Experiential Learning: Life of Block Development Officer in State Civil Services

Well, who would like to get insight into the life of a state civil servant or a BDO for that matter, obviously one who likes to be the same ,Yes a UPSC or PSC aspirant.I googled same query many times before I joined the services. I ll just try to answer the query. Situation may be different in other states.

Background …I am a 2018 batch BDO selected through himachal administrative exam. Prior to this I was working as a software engineer with IBM at Bangalore with good annual salary package of 13 lacs.
Let me focus mainly on question asked rather than autobiography. It's been about two years since i am in service and gained reasonable experience and idea about my future prospects.
So far I am more than satisfied and value my decision to leave corporate life and seek a decent government job.Since we execute many central and state sponsored schemes like MGNREGA,SBM,NRLM,watershed, housing schemes,planning heads like MPLAD ,MLALAD and many more which in turn affect thousands if not in lacs households ,it gives immense pleasure and satisfaction to bring and see positive changes in the lives of masses.Payments worth crores are made with your signature every year . This means that you carry immence financial power.Financial power equates to the value of the post. In MGNREGA alone we spent 30 crores in FY 2019–20.Since we get contigency and admin expenditure deducted at block level itself for every payments made for most of the schemes like MGNREGA,SBM ,WATER SHED , PLANNING SCHEMES it makes BDO very powerful and resourceful.last year I got CCTV,LED screens invertors installed in my office and all 45 panchayats for worth 88 lacs from MGNREGA admin without any funding from department or district. It's prerogative of BDO alone. This initiative helped bringing in transparency,safety , attendance ,security and effective supervision .Few months back I got 19 ACs installed in whole office and a very high end confernce hall and dining hall constructed with quality furniture and equipments all with the funds available under my disposal.And same thing is being followed in Panchayat offices.These days space and amenities of far flung panchayat offices can easily become a matter of envy to many other departmental officers. Values of the post can be judged from the fact that we control panchayats which in tern receive crores for expenditure under various heads. Most of the days I come home contended with the idea of having justified the role entrusted upon me as a civil servant. Moreover you are never afraid of being transferred far from your home state . Yes I do love Himachal. I am more than satisfied as for as my professional life is concerned.
Let's talk about my personal life .Well Government has provided me enough to lead a decent life as an officer . Starting salary is about 38 k after all deductions.I am entitled with a decent house infact a spacious cottage inside and out , government vehicle with driver (Bolero), plenty of staff members starting from class 4 to class 3 under my control (about25 in office and 75 in field excluding Panchayat representatives.)I am living a happy life with my family .I get to use my discretion,bring innovative ideas and mangerial skills while executing almost all the schemes on the field under my jurisdiction. You can decide or direct Panchayats on where and how to construct a community building, village road,bridge,rural paths, check dams,plantations,school rooms.toilets,land development and protection works and so.on .Without any exaggeration,I just can't compare my present life with my past corporate life.
Obviously you all would be more interested to know the negatives aspects of being a state civil servant. I must say it depends upon person to person. For some, direct phone call from comman massses , executive bosses like DC ,ADC or director or political bosses like MLA,MP ,minister may be irritating and troublesome.For many it would be a matter of charm,prestige or opportunity as directly commoner ,IAS or politician is calling you.This is because of the functional value of your post.You are directly connected with lowest to highest sections of society.Political interference is a reality and no one is untouched from this.But remember there is rule of law.Not even CM or PM is above law.If you are duty and rule bound ,no one can harm you .As an officer your positive image in public would undermine any political interference,in fact even your bosses would admire you and can't bring any harm. So it's all.about management as an administrator.Infact many times we get frustrated by complaints and then conducting enquiries made by fake complainants as all our hard work ,time and resources eventually go waste. But this is how democracy works .Many times you work after 5,during elections,disasters, calamities, exigencies like COVID-19.But who else would distribute ration to those stranded labourers,residents of panchayats? Who else would sanetize public places ,who would gather reports of quarantined persons?Who else would perform duties as a sector officer or magistrate?Who else would help district administration to maintain laws and order ? who else woukd ensure fair elections? Who else would prepare solid liquid waste management plan or eco village for entire community?And you are not doing it all by yourself,you have many subordinates or a team. Don't you think it should be a matter of pride of being given such responsibilities. Some might be frustrated citing being overburdened others might feel privileged. Well ,again it depends upon person to person.
Final Verdict….just don't think about negatives or subordination of being a state civil.servant which is a relative term ,focus on positive aspects of being a civil servant .I hardly know anyone in this service who would even think about an alternate profession once being a civil servant .You are literally just one step below IAS and a perfect alternate to UPSC in case if you just miss to crack it.. Its a noble service with immence social recognition and respect.Once you join barring exceptions ,you would enjoy the life being offered as a civil servant.