George Fernandez

George Fernandez

George Fernandez was a veteran trade union leader, politician, journalist, agriculturist and held several ministerial portfolios including Communication, Industry, and Railways in the Janata Party Government. He was minister of Defence in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government (1998-2004) under the stewardship of Atal Behari Vajpayee.

During his tenure in the Defence Ministry, one Joint secretary raised an objection in a file regarding the proposal for providing protective clothing for Jawans in the forward areas and those working in hostile and most uninhabitable areas. The JS was of the opinion that the cost of the item is too much. When George Fernandez came to know about this case, he called the concerned officer and asked him to proceed to Kargil to find for himself under what conditions our Jawans are working and living. It was a shining example of a minister’s interference to protect the welfare of the underprivileged

One .need not requires practical experience to understand and appreciate the problems, difficulties, sorrows, sufferings, trials and tribulations of others. It requires only a compassionate heart, consideration for fellow beings and a little common sense. The very same people will wag their tail and sign on the dotted line with strong recommendation on the  proposals which flouts all rules, regulations, equity, justice and also detrimental to  the national/organizational interest, simply because the people involved or the beneficiaries are powerful, influential, rich and mighty.

Some people sometimes feel surprised and shocked on hearing the sad demise of someone due to heart attack simply because all along they were under the impression that the deceased person was heartless.