Govt plans stress management programmes for bureaucrats

New Delhi, May 30, 2012 : In order to ensure better
working of IAS officers, the government is considering to
start an exclusive programme on stress management for them.
Officials said the Ministry of Personnel, Public
Grievances and Pensions, which acts as a nodal ministry for
the matters related to IAS officers, is carrying out
deliberations with all the stake holders in this regard.
They said the need of such a programme was felt after
many of the officials, both at the junior and senior level,
raised the matter while attending in-service training modules.
Recently, a reference in this regard was also received
from a Parliamentary Standing Committee which recommended to
the government to start a course on stress management.
"The Ministry has received a report from the
Parliamentary Standing Committee. It has recommended a
separate course on stress management. The modalities and
feasibility of the recommendations is being worked out," an
official in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)
said.
He said the report will also be shared with officials at
the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration
(LBSNAA), Mussoorie, which is the apex training institution in
the country for civil service officers.
"The Committee stresses upon the need for stress
management training programmes to be included in the syllabus
of LBSNAA," the Parliamentary Panel has recommended.
According to the official, the Committee's recommendation
will be sent to LBSNAA for necessary action as they decide on
course modules for All India Service officers.
    LBSNAA has basic courses on stress management under its
regular training module during induction programme. However,
there is no separate module on it for the officials.
"The Department would like to make stress management
courses mandatory for All India Service officers while they
come for probation. It will be more beneficial for the middle
and senior level officials considering they face more
responsibility and strain," an IAS officer, who did not wish
to be identified, said.
The Department will also discuss the matter with cadre
controlling authorities about the feasibility of the
programme.
The DoPT undertakes regular Mid-Career Training Programme
(MCTP), which acts as a mandatory programme to get career
benefits, for the IAS officials at different levels.
Of late, the Department has noticed lack of participation
of the officials as the cadre controlling authorities refuse
to relieve officials on time citing "administrative
exigencies".
"I would like to reiterate that it is mandatory for every
IAS officer to complete the various phases of the
MCTP...within the given three chances...and that the officers
should be granted the career benefits only after they have
successfully completed the respective phases," DoPT Secretary
P K Misra had said in a letter.
A list of 453 officers has been sent to Chief Secretaries
of States and Union Territories last month, asking them to
"timely release" the officers to attend the MCTP.