Technocrats vs bureaucrats in the IT Ministry

Aizawl, Jun 9 (UNI) It's a fight between technocrats or bureaucrats for heading the coming Information&Communication Technology (I&CT) Ministry in Mizoram.

Different technical services associations under the Mizoram government had proposed a technocrat in a letter, submitted to Chief Minister Zoramthanga.

But the Mizoram Civil Service Association (MCSA) was insisting on a bureaucrat heading the department.

The MCSA, in its memorandum to the Chief Minister submitted last Wednesday, strongly recommended that a bureaucrat, preferably an IAS officer, headeds the department.

MCSA president P Laichhuanga said, '' A technocrat may be the best choice for a right-hand man. However, for the top post that will look after the administration, a bureaucrat is a must. '' '' The I&CT department will be a trend setter and a nodal agency for other departments towards e-governance and good governance.

Therefore it is too crucial to be headed by a specialist. '' Meanwhile, I&CT Minister Dr Lalzama said they had not taken a clear-cut decision on whether a bureaucrat or a technocrat will head the department.

'' If we reserve the top post strictly for a technocrat, there could be a problem if we are short of eligible technocrats. We will make the recruitment rules in such a way that both a technocrat and a bureaucrat can head the department, '' the Minister said in a recent press conference here.

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