Postings are good, bad or indifferent as far as our civil servants are concerned. An outsider might well think the choice between one department/ministry and the other or between one office and the other should take a back seat. One can serve the people from anywhere. But our civil servants have devised a pecking order of ministries, departments and subordinate offices. Their near-unanimity on the level of attractiveness of the postings available might send a stranger wondering whether the Invisible Hand is not guiding them, too, in its inscrutable ways.

The minister for general administration has let the public in on a secret — that more than 90 per cent of the employees who have applied for a transfer are chasing the treasure islands — for instance, the customs and inland revenue departments, immigration department, and tourism ministry. What may tickle one no end is the scenario that would ensue if all the requests were granted. The minister herself provided the answer — most of the other ministries would be without working hands. Even ordinary citizens may now have reached the same conclusion. The seductiveness of government posts is not mainly due to the job security they offer, nor is it the desire for selfless service — most karmacharis will easily spurn salary offers elsewhere several times over. This speaks volumes. A hint is enough for the wise.