in spite of constant pursuance, we did not get basic facilities like accommodation. Once we reached to the district and met our DC and the SDO we started accepting that things were not in order and survival was the biggest instinct. ? After sometime, the level of expectations went down and we started enjoying small things like bonfire by the river side, fishing and visit to the villages. Actually, things started improving over time. ? By the end of District Training, after we were given independent charge, we started liking the place and the work in spite of knowing that the exposure we were getting was negligible. ? The working in the cadre is based completely on jugad technology and there are no set patterns.

? Talk to your DC well in advance and try to get basic arrangements done in advance. Imphal is a different place and right from the airport you need some one to accompany you. ? Be honest, sincere and open to your DC. Probably, he will be the key person in helping you out. Do not be hesitant in discussing about the problems you face there. ? Call upon the senior officers especially IAS officers in the Secretariat on priority basis although there may not be a structured programme for that. ? Do not keep any bias against the people or culture even if they are strange for you. Try to understand and analyze things in the right perspective. ? People are, in general, very hospitable but being an officer you cannot be very open to everyone. Open slowly through your own observations and peoples responses. ? Never ever venture outside without informing the concerned DC.
? Dont get worked up. Here, everyday will be an interesting experience. It is up to you what you make out of it.

? Behave normal with the DC and try to get some independent work to keep yourself busy.

? Senior officers, in general, are very cooperative especially during the training period. Do not hesitate to approach anyone in case of any problem. However, it is always advisable to keep your DC and the Secretary Personnel informed.

? Most of the assignments do not have relevance in the hill districts of Manipur. Academy also does not expect too much from cadres like Manipur. Try and get maximum things done in the district itself irrespective of the quality of the assignment. ? Actually, we have too many limitations and assignments like village study and law are difficult to do. DO letter and Analytical notes can be and should be sent in time. ? Do not forget to bring some cases related to law with you, even if orders are passed by others, because presentation is a must. Village study is also a must but if you are in a hill district, land related reports need not be submitted.
Pecuniary Matters
? There is a culture of file pushing. It is better to consult the concerned DC and take his/her advice. Most of the time, he/she will be the key person.

? Leave is not a problem provided your DC is convinced. However, it is always good to get proper leave when you go for long holidays.
After Office- hours

? You should be good at counting stars in the sky and if possible name them!
Creature Comforts:
? Accommodation and vehicle are major problems. Everything will depend upon the availability. Unlike other parts of the country, in most of the hill districts hotels, guest houses and taxis are not available. ? Manipur is a heaven for non-vegetarians. However, vegetarians will not have any problem. The average quality of vegetables available is much better than the vegetables available in the mainland cities. ? Nepali cooks are available who can prepare a variety of dishes ranging from North Indian to South Indian. Initially, you may have to train them to cook in accordance with your tastes

? Develop a close rapport with the DC ? Do not be in a hurry to go on leave ? Call on the Chief Secretary, Secretary (P&AR) in a group ? Complete the joining formalities in Kohima and then proceed to your districts

? Shri. HK Khulu (Commissioner) ? Shri. Temjen Toy (Secretary, P&AR) ? Shri. Abhijit Sinha (Secretary, Governor of Nagaland)
NAGALAND
Govind Jaiswal (Phek, govindjaiswal8august@gmail.com) Kesonyu Yhome (Tuensang, kesonyu@gmail.com) Vyasan R. (Mon, vyasanr@gmail.com)
? The Commissioner, Nagaland is the key person to whom all the DCs report
Pecuniary Matters First Impressions and Working Environment

? Initial reservations will be short-lived ? Nagaland has an egalitarian society, hence respect all your subordinates
? The working style in the state is casual.
? Sort out your Pay Slip, TA dues etc when in Kohima, with the Accountant Generals Office. ? Have a good rapport with the Dealing Assistant ( Accounts) & Cashier in the Collectorate ? Call on the District Treasury Officer

? There is no organised training structure in the cadre. ? Ensure that you get a week long Secretariat Attachment (in Kohima) ? Take personal interest in organising a Revenue Training in Dimapur

? Intimate the DC of your leave plans in advance ? Do not ask for leave on Aug 15, Jan 26, during VIP visits etc
Creature Comforts:
? Circuit House/Guest House accommodation will be given ? Request the Commissioner, Kohima for vehicle when you call on him ? Adjusting to the food habits may require some time. You can ask the seniors in the district to suggest a good cook if problems persist
After Office- hours

? Most districts have a stadium ? SIB (State Intelligence Branch) has an officer posted. You can befriend him ? Be on the lookout to make friends with officers of the Assam Rifles who are posted in the district ? Go out for picnics, fishing and swimming along with other officers in the district

? Do not try to be smarter than the DC ? Most DCs are State Service (NCS) Officers so be careful not to step on their toes ? NCS officers are helpful, so be open and free while interacting with them
It was an exciting experience to visit villages and spent time there. We learnt a lot about the local customs and culture by interacting with the villagers during our village visits.

? Village Assignments to be given priority ? Keenly observe the mores in a village. It will come in handy during the DAP & ESP ? Judicial attachment is a difficulty. Attend some case hearings with the ADC (J). You will not be given independent charge to try cases. So get copies of judgements/orders passed by other officers; you will be permitted to present these at the Academy.

? Training is very well structured. DG,GAA(Gopabandhu Academy of Administration)has the authority to allot the districts. ? Training at GAA is not very productive. You need to assert your needs at the academy else you wont be looked after properly. ? Independent BDO charge is a great opportunity. ? Focus on your revenue training. ? Judiciary charge as Spl Judicial Magistrate is a great opportunity to see the judiciary from within. Interact a lot with the local advocates. ? Try and work on some independent project. ? Closely watch and get involved in VIP visits.
ORISSA
Arvind Agrawal (Sundergarh, caarvindagrawal@gmail.com) Balwant Singh (Mayurbhanj, balwantskalewa@gmail.com) Ravindra Pratap Singh (Gangam, rpsinghias@yahoo.co.in) Sachin Jadhav (Angul, sachin.jadav@gmail.com)

? Attend all informal gatherings; these can teach a lot about the society and culture of the state ? Call on all senior officers in the Secretariat ? Maintain good relations with the OAS officers. Some of them are very knowledgeable ? Learn to respect the local traditions and culture ? Spend lot of time with the collector ? Maintain good relations with the SP, SDJM, advocate community ? Talk to people in Oriya as far as possible. ? You will never feel like an outsider if you accept the cadre wholeheartedly

? Initial impression was that of a poor tribal state with low infrastructure, but it changed over the training period. Industrialisation is taking place at a good pace. ? Great regional variations. A curious mixture of abject poor and super rich. ? People are simple natured and religious. ? At the field level, the Collector has a lot of importance; he looks after development too as the ZP culture is not dominant. ? Work culture wise, subordinates are not very keen on taking initiative. You need to continuously monitor any project/ assignment to ensure success. However the people are obedient. ? Least interference from the current political dispensation.
? IAS commands a lot of respect in the State.

? Shri S N Tripathi, IAS (1985) ? Shri U P Singh, IAS (1985) ? Shri Vishal Dev, IAS (1996) ? Shri Arvind Padhi, IAS (1996) ? Smt Usha Padhee, IAS (1996) ? Shri Suresh Vasishth, IAS (1998) ? Shri Santhanagopalan R.., IAS (2001) ? All direct recruit officers are very supportive
? For other creature comforts, you can always tap the resources of the Collector.

? See the DM at least once every day ? Treat him/her with great respect and never ignore his/her advice, suggestions or directions ? Ask him/her to entrust a project like SSA with you ? Take initiative in understanding the district and do something on your own that would lighten his/her burden ? Request him/her to allow you to accompany for important meetings, events etc. ? Find the right time and place to discuss your problems with the DM ? If he/she is fond of playing sports, do play with him/her.
Pecuniary Matters
? All matters are dealt with by the GAA (Gopabandhu Academy of Administration). ? Mr Maharana at the GAA is very cooperative and of great help.

? Although the leave sanctioning authority is DG, GAA, leave depends also on the DM. Normally you can expect ten days of leave. ? Tactic of asking for leave is dependent on the nature of your DM. ? Do not disappear from the district without informing the DM.

? Solicit the help of local staff for the Village Study ? Try and send off all assignments from the district so that you have no burden of work during Phase II. Keep a copy with yourself ? Dig out old reports in your district for help in writing assignments. ? If you are unable to do any or all of the above, then RELAX! Dont worry.
Creature Comforts:
? Be assertive in the GAA regarding facilities, otherwise you will not be looked after properly. ? Accommodation in the district is provided in the Circuit House. It is good. Depending on the district you could also get quarters. ? You can expect a good vehicle to be at your disposal (either full time or as per need depending on the collector.) ? Food could be a problem if you are too choosy. But Oriya food (esp. fish, prawns, sweetmeats) is varied and good.
After Office- hours

? Interact with officials from the Police, Forest, Railways, Central Revenue Departments and so on ? Read up on state laws ? Use sports facilities

? Training is unstructured. The DC decides what the probationer is to do. Probationers of the same batch do different things and have different attachments at a single point in time. ? You can work out a training schedule for yourself in consultation with the DC and the Establishment Branch ? An important attachment that you should not miss is with the DFSC, as the procurement process is very important in Punjab
PUNJAB
Aninditia Mitra (Kapurthala, mitra.kapurthala@gmail.com) Mohammad Tayyab (Gurdaspur, Muktsar, mtayyab.ias@gmail.com) Parveen Thind (Bhatinda, your_parveen@rediffmail.com)
? Since the training is DC-centric, maintain a very good rapport with your DC ? You can learn the most by observing the working style of your DC and seniors and from hands-on work during your independent charge ? Tour the rural countryside and the municipal limits extensively. ? Spend time studying the existing systems and the lacunae in them and discussing about these with other officers ? Sit regularly in the SDM and Tehsildar courts ? Request SSP, ADC(D), SDM and Municipal Commissioner to involve you in important activities ? Do not miss the revenue, tehsil and patwari training. ? Do not accept any gifts or other benefits in kind offered by state service officers and staff on several occasions. Say a clear no to them.

? Though first impressions were good, there was a feeling that very little development work at the grass root level can be done in the state. Later, we realised that though the infrastructure is in place, there is a long way to go in the social sector. ? Punjab has plateaued in its course of development; therefore there is a lot of scope for innovative thinking ? General working environment is laid back possibly because the public pressure to perform is quite low. ? Since it is a small cadre, almost all officers know each other and this makes it very hospitable. Both officers and people are generally warm and welcoming ? There is a shortage of staff in almost all the districts. In newly created districts, the staff is inexperienced and untrained. ? Lots of conventional practices prevail in the cadre, sometimes overriding rules and regulations

? You can approach any senior IAS, PCS officer with whom you share a comfort level for advice or help. This person can be your mentor throughout the training ? The DC, SSP, ADC(D), Municipal Commissioner, Joint Commissioner and SDMs are the key contact persons.
Pecuniary Matters
? The Section Officer of the Accounts Section, ASR Branch, Civil Main Secretariat is very helpful. You can contact the following persons: Harpreet Singh: 9815748786, Mr. Kapoor (for salary matters): 9815905226 ? You can contact the Establishment Branch or the IAS branch in Punjab Civil Secretariat for any clarifications ? State Civil Service Rules and State Financial Rules must be gone through to gain first hand knowledge about your entitlements. ? You must see to it that your salary gets regularised

? The probationer should not appear to be smarter than the DC. Things start souring when senior officers/ministers start shortcircuiting the DC and handing certain responsibilities to the probationer. ? Do not try to by-pass the DC in any case; always keep him/her in the loop ? Ask questions when your DC is free, but never load him/her with too many questions ? You can request him/her to take you along for meetings, functions and other social engagements. This will give you a good opportunity to learn how to interact with the public

? This varies from DC to DC and from situation to situation. ? It is better to avail of formal leave rather than unofficial leave; you could get into trouble if some unfortunate incident or problem occurs in the district/ sub-division during your absence ? You should always try and ask for leave only when the DC is in a good mood!

? Try and complete your assignments during your attachments, in case your training is organised according to a schedule. ? Take the help of your seniors and the staff for information and ideas ? Try and finish them in the district to save the torture of completing them in the Academy
Creature Comforts:
? This again varies from place to place; however, you will get a room in the Circuit House or a house on demand. ? If you are staying in the Circuit house, you must pay the food and stay bills ? Getting a vehicle should not be a problem at all ? Punjabi food will keep you well nourished!
After Office- hours

? Most districts have a good gym and sports complexes. Make use of them. For instance, Bhatinda has two very good clubs where you can play badminton, squash and table tennis. It also has a good swimming pool for officers ? Bhatinda has two good parks: Rose Garden and Chetak Park ? You could devote some time to reading and understanding state specific laws and rules
Once, when a person was brought to my court under Section 107 CrPC, I received a call from the Minister personally, asking me to free him Anindita Mitra

? Go by what your Collector thinks is important for you to do. ? Try and establish your credentials as a hard-working officer early on ? While you are in Jaipur, call on as many senior officers as possible ? Spend time with the grass root level functionaries like Patwari, Tehsildar etc ? Interact as much as possible with the public ? Try doing raids and gasht with the police. You will enjoy the experience ? Do not be too demanding; try and be happy with what you are given
RAJASTHAN
Anandhi (Ajmer, aanandhi.p@gmail.com) Bishnu Charan Mallick (Jhalawar, bishnumallick@gmail.com) Tina Soni (Jodhpur, tinaias@gmail.com)
? Do not get too close to unknown persons who are trying to become your friends too quickly
? Rajasthan is a well-governed state and a good cadre. Systems are in place ? The administration-people interface is cordial and free ? Informal relationship between juniors and seniors ? Political pressures depend on the officers response ? Though there is a general perception that Rajasthan is a peaceful state, this is true only in comparison to states like UP. It certainly has its own share of law and order problems ? Director, OTS(State Academy) and Faculty in OTS ? Shri P.C. Kishen IAS (2005) ? Ms. Arti Dogra IAS (2006) ? Ms. Shilpa IAS (2006) ? Shri KK Sharma RAS ? Shri Rajendra S. Rathore, RAS ? Shri Chunnilal Saini RAS

? Generally, the training schedule sent by the Academy is followed to a large extent. ? Do not miss out on independent charge as SDO and court work ? Make the most of the State Darshan ? Complete your attachments on time
Pecuniary Matters
? Unlike in the Academy, you must pursue all money matters personally in the district ? Payments are governed by State rules. Hence, be wellacquainted with State rules and your entitlements because the accountants in RIPA do not know them and constantly undervalue IAS entitlements.

? During the OTS training, leave is generally not given unless there is an urgency ? In the district, granting of leave is completely dependent on the DC. ? If you take leave too frequently, your training schedule can suffer
After Office- hours

? Keep your hobbies alive ? Interact with the other officers in the district ? In the case of Ajmer, make use of the Indoor stadium and request the DM to speak to Mayo College to make their swimming and golf facilities available to you ? Try and visit the many beautiful places that Rajasthan has to offer over the weekends (eg. Chittorgarh Fort, Mt. Abu, Pushkar, Besalpur Dam in Kekri)
Creature Comforts:
? All the basic minimum facilities will be provided for ? Accommodation will be available either in the Circuit House or a quarters (if your family is with you) ? Getting a vehicle and a driver is not a problem ? A laptop/ desktop will be provided ? Circuit House is okay; you can always explore other options (like the food stands at Kutchery Road in the case of Ajmer and frequent meals at the DCs residence in the case of Jhalawar)
Working under three different Collectors, I learnt how to deal with officers having different temperaments and working styles - Tina Soni I enjoyed my election experience immensely - Bishnu Charan Mallick The Pushkar Mela is a unique experience available to probationers in Ajmer. It was a great learning experience for me - Anandhi

? Be proactive and show interest in taking up tasks. Do such tasks diligently. ? Try to prove that you are an asset to your DC as an additional help in the district and not a liability for him/her ? Be obedient and co-operative ? Do not disappear without seeking his/her permission

? Take the help of your immediate predecessor in the district. ? Concentrate more on submitting assignments on time rather than on the quality ? Try and finish them before you reach the Academy

? Training is not structured properly because the ATI is non functional ? No orientation is given and hence one learns on the job ? Visit as many villages as you can ? Try and get a grip on how things are done in Sikkim, which is very different from what one gathers through the inputs given in the Academy ? Independent charge is given to probationers
SIKKIM
JItendra Singh Raje (East Sikkim, jitendraraje@gmail.com) Prabhakar (West Sikkim, prabhakar.ias@gmail.com)
? Talk to people cordially and do not throw your weight around ? Do not be office/cabin-centric. Go for regular field visits ? Accept responsibilities, do not shirk away from them
? Lack of inputs in the Academy on Sikkim specific issues may present problems ? The work culture is non formal ? State Civil Service Officers dominate the administrative setup ? No special privileges accrue because of being in the IAS ? One needs to be people-oriented ? Shri. Vishal Chauhan, IAS (1998) ? Shri. Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, IAS (2005)
Pecuniary Matters
? Keep a tab on your TA bills by being in touch with the Director, ATI ? Call a local CA for tax planning ? Salary, LTC bills should be cleared by meeting with the Director, ATI, Special Secretary, DoP & Director, Pay & Accounts.

? Intimate the DC about your leave plans in advance ? Be truthful ? Leaves generally are not refused
After Office- hours

? Take long walks as the environs are scenic ? Do shopping in the local market ? Join the Sports Complex at Paljoi stadium, if you are in Gangtok
Creature Comforts:
? Guest House accommodation is provided ? You have to take a personal interest by following up facilitiesrelated issues with Special Secretary, Home Protocol & Special Secretary, DOPART & the concerned DC ? Food in Gangtok is not a worrisome issue ? Vehicle can be arranged through the good offices of the DC ? A laptop/ desktop will be provided ? Circuit House is okay; you can always explore other options (like the food stands at Kutchery Road in the case of Ajmer and frequent meals at the DCs residence in the case of Jhalawar)

? Be prepared to accept any responsibility that the DC gives you ? Be social and do not hesitate to attend parties

? If you are diligent from the beginning then completing the assignments will not be a problem

? Inform the department heads through your DC before you go for attachments to the district ? Call on all your seniors in the district and seniors who visit your district during your stay ? Do not expect a PSO/Gunman; it is neither required nor provided

? Shri T Udayachandran IAS (1995) ? Shri Pankaj Kumar Bansal IAS (1997) ? Shri S Nagarajan IAS ( 2005)
TAMIL NADU
Nanthakumar K. (Coimbatore, klnandhu@gmail.com) K. Veera Raghava Rao (Madurai, veeraraghavaraoias@gmail.com)
Pecuniary Matters
? In some districts like Coimbatore you may face a delay in getting your first salary. ? Your personal clerk will take care of pecuniary matters. ? You may consider opening a PPF account and start saving money in it

? Tamil Nadu is a good and welcoming cadre ? Working environment is cordial ? Probationers are appointed in conventional training districts ? The administration is rule bound and less flexible

? Intimate the DC of your leave plans in advance ? Earned leaves will require you to extend the duration of your training

? Well structured; however there is no ATI training ? Do not miss out any component of training. You can adjust timings if need be ? No independent charges given to probationers ? Lots can be learned by involving fully in district administration and moving around with the DC ? The span of the urban sector attachment is only for 2-3 days, which is insufficient
? A good rapport with the DC will ensure that leaves can be availed of
Creature Comforts:
? Circuit House/ Rented house in District Housing Board colony is provided ? Official vehicles are provided to a probationer (normally, a Bolero) ? You are given a laptop with data card ? Tamil Nadu takes good care of its officers

? Keep meeting DC atleast once in two days ? AC (Trainee) is a privilege to DC and DC is an opportunity to AC (Trainee) ? Make yourself available whenever DC has some task in mind for you

? Try to finish your Daily Diary at least once every weekend ? If you can finish all assignments before coming to Academy, you can enjoy your time in Mussoorie
After Office- hours

? Officers Club and its facilities can be used for games etc ? Get-together of all officers in the district is also a good way of spending time ? Outsiders can watch Tamil movies and improve their language skills and understand Tamil culture

? Structure exists on paper but not in practice ? Almost all attachments lacked content. The only exception was the SDM and BDO attachment ? Independent charge as a BDO is the most important part of the district training. Ensure that you convince your DM to give it to you early and for a substantial period, say 3 months ? Try as many CrPC and other cases as an Executive Magistrate as possible, ask your SDM to transfer cases to you in the very beginning

? Call on ALL the seniors periodically
TRIPURA
Dr. Adarsh Singh (West Tripura, singhadarsh@gmail.com) Parshant Goyal (North Tripura, write2parshant@yahoo.com) Shashank Mishra (South Tripura, shashank.misra@hotmail.com)
? Dont indulge in back stabbing. Tripura being a small cadre, news travels very fast ? Try and meet the head of SIPARD and convince him to organise a North-East darshan or atleast a Tripura darshan ? Be sensitive towards the tribals
? We were told that Tripura is a well-administered state; we realised that it is over-administered ? Airport is bang on the Bangladesh border-portent of things to come! ? Lack of respect amongst the masses-especially the Bengalis. Tribals still hold an IAS officer in high esteem ? IAS tag doesnt generally work ? SCS officers are favoured ? Hyper politicized state which makes life tough for an IAS officer ? Smt Saumya Gupta Rai, IAS(2004) ? Shri Kiran Gitter, IAS(2005) ? Smt. Tanusree Debbarma, IAS(2006) ? Shri Joydeep Naik, IPS(1991) ? Shri Deepak Kumar, IPS(2004) ? Shri N.C. Sinha, IAS(promoted from SCS) ? Shri Santanu Das, IAS(promoted from SCS) ? Shri R.P. Dutta, TCS
Pecuniary Matters
? Pester your accountant for the transfer allowance, Bharat Darshan allowance, etc. ? Do remember to claim your Special Duty Allowance (SDA), Special Compensatory Remote Locality Allowance (SCRLA), HRA,
the recently notified North-Eastern Allowance and the Rs. 100 a month Outfit Allowance
? Refer to the personal file of your seniors (who were probationers in your district) ? Purchase Swamys handbooks and show the relevant provisions to your accountant in case of any difficulty

? Be regular with the DO letters/Analytical Notes ? Refer to the District Gazetteer, Economic Survey, Human Development Report ? Do the village study in winters. Choose a tribal village as it will have no land records so you can conveniently leave out that portion from your survey ? Ask for EM powers early-cases take a lot of time ? Get BDOship early as well-you will get ample material for your ESPs/DAP ? Get in touch with your seniors for help

? 40 days E.L., 12 days C.L., medical leave ? No concept of French leave ? C.L.s are routed through the DM, E.L.s must have the sanction of the Chief Secretary ? Generally, getting a leave is not a problem as long as you can invent some genuine and pressing family problem
After Office- hours

? Watch television and films on your laptop-there is nothing much to do (there are no cinema halls/malls in Tripura)
Creature Comforts:
? Expect a rickety four wheeler (Maruti Omni Van) or in some cases nothing at all ? Accommodation- Circuit house or a Type IV ? Food is abominable in the circuit house. Restaurants are bad as well ? Bottomline is, expect nothing-you will have to scavenge for and arrange each and everything yourself
? Interact with your batch mates and seniors ? Read ? Listen to music ? Have coffee at CCD, Agartala-the only decent place in Tripura ? Go and pray at Matabari, Udaipur-legend has it that if you pay homage there enough number of times, you will be able to get out of Tripura! ? Interact with officers from the Assam Rifles, BRTF, etc

? Remember the old adage: Never outshine your master ? Interactions will be easier if he/she is a direct recruit ? If your DM is a promotee, inform him of your training needs. Ask him to give independent charges of the sections in the Collectorate ? In any case, there are not many favours that your DM can bestow on you
Two of us (Shashank and I) decided to have lunch at a restaurant (Aparupa). On reaching there, we changed our minds and wanted to have only coffee. The waiter told us it was illegal to have just coffee-you had to have lunch with it. On our persistence, the restaurant owner magnanimously decided to waive off this rule-on the condition that we pay an amount of Rs. 50 instead of the actual cost of Rs. 30/-! - Dr. Adarsh Singh

? The training at the State ATI in Nainital takes up close to three months, and is too long. ? The revenue and treasury training is for 14 days each; this again could be shortened. ? You must try and arrange an attachment with the Forest Department since interface with forest-related issues is very common in the State. You must also gain insights into the forest laws, which is a neglected area. ? Try and get some exposure to tourism (esp. spiritual tourism) and adventure sports, which are the unique opportunities in the State.
? Another focus area can be disaster management
UTTARAKHAND
Deepak Rawat (Pithoragarh, deepakrawatias@gmail.com) R. Rajesh Kumar (Tehri Garhwal, rajeshkumar.ias@gmail.com) Dr. V. Shanmugam (Pauri Garhwal, dr.vshanmugam@gmail.com)

? Regularly call on the senior officers ? Try and get the SDM charge as soon as possible, preferably as SDM Sadar. During such a charge, become conversant with the working of the line departments like RTO, Excise and Commercial tax to exercise effective control over them. ? Try and visit as many remote areas as possible along with officials with the line departments; you will probably be the first officer to visit the people there and they would appreciate your initiative

? The working environment is very similar to what is there in Uttar Pradesh; the legacy continues in many ways. ? Hindi language rules the files ? Procrastination is often a virtue in the circumstances that exist
? The working environment is relaxed ? Support staff are experienced and reliable as they have exposure

? Smt. Radha Raturi, IAS (1988)
? Shri Amit Negi, IAS (1999 ) ? Shri BBR Purushottam, IAS (2004 )
to the way things worked in the UP setup

? Chidiya culture prevails ie. file pushing
Pecuniary Matters
? Make sure you claim the Composite Transfer Grant which amounts to half of the basic pay
After Office- hours

? Play badminton ? Snatch Dinner invitations from all officersmercy and etiquette in this matter could prove to be injurious!

? There is no set limit on the number of days of leave ? Take the DM into confidence and always submit an application which can be disposed off once you report back to the district
In the monsoons, I observed that half the population of Dharchula and Munshiari are in the forests to collect an aphrodisiac called Yarsa Gamboo! - Deepak Rawat
Creature Comforts:
? You will not have to bother about creature comforts; they will be provided automatically.

? Attend all the meetings called by the DM ? Also, do not skip any of the social events like parties/ celebrations that he/ she invites you to.
? Accompany the DM on all his/her field visits.

? Use the district resources and tap indigenous talent. Thats how you learn man-management!
? You can take the help of the Sadr Patwari for the village study
assignment.

? No structured training in the field, depends on the DM ? The highlight of the course remains the UP darshan ? The 3 month training in the Lucknow ATI is grossly underutilised, the duration could be lessened ? One must attend all attachments in the Collectorate and with the line departments religiously and coax the officers into sharing their experiences ? A week long training in the State Police Academy can be incorporated
UTTAR PRADESH
Abhay (umeetabhay@yahoo.com) Alok Tiwari (Varanasi, thealok.tiwari@gmail.com) V.Chaitra (Allahabad, chaitrav_rao@yahoo.co.in) Dr. Muthukumarasamy B. (Jhansi, drmksamyias@gmail.com) Naveen Kumar G.S (Kanpur, gsnkumar@gmail.com) Prabhu Narain Singh (Meerut, pnbhabua@gmail.com) Sheetal Verma (Saharanpur, shverma1@gmail.com) Suhas L.Y (Agra, suhas_ly@yahoo.com)

? Hold independent charges of Tehsildar, BDO and SDM, in that order ? Observe and grasp the nuances of administration ? Attend as many meetings as you can, especially the ones chaired by your DM ? All official work in U.P. is done in Hindi, so its important that you gain fluency in it ? Travel widely across the district and nurture relationships (with your superiors as well as subordinates) as it will stand one in good stead in future ? Dont rebuke your subordinates in public ? Dont get stuck in the culture of contentment and dont fall prey to the I am a King syndrome ? Avoid confrontations with the judiciary and the press

? The sheer size and diversity of the state is mind boggling. Especially for an outsider, it seems like Yeh kahan aa gaye hum! ? Its a state with huge challenges and even greater opportunities ? An IAS officer is treated like a king/queen ? The administration is DM centric in what is still a feudal state. DM is the de facto king/queen of the district ? Probationer is considered to be the DMs prodigy ? There is a sharp contrast in the working environment of Western and Eastern UP. The West fares better because of higher income levels and better social parameters ? A civil services week is held annually which brings together the entire galaxy of IAS officers in the state-from the Chief Secretary to the probationer-for formal and informal interactions ? Seniors are extremely supportive

? Shri Sanjay Bhoosreddy, IAS (1989) ? Shri Alok Kumar, IAS (1992) ? Shri Amod Kumar, IAS (1995) ? Shri Rajiv Agarwal, IAS (1995) ? Shri M. Devraj, IAS (1996) ? Shri Alok Kumar, IAS (1998) ? Shri Antony Devkumar, IPS ? Dr. A.K Chowrasia, PCS ? Shri Subash Chandra Uttam, PCS

? Dont pressurize the DM for anything as each district is different and all attachments may not be possible or even useful. Instead, let him/her direct the flow of your training ? Do spend time with the DM in his/her camp office as it has an air of informality and the DM has relatively more time ? Be a silent observer during meetings and public interactions

? Timely submission is paramount ? Remember to pen down your thoughts and experiences every now and then-they are going to be of immense help ? Use the field visits as the basis for the ESP and DAP
Pecuniary Matters
? Unless there has been a probationer in the district before, these matters can pose quite a headache-the district staff is clueless ? Get your pay fixed from the Irla cheque department in Lucknow as soon you land in the district ? Get your DDO code ? Maintain a file for all salary related matters ? Ensure that you have enrolled in the New Pension Scheme
After Office- hours

? Explore the district ? Develop and pursue a hobby ? Call on your seniors ? Attend social events/parties ? Meet your batch mates

? Leave is completely dependent on the Collector, its not a matter of right ? French leave is generally the norm as long as leave is claimed for genuine reasons
? Complete Academy assignments! ? Generally, office squeezes out every ounce of energy in a typical district of U.P.
As an SDM, I stumbled onto a land mafia racket in the sub-division. I realised that the racket ran deep and involved the high and mighty as
Creature Comforts:
? These things present absolutely no problem-everything is taken care of by the Nazarat section or the tehsildars ? Unless you are married, it is advisable to stay in a Circuit house ? Dont invest much in furniture, etc if you have taken a quarter as these things become redundant once you become a DM
well. Unconcerned, I proceeded to unravel it even in the face of tremendous political and administrative opposition. However, my DM was soon forced to transfer me from the sub-division and post me as a BDO in some block in another sub-division! Quite a dampener, it has to be said. - Suhas

? Apart from BDOship, no other independent charge is given ? Industrial and agricultural attachments during ATI training are not of much use ? State darshan should be incorporated in the training. Hopefully you will have this component

? Maintain a good rapport with state services officers-they know the nuances of administration best ? Be in regular touch with the babu who is dealing with your file in the district
WEST BENGAL
Anurag Srivastava (Bankura, anurag.ansh@gmail.com) C.Murugan (Pashchim Medinapore, chinamuru@rediffmail.com) Niranjan Kumar (Jalpaiguri, niranjan.ias@gmail.com) Rajat Kumar Saini (Murshidabad, saini.rajat@gmail.com) Moumita Basu (Burdhwan, moumitabasu@lbsnaa.ernet.in)
? Be careful when talking in front of state service officers, drivers and your gunman ? Do the BDOship sincerely

? Undersecretary, Home ? Shri Narayan Swaroop Nigam, IAS (1998 )

? First impression on being allotted West Bengal is that one is doomed. Take a deep breath, listen to the obituaries recited by your batch mates and get depressed ? Now for the good news. West Bengal is much better than all this. It may not be the best but is certainly a better than average cadre ? An IPS officer is better off than his IAS counterpart ? People work when they have to but generally the work culture is poor ? Offices start at 11:30 am and people start disappearing by 4:30 pm. Only the head of office remains (your personal orderly/peon will be the first to leave)
Pecuniary Matters
? Catch hold of your Establishment clerk ? Know your entitlements-refer to Swamys handbooks ? Request the ATI Director or PAR Secretary to intimate the districts about ones entitlements.

? Leaves come as a complimentary gift when one gets WB cadreany number of leaves can be taken! ? Take your DM into confidence, however, before going on leave
After Office- hours

? Organise night raids with the local police ? Befriend local college students ? Become a member of the District Sports Association and try playing games in the evenings ? Get married! Rural India still remains as it was portrayed in English August
Creature Comforts:
? One can get an OK room in the circuit house ? Vehicle (ambassador) is normally not a problem though one may not get a dedicated vehicle ? Food is rice and fish based so not a problem for the South Indians. Northies however, may take time to adjust
I refused to sanction the NREGA bills of a particular lady contractor as I sensed irregularities. She turned out to be the wife of an influential member of the Zila Parishad who also happened to be an important Congress leader. The issue kept on escalating and finally I was assaulted,

? Appreciating your DM reaps rich dividends ? Attend all his/her meetings and observe him/her in action ? When holding independent charge, consult your DM before taking important decisions
my house was pelted with stones and I was labelled as a CPM sympathiser. Police intervention at the right time ensured that no great harm was caused, but this experience is indicative of the difficulties of working in West Bengal. The only silver lining was the complete and unconditional support rendered by my DM and the administration. Rajat Kumar Saini

? Relax till you start getting reminders from your cadre counsellor! ? One is not given EM/JM powers in West Bengal so your job is merely to get hold of cases and submit them to the Academy ? For village assignment, your experience with the Rural Development Department will come in handy ? Enlist the help of the BDO office staff during independent charge as BDO for doing the Household Survey ? Make use of the District Gazetteer, Human Development Report, etc. for district assignments.
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Editorial

? Work environment is good and conducive

Training Structure and Focus Areas

Andaman & Nicobar

First Impressions and Working Environment

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

Andaman & Nicobar

Andaman & Nicobar

their relations Chandigarh

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

Leave Rules and Conventions

After Office- hours

Interacting with the DC/DM

Andaman & Nicobar

Coping with Assignments

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

First Impressions and Working Environment

Training Structure and Focus Areas

Leave Rules and Conventions

DCO etc. can be done in one or two days

Accomodation in a Quarters or Guest House

One cook, one Camp Clerk, one driver

One attendant and one A.C vehicle with a driver

One laptop One mobile phone

One office room in the Collectorate

Interacting with the DC/DM

Coping with Assignments

After Office- hours

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

First Impressions and Working Environment

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

Training Structure and Focus Areas

Coping with Assignments

Leave Rules and Conventions

After Office- hours

Interacting with the DC/DM

Training Structure and Focus Areas

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

First Impressions and Working Environment

to sort out any confusions

After Office- hours

Leave Rules and Conventions

Interacting with the DC/DM

Coping with Assignments

? Getting trained in the capital (Raipur) is problematic as nobody has time

Training Structure and Focus Areas

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

Coping with Assignments

After Office- hours

Leave Rules and Conventions

? Read books, listen to music, watch movies

Interacting with the DC/DM

Training Structure and Focus Areas

First Impressions and Working Environment

Dos/Donts in the District/ State

Key officers in the cadre who are supportive

Interacting with the DC/DM

Leave Rules and Conventions

Coping with Assignments

After Office- hours

? The cadre also encourages officers to go on training programmes

Training Structure and Focus Areas