Transfers cannot replace accountability
Across government departments, transfer orders have often become the default response when an official is accused of misconduct. But in general this practice raises a critical question of whether a transfer is truly a penalty, or simply an eye-wash, an administrative step to calm public anger, a way to deflect media attention and a strategy to avoid formal inquiry. In reality a transfer order does not affect the rank, salary, service benefits and promotion prospects of the government servant in question. If the employee continues to enjoy the same service conditions in a new posting, can this truly be called punishment? In some cases, transfers may even benefit the accused staff member by moving them away from scrutiny, shielding them from accountability, or placing them in a less demanding role and even transferring them to a place of their choice. The nature of punishment must match the severity of the misconduct. Service rules provide a graded disciplinary framework. These include preliminary inquiry, demotion, suspension, withholding perks, compulsory retirement and in serious cases even dismissal after a proper department inquiry. Transfers are typically meant to meet organisational needs and cannot be considered as punitive action. Public perception matters in governance especially when serious allegations are met with mere transfers. Transfers seem like a cosmetic exercise that shifts a problem without resolving it.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Outsourcing daily tasks
A recent trend is the use of domestic-help apps through which one could avail the services to help in doing repetitive tasks such as unpacking baggage, arranging clothes in the cupboards, assisting during gathering/parties, to peel garlic and pomegranates (!) and other mundane jobs. The app, started as an experiment in Bengaluru, is now popular in Mumbai and Delhi NCR too. From one lakh monthly jobs in Aug 2025 now it is 10 lakh and still growing. The service providers, earn Rs 20,000 to 25,000/month for fixed shifts, and are either add-on or ad-havoc to the regular domestic help, if any. Though the app provides employment to several people, it is amazing that simple home jobs are outsourced at high costs. Either the clients have money to spare, or are busy professionals, need time to surf the social media, want to brag or are plainly lazy. Who in their right mind would get peeled garlic pods and pomegranates that cost less than the hourly rate charged by the app? These could be done while watching TV or mobile screens or chatting. We eagerly change the British names of roads and heritage buildings but are becoming more snobbish than the colonials Ms/Mr Bert of P G Woodehouse by employing a Ms/Mr Jeeves. Hope the day would not come when people would outsource their daily routines, thinking and breathing to some obliging gig worker! Hey, my onion slicer guy is at the door.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
Illusion of progress
There is a pattern in how Naya Bharat pursues big goals. We
wanted to showcase AI, so we import a robot dog from China and present it as proof of innovation. We wanted to show development, so we rush to inaugurate trains and bridges, even if the first monsoon exposes cracks and leaks. We want to win elections, so we rely on freebies instead of hard reforms. Quick optics, quick headlines, quick gains. Look at how we handle history. Recently at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the bust of Edwin Lutyens was replaced with a bust of C Rajagopalachari, the only Indian Governor General of independent India. The government described it as part of removing vestiges of the colonial mindset and honouring Indian leaders. This is selective symbolism and an attempt to rewrite history instead of confronting it. Acknowledging colonial history does not mean celebrating it, and confident nations do not feel threatened by their own. Colonial influence will not vanish by rearranging symbols. Changing statues is visible, changing systems is hard. If we truly want to move forward, the test is not which bust stands where. It is whether our institutions deliver, our infrastructure survives more than one monsoon, and our policies create durable growth. We are hollow visual-gurus.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Women in science
There could not have been a more relevant theme than “Women in Science: Catalysing Viksit Bharat”. for the National Day of Science (NDS) on February 28, as science and technology for sustainable development, coupled with women’s empowerment, is critical for progress. NDS is observed in India to honour the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’ by the eminent Sir C V Raman in 1928. The essence of the Raman Effect lies in the change of wavelength of light as it passes through a transparent medium. The primary aims of NDS are to foster scientific temper and inspire young minds to pursue careers in science. Science remains true regardless of belief, and today’s research lays the foundation for tomorrow’s technology.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
