Governor Syed Ahmed’s near two-year stint in Jharkhand was kind of a mixed bag. Raj Bhawan witnessed the fall of a popular Government, the responsibility to run the affairs and probably handing over the baton again to a new alliance.
The Pioneer in a long chat with the Governor tried to gauge his take on the responsibility and response of bureaucracy to a particular situation, the problems facing the State and also the unfinished agenda. Excerpts:
You have been here in the Raj Bhawan for nearly two years. How do you view thisIJ
It has been very pleasant with lots of greenery. People are very nice. I feel happy when I meet them. I always try to meet the common people and have opened the doors of Raj Bhawan. Anyone can inform my ADC and meet me between 11.30 and 12.30 in the morning.
Also, I am trying to work as much as possible. I personally visit many places and have even suspended a few officials who were missing from their offices. This has improved things considerably.
This is also your first assignment as a Governor. How has been the experienceIJ
It was my first appointment as Governor but I have been MlA for 25 years! I was Minister in the Maharashtra Government for four times. Maharashtra has a fast life. Every work there is fast paced and this is the reason behind the progress of the region. Officers there are aware. You don’t need to tell officers there time and again. Bureaucracy here is a bit lethargic. Yahan picche padna padta hai. Zimmedaari ke ehsaas kam hai yahan. They do not come to the office on time. I have installed biometric system. Now they will come on the right time.
But the person becoming a Governor has some qualities. Har aadmi Governor nahi banta. Old experiences matter while assigning the role to anyone.
You also have been a prolific writer. How much do you miss this aspect at presentIJ
I am not a poet. I have written some lines sometimes but I have not written poetry. I have done some critical analysis of poetry in Urdu, such as ‘Kavita ka inqualabi kirdaar’ and ‘shayari ka inqualabi kirdaar’. Colour of shayari can be seen in my speeches. I have always been in an environment (pervading) Faizabad and lucknow. I know six dialects-Urdu, Marathi, Hindi, English, Persian, Arabic.
I am writing a book these days. It is a collection of my speeches. A writer from Jharkhand has also written a book on me. ‘Mashoor logon ki nazar me Dr Syed Ahmed’. This is in English, Hindi and Urdu.
As a politician and now as the head of the State, what reasons do you see behind poor development in JharkhandIJ
Nothing goes right in the State due to instability. It is because there is no single-party government here. Though it happens everywhere, but those parties (which) are sane fix a target and progress while working on an agenda.
You have taken some steps to change the scenario during the President’s Rule. How do you rate themIJ
We have taken several positive steps such as old age pension, rights to panchayats and opening of Pragya Kendras. For improvement in law and order, we made SPs and police stations in-charge accountable. For the first time, we have deputed a Director for Tribal Affairs at Raj Bhawan and held a tribal conference. Traffic system has been improved on the lines of Mumbai. Audrey House is to be developed as a cultural centre that depicts the life and times of Indira Gandhi. I am also ensuring that the Central funds are spent.
The State is living dangerously with naxals. What is the solution of the menace, in your mindIJ
Naxalism is not a new phenomenon. It is an age-old issue. It’s not there at one place but spread across the country and the world. Where there are no naxals something else prevails.
We have tried in the State to educate people and their kids and for this every area should have one school so that kids get education and get jobs to convince their parents that naxalism is not the proper way to demand their rights. laws are there and they are being enforced also but when law and society put efforts together then only these problems can be eradicated. Here law is trying but society is not able to curb the naxal menace because people are not educated.
We are trying, especially in tribal areas to set up schools, colleges and universities so that tribal people get access to education. They should understand that they would be getting more money from jobs after getting educated than they were getting by putting their lives at risk in the hands of the Maoists. We are also trying our best to make the benefits of social development schemes reach the last person in the remote villages of the State.
Corruption has made bad name in Jharkhand in a big way. Any step to curb thatIJ
We used to talk that only 15 paise of one rupee reaches the beneficiaries. We have now ensured that the whole rupee reaches the needy. There were two major problems in Jharkhand — law and Order and corruption. You can see we have been able to curb corruption in the State and you have seen how many people have been put behind bars on corruption charges. I have made surprise visits and this will continue. It is a must to ensure accountability among Government servants.
But how the work culture here can be improved which perhaps is the biggest villainIJ
It’s difficult to change the mentality of the people. There are lots of factors like educational background, peer groups, social environment, etc involved in it. It is not only the law that will change the mentality of errant Government officials and society has to play a larger role in it.
Where do you see Jharkhand after 10 years from nowIJ
Ten years are too much. I think we will make Jharkhand one of the most beautiful states in just 5 years. In just six-seven months of President’s Rule people are feeling the difference that things can change in positive direction.
New Government formation exercise is taking place in the State. What is your take on thatIJ
Whatever Government comes the Governor will be there and the role of Governor will be there. I have never stopped any file. You know very well how files are stopped here. I have been very forthright in my duties as Minister in Maharashtra and as Governor of Jharkhand also.
How much do you agree with Union Minister P Chidambaram’s statement once made in Parliament that Jharkhand politicians need to learn lessons in politics for effective governanceIJ
100 per cent agree with that. Most of the politicians here are more self centered than taking interest in the development of the State. You know rest of the story.