The people of Uttarakhand - known for their volubility against corruption-conspicuously refraining from giving their response on the crucial lokayukta bill has landed the State Government in a fix. Notably, the Trivendra Singh Rawat Government had referred the two bills on transfer and lokayukta to the select committee after the Opposition demanded so, citing that the bills on becoming acts would impact a large section of the people of the state. later, the Vidhan Sabha had constituted the committee headed by the state parliamentary affairs minister Prakash Pant. During the first meeting of the committee on April 12, Pant had announced that they would seek public opinion on these two bills and the people were free to send their opinions to the mandated authorities by April 21. The people were asked to send their suggestions through letters to be written to either of the three- the secretary Vidhan Sabha, the Speaker, Vidhan Sabha and the chairman of the select committee. The State Government also announced the email address and the website through which such suggestions could be sent- secretary-vs-uk@gov.in. www.ukvidhansabha.uk.gov.in.
However, the response from the people is depressing with none yet caring to give any opinion on the bill brought to constitute the ombudsman meant to check corruption in the high places. A senior officer said that while there is no response yet to the lokayukta bill with just a couple of days left some have sent their views of the transfer bill. However, these views being personalized, they have not helped the state government much in churning out a bill that encompasses the interests of the cross-sections of the people to be affected by the execution of the bill after it becomes an act.
The official further said that the opinions sent by the people on the transfer bill pertain to stress being laid on the interests of the couples, particularly those working as teachers. “The couples are seeking preference being given to them while suggesting that their posting should be at least for five years and the couple should not be posted in two different places. However, the unions representing the government employees having not sent any opinion as yet has landed the State Government in a tight spot,” he added.