The babus’ fondness for freebies is well known in India’s iron frame of bureaucracy. Even with the renewed thrust on performance, this is one baggage that senior bureaucrats are finding hard to shed – literally.
At an important conclave of education secretaries here, the human resources development ministry was keen to take stock of some of its pilot programmes.
An important presentation on elementary education and drop-out rates in secondary schools was on when simultaneously one of the organisers began distributing chic black leather bags to the audience.
Needless to say, scant attention was paid to the lecture as the delegates dived to pick up their free gifts and rummage to see what was inside. So much for ushering quality in education!
