Speaking on the occasion of Vigilance Awareness Week, some weeks back, the Chief Minister had said that the public administration has to be people-friendly and warned Government employees to stop harassment of common people. He also pointed out that several employees are non-performing and non-punctual in their duties. He had also warned them, last year, on these issues and instructed the Heads of Departments to issue memos to late-comers. The CM also expressed that people hanker after Govt. jobs because they do not want to work and they feel can get benefits of Pay Commissions and come late to office.
Surprisingly, in a Vigilance Week, the CM was silent on the more grave issue of corruption and bribery in Government offices, which is the object of constant criticism by people and political parties. Perhaps the CM thought it wise to avoid the subject because there are far more serious and well founded allegations that the three highly controversial linear projects in Goa are part of an attempt to return favours obtained by BJP before the 2014 elections and which it hopes to continue receiving in future from rich industrialists, who are very close to the PM and the Party in power here and at the Centre.
In fact, there is a belief, and there are persistent accusations in this regard, that no work is done in Government offices unless a bribe is paid or worse still that hurdles are deliberately created to encourage bribery. The latter part appears to be true but perhaps not that no work can be done without bribes. I can vouch that there are still many good and helpful Govt. servants around. May their tribe increase and God bless them. But, surely, there are people who frustrated with delays and frequent trips, feel constrained to find a way out and shell out a few notes, as they can’t afford time, trips and energies, despite their unwillingness to pay bribes.
Recently, AAP averred that over 80 websites of Govt. Departments are not existent and many are mal-functioning. The Transport Dept in Margao functions from two private premises, for reasons best known to the Govt., when a place is reserved for it at Mathany Complex. To renew the registration of vehicles, owners need to visit both these offices. In a small State like Goa, transfer of vehicles from one District to another necessitates that the owner runs from one to the other, sometimes at far off places, to have it done. Isn’t this harassment of public and encouragement of agents, who are perhaps conduits to the higher ups?
When Saturdays were declared holidays, the working hours on regular days were increased, but my observation is that employees still stick to old timings. No one is entertained in Govt. offices before 10am or 3pm. In fact, hardly anyone is in his/her seat before that time. I recall that Parrikar in his first term as CM visited many Govt. offices and pulled up late-comers. For some time, thereafter, there was some semblance of punctuality. Another anomaly which is observed is that there are timings which have been fixed for applying and collecting certain documents as also for accepting inward mail. People who come from various parts of the State find their trip wasted, due to the timings fixed, which they were not aware of.
At Mathany Complex, long queues are common for any type of work, be for certificates, searches of documents, etc. I approached a senior Officer, known to me, at the Collectorate in Margao, several months back, with a request to streamline the administration, especially in avoiding frequent trips,, particularly to senior citizens. But, it fell in deaf ears, despite the offer for assistance, if needed. With all this happening, can we believe there is any sincerity and eagerness in making things easier for the public?
Unless and until Ministers and bureaucrats meet in a real drive to make service hassle-free in Government offices and a Complaint Register is made available in every Dept. no admonitions or threats will ever work.
It is true there is great demand for Govt. jobs, because aspirants feel they are safe, cozy and can be taken lightly. Just like people aspire to become politicians because it is the most profitable profession, at least for men, and also because of the power and prestige attached to it, there is similar craze in taking up a Government job. One would have wished that this eagerness was meant also to be of service to the public. Unfortunately, this aspect is overlooked and some employees turn arrogant and put on airs, because they are well connected. Their attitude towards the public is rather unfriendly. Not alone in Govt. offices but also in Banks and elsewhere, employees lose sight of the fact that they owe their jobs and salaries to the very people they are supposed to serve.
Despite the fact that Goa has too many Govt. employees in proportion to its population, as compared to other States, CM promised 10,000 more jobs, as incentive, ahead of Assembly elections. The recent assurance given by Mauvin Godinho that he will recruit at least 200 from his constituency only confirms the accusation that Government jobs are for sale or meant for the favourites of Ministers. Such incongruent statement from a Minister, who openly throws merit to the winds and perhaps feels that Govt jobs can be distributed the way Ministries and portfolios are allotted by his Government, ought to have been cause for action. But, from a Government known for absolving or ignoring crimes, no sooner the perpetrators join their Party, such upright decisions cannot be expected.
(The author is a retired banker)
