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| A YouTube screen grab of Raju Narayanaswamy IAS, who is not leaving the country |
A media report caused flutter on Thursday when it claimed that Raju Narayanaswamy IAS was quitting India and going abroad for good.
Raju Narayanaswamy, a celebrated Kerala-cadre officer known for his honesty, was leaving the country in disgust, the report suggested.
As the The headline put dramatically: #FailingTheHonest This IAS Officer Who Took On The Govt., Now Considering Leaving The Country
Mr. Narayanaswamy is on the verge of leaving IAS to go to Paris to take up a well paid United Nations assignment. The politicians can laugh thinking another obstacle has been removed. But it is the helpless people of this country who will lose - not Narayanaswamy.
The report acknowledged that it was based on a Facebook post.Now here is what is wrong with the report and here is also why Raju Narayanaswamy is not leaving India.
1) The original Facebook report was written in 2011. The reporter in question, probably a novice or lazy or both, based her story on that without noting the year.
To restate, the reportér's story dated 27/August/2015, which said Raju Narayanaswamy was leaving India, was based on a four-year-old Facebook post.
2) A Personnel Ministry website says Raju Narayanaswamy went abroad for training in 2012. Many IAS officers do that and even do short stints with international bodies such as the UN. The lure is the huge pay cheque they receive. They come back and go on to play another long innings in the country.
T S R Subramanian returned from a UN posting, went on to become UP Chief Secretary and later Cabinet Secretary as well.
3) Raju Narayanaswamy came back though to languish in Kerala a bit - he was secretary of stationary and printing. He also got into a fight with Kerala Chief Secretary last year alleging victimisation.
He seems to have gone on central deputation and become Chief Vigilance Officer of a central public undertakings.