Indian bureaucracy's health is failing

One senior secretary has suffered a heart attack while another is reported to be ill with cancer. One secretary is being operated upon in the United States, while three other secretaries have undergone medical tests in India and abroad.

"The government should take a call on the deteriorating health of civil servants," said a senior secretary who opposes the extension of the government's retirement age to 62.

The Indian bureaucracy is certainly stressed. Many secretaries, officers and personnel in their respective departments work late into the night.

A senior secretary revealed that he had not slept well for more than a month, especially after the United Progressive Alliance returned to power.

"One major problem or the other is faced by babu-dom," the civil servant said.

A doctor who visited a secretary, actively coordinating action on the drought situation, suggested that the latter take three days medical leave. Instead, the secretary, who lay down for a medical check on the couch, fell asleep for half an hour.

Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar, the country's highest ranking civil servant, himself is not well and needs rest. But how can he take a break? The entire month of August is scheduled for one conference after the other.

"Coordinating a chief ministers conference is like getting your son or daughter married," commented another secretary.

Nirman Bhavan -- headquarters of the Union health ministry and directorate general of health services -- was open for 16 hours after the outbreak of H1NI fever.

Agriculture Secretary T Nand Kumar is running a fever, but still attended the prime minister's review meeting on the drought issue.

Petroleum Secretary R S Pandey was unwell for two days; he is stressed with the gas pricing policy.

In 2008, three secretaries passed away in office.

There are six women secretaries to the Government of India, holding key positions. Some of them are said to have medical problems, but work late into the night to dispose off policy files.