Theory/ practice conundrum
The intention behind the scheme sounds pretty good, but it seems to be floundering when taken on the ground reality. It is about the Samadhan Portal the Congress- led Uttarakhand government started to redress the common people’s grievances. The people have been enabled to lodge any kind of complaints ranging from the criminal to the civil through the website. The State government officials are bound to acknowledge such complaints and to forward them to the departments concerned for prompt actions. Even the chief minister himself convenes review meetings at least once a month to show how sincere his government is on the matter.
The officials started things with gusto to book those engaged in land grabbing and illegal mining, hoping that achievements would fetch them rewards. But, as it happens in a democracy, particularly in the brand prevalent in ‘Viswa Guru’ India, the politicians come in the way to ensure that the good-intentioned initiative is crushed under the hard rock of reality. The battle-hardened practitioners of ground-level politics warn the upright, zealous officials against going too far. They even tend to enlighten the officials on how the harsh reality on the ground is different from ivory-tower moonshine. lodging complaint is theory while sitting on them indefinitely is what constitutes the practical. The hapless officers realize to their despair that carrying on their missionary zeal would amount to beating in the void their luminous wings in vain. They have chosen thus to loiter in the mazes of the practical/impractical conundrum.
Babu’s feat
A seasoned Babu, long-adept in bureaucratic wheeling-dealing, has succeeded in having his training- an assignment given by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)-kept on hold for a few months. Those close to him say he has trapped a DoPT officer who hails from Uttarakhand in a net of enticement. The Babu is learnt to have bowled the officer over by an assurance of a cost-free Kedarnath/ Uttarakhand air trip at the expense of the State government. There are serious reasons why the Babu is so worried over being pushed off on training from his present post. The time is significant. Most of the departments finish off their budgets in February / March. The Babu can hardly leave station as the Babus get hefty percentage as commissions against the payment of the bills, a long-continuing practice the fruits of which reach either top bottom or bottom top, given the ‘quality’ of the case.