Days ahead of autum session of legislature, the State Government has sanctioned Rs 11 Crore for purchase of 100 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for legislators. Each sitting MLA/MLC would be provided with SUV and each vehicle will cost Rs 11.26 Lakh. Ironically, the vehicle wouldn’t even address the security concerns as they aren’t bullet proof and are only meant for luxury of Legislators.
Surprisingly, such functionaries of the Government as are supposed to be on field duty for most of the time are not either provided any vehicle to facilitate their official work or get an old used vehicle, which ultimately becomes more of a liability than convenience. We know of many responsible functionaries like Additional District Development Commissioners (ADDCs) who have to be on field duty for at least half of the month to supervise and monitor the progress of various developmental projects, but are not provided with a vehicle. Obviously, reduced mobility will adversely impact their work and delivery. Even heads of many districts are provided with unfit and condemned vehicles or vehicles that have been used by Ministers for a long time and then garaged as unfit. Sub-Divisional Magistrates and Tehsildars, are not provided with any vehicle although the nature of their job requires them to perform good deal of field work. In particular the SDMs and Tehsildars posted in border areas like Arnia, Khour and Akhnoor, where affairs of the people are constantly under the eye of the Government because of the unprovoked firing taking place day in and day out, they have great responsibility to shoulder.Who else is more in need of a vehicle than such an officer?
We do not understand why the Government should come under pressure of the MLAs to provide them luxurious vehicles and deny even modest transport facility to such of the administrative staff as is supposed to be on field duty for most of the time of their posting. This glaring disparity has created ill-feelings among a large section of administrative staff. Situation in Kashmir region is no better. According to our information, during past eight years only one or two District Development Commissioners have been provided with new vehicles and majority of the DDCs have been given the vehicles discarded by the Ministers or the Legislators. This is almost insulting the senior most district level officer and no Government should feel happy over such an ugly prospect.
We do not underestimate the importance of a representative of the people in the Legislative Assembly. We also never underestimate the work he is supposed to pursue in the interests of the public good. However, we stress on the point that the administrative staff of a district entrusted with important task of monitoring, supervising and reporting needs to be provided facilities that help him or her in discharging their official responsibilities. At the same time their dignity and prestige, too, need to be maintained and protected. There should be difference between administration for the sake of show and administration as the obligation. Government has to treat its functionaries with equity and a sense of parity.
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