It is turning quite common of late for government officials to escape their duties by saying that they are unaware of certain issues. In the past few days officials have shrugged off their responsibility by telling Herald that they don’t know what is happening in their area or who has done a certain deed.
In one instance it was the Chor Bazaar that is rearing its ugly head in Margao all over again. The police inspector of that jurisdiction told Herald that the activity has not come to the notice of the police. A day later in Vasco, the municipal council and the PWD said they were not aware of who had removed the coverings of the drains in Baina and left the drains open for over two months. A little over a week ago a municipal council chairperson had said he was unaware of sewage spilling on the streets of his town. And, not too long ago, it had taken a Herald report for the police to act against the sale of narcotics in the North Goa beach belt. The list could be longer, but this should suffice for a sampling of the manner in which officials turn the other way round when confronted with a problem.
The above examples are not issues affecting a single individual, but the larger community and hence there should be no reason for the official concerned to claim being unaware of the problem. Does the police department really expect to be intimated that a bazaar is illegally taking place at dawn and that the goods on sale, or a large percentage of them, are most likely to have been stolen? If drains have been kept open for two months shouldn’t the municipal authorities take steps to ascertain who opened these drains and for what purpose?
This throwing up of the hands and feigning ignorance is not what the government has been elected for or its staff paid to do. A government is expected to work through the departments and if departments that deal directly with the people absolve themselves of their duties with statements that they are unaware of certain issues or happenings, then it means that there is a failure of the administration.
This is happening because there is a certain amount of unwillingness on the part of government officials to do more than the minimum work required. Government staffers have got accustomed to getting away with such statements as there is no accountability for their actions. There appears to be some sort of resigned tolerance by the government that accepts what the staff is doing without taking action against those not performing.
It is here that the government must act, for if the administration fails it reflects poorly on the government’s performance. The only way the administration can be made to act dutifully is if responsibilities are clearly defined among the staff and the official in charge is made to take ownership of the task. The government should demand an explanation of any statement made by a government official stating their ignorance on a certain subject. By ignoring such pronouncements by its staff, the government is promoting this culture of not working and passing the buck. It is only a stern attitude by the government that can ensure that its officials do their duty.
Citizens depend on various government departments and services on a daily basis. An attitude of helpfulness should prevail. If a media organization is given such vague answers, one can only wonder at the hardships the common man must be facing every time he or she approaches a government department. This attitude has to change.
When government staffers do not accept responsibility for its tasks there is little hope of there being an effective administration or even an agenda for development. A State moves forward when there is a positive attitude that works towards improvement of the existing system and infrastructure. An attitude of evading responsibility or closing one’s eyes to what is happening will not achieve progress and this perhaps is one reason why development in Goa suffers. This lack of drive in the administration has to change.
