Transport Secretary's note recommending to let PwC open 'back door office' at the Secretariat leaked
A recommendation letter by Transport Secretary K R Jyothilal to the Chief Minister to allow PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a multi-national consultancy company, to set up a ‘backdoor office’ at the Kerala Secretariat, written in 2018, has been leaked. In the note, the Transport Secretary indicated that the existing staff at the Secretariat are not skilled enough to handle mega projects planned as part of the Rebuild Kerala initiative in a time-bound and effective manner.
Thiruvananthapuram: A recommendation letter to allow PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a multi-national consultancy company, to set up a ‘backdoor office’ at the Kerala Secretariat, written in 2018, has been leaked.
The note by Transport Secretary K R Jyothilal to the Chief Minister points out that PwC could be allowed to open a backdoor office at the Secretariat to handle the megaprojects planned as part of the Rebuild Kerala initiative.
In the note, the Transport Secretary also indicated that the existing staff at the Secretariat are not skilled enough to handle such mega projects in a time-bound and effective manner.
As part of the Rebuild Kerala initiative, megaprojects on Electric Vehicle manufacture hub, Hydrogen Fuel Cell, Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod High-Speed Rail Corridor, Airstrips at district headquarters and helipads are all planned and being executed.
In the note, Jyothilal had suggested that to ensure the works are carried out in a time-bound manner and the benefits reach the public, large scale promotional programmes including those on social media platforms are necessary. The proposal presented by the Value Management office as submitted by the PwC to permit a back door office for the Pricewaterhouse Coopers at the State Secretariat can be accepted, says the Transport secretary’s note.
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The letter further recommends the appointment of 4 high officials at this office at a pay higher than that of the Chief Secretary’s and Rs 1.49 Crore could be allowed towards the salary expenses incurred here.
The proposal letter submitted by Transport Secretary Jyothilal is alleged to have been prepared as per the advice of the then Principal Secretary M Sivasankar.