Chereads / MEMOIR OF A CHAIRMAN (LIVE STORY) / Chapter 7 - 7. SHOWING IMPROVED WORKING

Chapter 7 - 7. SHOWING IMPROVED WORKING

A quarterly review meeting was called by the Minister and we prepared for the same in absence of the Director with the help of his next man, and the Director was on his religious pilgrimage. He came back only two days before and reached Delhi for the meeting. He said, "You are ignoring me and I am not prepared for the meeting and do not know if all information, particularly finance is correct or not, as all my subordinates are duffers." "You see the report and correct it if you find any mistake after consulting your fellows and I don't think anyone gives a wrong report for the minister's review, and you need to be upset when you were holidaying for the last fifteen days with your wife and visited some working sites on the way." I told him. He kept mum and attended the meeting which passed off well and we could show that our efforts are in the right direction, and also we didn't get any bad remarks but a few suggestions from ministerial friends which were welcome. Director once again went to tell the Jt Secretary that he was ignored in preparation for the meeting and that is why he kept silent as he was not prepared. In fact he was asked about the fund position for VRS which was in the report but even then could not explain. On this Minister told him, "You are not serious about your job and even the question on a subject you have been handling exclusively, you are unable to speak and Chairman replied on your behalf." This embarrassed him and he went to the Jt Secretary to explain and told him, "Director you keep travelling to different places and even don't care to prepare for the Minister's review, who was very upset with you. Please improve." The information must have gone through someone as persons in ministry keep getting feedback from different persons other than normal channels and keep check. In our case it was more important as a new incumbent to the position and all must like to watch how the company is working under new leadership. Director was upset but still stayed back one day extra to meet some other persons and old acquaintances, and I decided not to care for him and go ahead with my agenda. Later I learnt that he was trying to spread in ministry that the flyover order was on very low profit and as per his calculation it was less than 5% which I agreed with the agency. Next time when he was in the I called him in my office and rebuked him severely asking him to resign and go, but not to harm the organization, and he was of no use to me as his presence itself was harmful as all staff are scared of him and disliked his face also. The company was not paying him to enjoy holiday and in the last three months he did no constructive work, and he was out to criticize a good order for the company after a long time. I came to know that you spent time in Bangalore constructing your house and drawing salary without any break in time, while we here have to wait for many days before fund could arrive, which also you play with by stopping units to send the money to the head office. I don't need you and you can go anywhere else, and I am passing order to Bangalore in charge not to release you without my consent. You must be here permanently or otherwise I shall cancel your house lease with one hour notice. Director left my office and collapsed on his chair when his assistant came to inform me. I was really mad with fury and said, "You get him admitted to hospital that can take care of him immediately, but still I feel he is acting in a drama and scene to draw your sympathy, and he doesn't deserve anything of the sort." After sometime he went to the guest house under care of his wife and took his medicine for diabetes. Later someone informed that his wife also rebuked him after he narrated the incident to say how cruel I was and she said, "Change your habit as this Chairman means business unlike others and you want to have an easy time. I wanted to meet his wife when I was in Calcutta, and I don't know why you're avoiding. Everyone says his wife is a nice person and very affectionate, only you think otherwise. You buy a ticket for me and I will go alone while you stay back and do your work, and you have ignored this for the last four months." But old habits die hard and the man appeared after a few days to seek permission to get checked his diabetes from a particular doctor in Bangalore, and it was difficult for me to stop him.