A Guiding Government Employee

Muslim Murasu, December 2011

Government does not function for three months each around assembly election, parliament election and local body election. Tenders and quotations for new purchases are not allowed. Only expenditures that were approved before the announcement of election can be implemented. Consumers are given a raw deal. Employees who are drawing full salary cite election as excuse and deny to give their signatures.
The difference between government toilet and private-maintained toilet is visible amply on a visit. There will be red smear. Taps will be leaking. Stench will be unbearable.
There is no comparison possible between government guest house and private guest house. Maintenance in government marriage hall and private marriage hall bear witness to corruption. Taking government bus and private bus for analysis makes it clear the hopelessness and callous attitude.
RTO office, police station, hospital structure and court premises that are maintained by government are quite pathetic. Reason is not shortage of money. A single person earns crores of rupees as bribe. The attitude to upkeep is totally missing in government administration.
A new lorry has to be bought. It is possible to do this within 24 hours in a private firm. But in government dispensation, it is not possible to buy even a table or chair in six months.
District secretary or political party cadre will hold position as minister. He would have been a normal citizen till yesterday. But now he has got wings and will be flying. He sees all officers and employees as bonded labors or some insects.
Ministers should be intelligent. They should appear twice a month on TV on live for fifteen minutes and explain targets, achievements, statistics and obstacles they see in their departments without help of any notes in hand. Ministers who are controlling officers earning 60000 a month should have sharp thinking power, memory and domain knowledge.
Maintenance in government administration is wobbling not because of lack of funds. That is a very small part of the reason. “I don’t care what happens around. I care only about my table” – this attitude brings down the standard. The state government that is in full majority should seek to acquire standards in maintenance. Lest government funds will go wasted.