Last Sunday Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his monthly radio programme reminded the people of the Quit India Movement, when a clarion call was given by Mahatma Gandhi, 75-years ago on August 9, 1942, for liberation of the country from British imperialism. Drawing a parlance he extolled the people that the need of the hour is to expel corruption, terrorism, casteism, communalism, poverty and filth from the country by 2022.
While fully endorsing his passionate plea we feel that it would have been prudent to include one more parameter, namely to uproot casualness that has been deeply ingrained with Indian legacy. This is one malaise that has been sadly inflicting every strata of the society not sparing even the lawmakers.
If that narrative poses a doubt in our minds let us recollect that on the very following day of Modi’s address, an unusual situation rather unprecedented in parliamentary history was witnessed in Rajya Sabha, when around 30 MPs of the ruling NDA coalition including a host of Ministers were absent in the august House when the bill tabled by the government to grant constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes was passed by the opposition sponsored amendments because of their higher numbers. All this happened despite a whip being issued to the NDA members and the recent reprimand by the Prime Minister to the members for being present in the upper house.
Undeniably there can be genuine excuses for the members for their absenteeism but such embarrassment for the government is truly unfortunate. Interestingly, on the following day of the government biting the dust, the upper house was replete with all the members including Ministers being prominently present.
The episode is a reminder to all that casualness in duty should be nipped if we want the country to progress. How many people in government offices are punctual in their attendance? After the new government was formed in Goa some ministers visited the offices under their jurisdiction and found a number of government servants reporting late for duty, creating inconvenience to the people seeking service from the offices.
Will the officials after the admonition realise their mistakes and try to overcome their shortcomings, or the casualness will continue as part of their routine? It is our nature to blame the country for any wrong happening. It is time that we make it a point to ascertain how much of our casual approach has contributed to such undesirable problems.
