Wherever you go, our network follows was a popular sign-off line of a mobile phone company during the days when connectivity used to be a major issue. Two government officers in Vasco realized to their dismay that Herald follows that maxim too. It goes wherever it knows that the interests of the people of Goa are not being served. And while their personal initiative to learn typing and the internet (when was the last time you heard someone go to an institute to “learn” internet), may be commendable, they missing from their offices when members of the public are waiting for them, is certainly not.
The sight of two inspectors – Civil Supplies Inspector H Kalangutkar and Excise Inspector S Pereira, at the typing institute was embarrassing. The Herald reporter duly took pictures which we carried on Tuesday’s edition. It is important to point out while these two officers were at the wrong place at the wrong time; they are merely products of a system, which has allowed those in Government service to serve themselves. They are not criminals, nor is there anything to indicate they are corrupt or incompetent, but where they and the system fail is that they constantly erode the delivery of basic services to the common man.
The chief minister’s insistence on ensuring that delivery of services, now guaranteed by law, has not translated to practice. The Goa (Right of Citizens to Time Bound Delivery of Public Services) Bill, 2013, now an Act has specific time limits for the delivery of services at different levels and a system of fines, penalties and compensation for the public. These rules are flouted with impunity as government officers take advantage of citizens, who prefer to wait it out rather than enforce the law. It’s a cozy system really because it is getting increasingly difficult to expect MLAs to enforce discipline in government departments in their own constituencies where they exercise tremendous influence, because many of the employees in their departments are appointed due to their direct influence.
Readers will recall reports just before the last assembly elections of massive power department recruitments in South Goa, by the then power minister, where appointments were hurried through by back dating them to escape the code of conduct notification cut off. A week later most of them who were picked as linesmen, by not even climbing a pole, where seen lounging outside the electricity department office playing cards, reading papers or simply snoozing. One such ‘lucky boy” from Orgao Loutolim, got so bored that he actually left and came away.
Filling up of government posts by loyalists and would be supporters had tainted the previous Congress government. The BJP government hasn’t quite cleansed the system completely though several such recruitments have been scrutinized and contacts that have expired haven’t been renewed. However, the rot of people not in position and not delivering services on time has not changed not withstanding surprise checks and warnings given by the Chief Minister and other ministers.
Conventional solutions will not work. A cadre of inspectors needs to be created to go to government offices incognito, as common people, on a daily visit and do spot checks to detect absenteeism, non- availability and even instances of government employees running other businesses or employed elsewhere. A three step warning system should be followed. If the same employee has to be warned the third time for any of the above, a suspension should be followed pending a detailed inquiry and if found guilty there should be a direct termination of services of such employees. If people in the private sector are accountable, a government job can no longer be used as Life Insurance return during your working life, and that too with our money.
Most importantly the “Time Bound Delivery” of Services Act should be implemented strictly so that they do not become toothless tigers, which deprive people of their just rights.
