Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, the other day in a press address, said “value time, don’t sit on files”. Taking a dig on bureaucrats, he said ‘time is more important than even technology, so clear files on fast track’ while also criticising central government for not taking decisions in time.
Sleeping over the files is a national disease to say the least. Many illnesses like for example, auto-immune diseases, allergies, diabetes or dandruff…. have no cure but can be well controlled with advanced drugs.
But this perennial disease has neither cure nor be controlled. Rather it’s ever-growing aggressively like cancer. Most of the time files don’t move due to laxity and apathy of officials concerned. If one goes in any government office one can’t miss the callousness and lackadaisical attitude of babus at the desks. There is also a sense of security in their eyes as they know the system protects them. Says celebrated British author Chris Fussel, ‘in any democracy, there is natural tendency to let the bureaucratic system become an excuse for inaction.’
There are various other reasons for inordinate delays in clearing files. The archaic laws, over regulations and corruption make files move at snail’s pace. The latter being the mother of all reasons. The thicker and the heavier the file, bigger is the bakshish expected.
While some files are in suspended animation, some mysterious and controversial files go missing. Lethargy, unaccountability and shortage of staff make files in bureaucracy and even judicial and quasi judicial bodies, move at leisurely pace. As per one report, at present in Goa, there are some 56,000+ cases (criminal and civil) in lower courts pending. Having said that, I must hasten to add that though government has various initiatives like EoDB (ease of doing business) SEZ et al, they are attractive only on paper. If an entrepreneur in India wants to start a new venture or a startup he is harassed by severe red tapism. There is endless paperwork which is too cumbersome. The regulatory roadblocks emerge as big challenge to fulfill his/her dream as the file remains in cold storage.
One of my colleagues had a similar experience 8 yrs ago when he dreamt of opening a lifestyle luxury hotel in Calangute. In spite of adhering to all norms and satisfying all the requirements there was undue delay due to this red tape.
Totally frustrated he flew to Pattaya. Applied for licence in wife’s name (Thai national) and obtained licence in 10 days. His business flourished in short time and he even diversified it in travel and tourism. The other day he was in Goa. To his utter shock and disbelief, he received by speed post, the NOC and licence copy pertaining to the previous file. ‘Receiving NOC now is like ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ was his cryptic remark.
All these thoughts came to my mind when the other day I noticed a giant Babu, a couch potato in one of the government offices literally sleeping over the stack of files making it as improvised pillow and enjoying afternoon siesta under the fan. All the files were firmly tied in red tape!
