After shortage of bureaucrats, Andhra Pradesh facing lack of 'middle level' officers

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh government faced with the shortage of bureaucrats has another concern to deal with. The “middle level” officers who are in the cadre of joint, deputy and assistant secretaries are completely upset with the arrangements made for them in the new interim secretariat in Velagapudi.
These are non-cadre officers and all the files is routed through them and are instrumental in formulating the polices, issuing the orders and brief about the administration to IAS officers.They are seething with the anger for the raw deal despite being entitled to have spacious (along with attached a small personal rest room) rooms and individual toilets as per the secretariat guidelines. In the Hyderabad secretariat, they had all the facilities. But, in the new building, they are left with common rooms or small rooms. No exception made to women officers.
Many argue that they need privacy as they are entrusted with most part of the work in the secretariat. Several officials are not ready to take their position. “Some of the secretaries told about our inconvenience to GAD secretary N Srikanth, but he expressed his helpless and he showed his small room in the secretariat which cannot accommodate many people at a time, ” said a joint secretary on condition of anonymity. When officer like N Srikanth who was commissioner of the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) which build the complex said this, we are totally left out” he added.
The matter was even taken to chief secretary SP Tucker who also sounded same like N Srikanth. Insiders say that if the ‘middle level officers” are in a state of dejection all the while, it can cause serious problems for the government. Technically they are so powerful that they can even directly send a file to minister without the consent of IAS officer who is the in charge of the department. The middle level officers are considered to be pillars of the state administration. There is another resentment also among them that the current TDP regime is ignoring them completely and junior IAS officers are taking the charge as HODs to deliver many duties.
Sources said as a result of these issues many officers are not clearing the files early and they also feel let down by APNGOs who are politically more active. “They have their way, but we letting down the crucial officers can derail the administration,” said an officer.