DNA, June 02, 2014
By Pradeep S Mehta
Cause of concern Another malady in many of our authorities is presence of brokers, who become mandatory channels to get what one could get in routine
When one former bureaucrat cannot get things moving, what will be the plight of the hoi polloi? If Narendra Modi can whip the bureaucracy across country to follow the Gujarat form of glasnost, our citizens will be happier and productive.
Yesterday I wrote about the high level of bureaucratic responsiveness in Gujarat based upon our own empirical experiences and compared it with Madhya Pradesh. Our own findings have also been validated by reliable people living in Gujarat and MP, by anecdotes. If Madhya Pradesh is doing well in terms of growth, Gujarat is doing better by taking along its people. Is the same happening in Rajasthan? The short answer is no.
Let me share a sad experience, which my own colleagues had when tracking absenteeism in 30 primary health care centres in Tonk district through the community monitoring methodology. Perhaps, city folks may not be aware of this serious handicap as in most cases doctors and paramedics are just not available at their duty stations in rural areas. This means that our people often get sick. This gets worse over time and thus people lose their productivity. Rather than us monitoring such issues, we feel that the local community should do it and thus get empowered.
After recording the findings of the community, they asked for photocopies of the attendance records of a particular month from the district medical chief to cross-check the community’s report. The bureaucracy hummed and hawed and did not deliver. Then a lower level clerk told my colleague to file an RTI enquiry, so they can protect their backs. The data was then furnished within the time period. My concern is that should not the RTI Act have a sunset clause, when anyone in the government would become cooperative ab initio in furnishing information when asked for by a citizen. The law does require them to be upfront in sharing information. Perhaps that is a dream, but many countries in the world do not have a law like RTI and yet are transparent and responsive.
Another malady which exists in many of our authorities is the ubiquitous presence of brokers, who become mandatory channels to get what one could get in the usual course. A colleague, Madhu Sudan Sharma, purchased a house in Malviya Nagar in Rajasthan Housing Board colony in 2008 from an existing owner and got it registered when he received the possession. He had to get his purchase validated by the RHB. He asked them to furnish photocopies of the original documents and visited the relevant deputy commissioner number of times, but to no avail. When frustrated, the DC’s PA suggested that my colleague should approach a broker who would incentivise the lower-level staff to pull out the old records from their depository. But Madhu Sudan, trained as a crusader, filed an RTI enquiry. Voila, the information tumbled out of the cobwebbed closets.
I have been a victim of the same on many occasions not only with the JMC or their councillors, but also the Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) of Jaipur Police. And this is in spite of several reminders with copies to their superiors.
The police authorities once told me they do not have adequate resources. I shot off a letter to the state finance secretary. I did not get an acknowledgement, but did see a rise in budget allocation.
Alas, that did not much help in improving the terrible traffic situation. Therefore, it would not be prudent to say that the government is always unresponsive.
One of the finest bureaucrats in Rajasthan that I have met is Rajendra Bhanawat. He has recently retired from the IAS. In a national daily, he recently wrote about his own sad experiences in trying to get the administration to respond. His street lights were not working. He registered his complaint on the JMC helpline. He pursued the matter relentlessly for six months. Every time he got the stereotyped answer that his complaint is being attended to. The lights are not working until now.
Bhanawat writes about his second experience as well. This is in wider public interest. An eight-storied hospital being constructed near Jawahar Circle was breaking some of the municipal laws. For instance, constructing a 100-metre and three-metre high platform on the 200-feet-road making it impossible for pedestrians to use the footpath, which stood virtually devoured. On the other hand, the access gate into the hospital has been positioned on the narrow side road of 30 feet instead of the broader road of 200 feet.
Bhanawat sent six letters to the Chief Secretary and made several calls to concerned officers in eight months, but no effective action has been taken. A symbolic demolition did take place. It was rebuilt the next day.
When one former bureaucrat cannot get things moving, what will be the plight of the hoi polloi? If Narendra Modi can whip the bureaucracy across country to follow the Gujarat form of glasnost, our citizens will be happier and productive.
The writer is Secretary General, CUTS International (views expressed are his own)
This news can also be viewed at: http://epaper.dnaindia.com/