GANGTOK, March 8: Having expended 33
years in government service – sometimes ruffling the feathers of powers to be -
Raju Basnet has taken voluntary retirement as a secretary-rank official to
explore new opportunities for larger public good through the medium of
politics.
The
Whitehall incumbent is now poised to enter politics with the State government
notifying the Sports & Youth Affairs secretary’s voluntary retirement from
service on March 7.
“Further
on I want to be of some use to the society be it in whatever way. Politics is
one such medium by which one can do some larger public good and so if
opportunities present itself, why not?” said Basnet in an exclusive
conversation with SIKKIM EXPRESS.
But before
the shift towards politics, there is a personal reason for Basnet to leave the
government service even though he could enjoy the perks and position of a
secretary-rank official for another three years.
Basnet had
joined the State government service as a member of the State Mechanical
Engineering Service in January 1991 in the assistant engineer’s post. Since
then he worked in 20 posts in seven departments and one State government
undertaking and became the principal chief engineer in 2016, the highest post
in his cadre. His first charge as a secretary came in 2019 with the State
Transport department.
“I have
worked at the highest post in the cadre for almost 8 years and as secretary for
4.5 years. There is no further scope for career progression. In Sikkim, non-State
Civil Service officers are not given induction into the IAS where there is
scope for further growth to commissioner, principal secretary, ACS, etc. There
are juniors in my cadre who would be waiting for me to retire in order for them
to get promoted. So I thought 33 years of service while reaching the highest
level in the cadre and work as secretary for almost 5 years is good enough for
a son of a farmer from Challamthang. Hence
the Voluntary Retirement,” said Basnet.
The voluntary retirement now leads to questions of political nature which are published below:
On which political front he would be
seen and the reasons thereof…
Raju Basnet: Options are open but by and large today the SKM is the most viable option. A ruling front has the best chance of winning an election as history shows Sikkimese people have chosen the ruling front five out of eight times, anti-incumbency sets in pretty late and lastly the present Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) is benevolent and wants to do good for all sections of the society and his hands need to be strengthened so that the people of Sikkim are served better. He has made sure that no meritorious child needs to drop out of school or college just because their parents cannot afford, no person dies of any disease for want of money and better treatment facilities, no old and the infirm loose hope because their children abandon them. He needs a good team that can work in tandem and not cross purposes.
On whether he can make a smooth
transition from government service to politics and USPs he can offer in
politics…
Raju Basnet: You have seen me raising my voice
against any injustices done be it against the people of Sikkim as a whole or
individuals, be it by the ruling party or the court. Even while remaining as a government
servant, I have raised issues which many politicians would not dare. Which
bureaucrat was on the streets of Sikkim in the foreigner issue? I was one of
the first people to bring it to the public. I along with Mani Kumar Pradhan
called the first meeting at Janata Bhawan during which JAC was formed. I was at
the forefront during the 8th February 2023 Sikkim strike whose success led to
the governments filing review petition in the Supreme Court and expunging the offending
phrase from the text of the verdict. From political issues like seat
reservation for the Nepali community, seat reservation for Limboo and Tamang
communities and ST status to left out communities to social issues like
declining Total Fertility Rate, I have always been vocal. From corruption to
nepotism I have always denounced and advocated reform in the system. So I feel
it comes naturally to me and will be able to make a smooth transition. Yes, I
may need to learn some diplomacy which I surely will.
I have
worked hard my entire career. From assembly of engines as an Assistant Engineer
to negotiation of better rates with institutional customers leading to doubling
the revenue generation as Deputy General Manager in SNT, from unearthing the
flouting of all norms and terms of agreement by hydro power developers while in
the Sikkim Power Development Corporation as its General Manager to online
delivery of services in Motor Vehicle Division, from initiating eAbkari in
Excise department to completion of all stalled infrastructure projects of
Sports department, I have delivered. So my USP is I can slog, I can work in a
team and I can deliver.
On how a courteous person like him can
fit into mudslinging aspects of politics
Raju Basnet: We need to make politics civil so that good people can participate. I believe when politicians start working and delivering the critics will be automatically silenced.
Lastly, many say that you could claim
for a party ticket with elections around the corner…
Raj Basnet: Although I have been well-wisher of the SKM party since 2013, I have not yet joined the party. After formally joining the party, I will be putting forth my requests and it is for the Parliamentary Board and the leadership to decide where I fit.
* Besides
being a bureaucrat with a mechanical engineer degree, Raju Basnet holds an MBA
in banking & finance, and served Sikkim in various other capacities
including promotion of sports & sportspersons through Sikkim Body Building
Association and Sikkim Amateur Boxing Association. He has played an
instrumental role in building a corpus fund for Nepali Sahitya Parishad Sikkim
as its treasurer (2002-2004) and in immediate past, he was the president of Akhil
Sikkim Khas Chettri Bahun Kalyan Sangh (2020-22).
