Thursday 1 August 2013

The Game of Blame

Elected politicians and bureaucrats are important pillars of governance. These two pillars need to work in synergy to run the country efficiently. Innumerable time’s initiatives taken by individuals or organizations for the betterment of the society or country at large are hampered or faced with hurdles put up by some elements of society.

The Mid-day meal crisis was not only a horrific tragedy but a revelation. It brought to light the cracks in the implementation of the initiative right from its inception. The countless number of issues regarding the hygiene and nutrition that have come to be known only prove to show how complaints made to the government falls on deaf ears. Seeing the callous implementation of the plan in not only one but all states makes it clear the problem was the core of this programme, the sync between the government and the bureaucrats was missing. The misappropriation of funds, delay in the delivery of recourses and the lack of quality check by the government in all states has lead to such an incident to take place. The government of Bihar claims it to be conspiracies of the bureaucrats while the bureaucrats believes it to be the failure of the administration and the lack of the authority of the law on the people.

But here in India not only initiatives undertaken on a national level but acts attempted by individuals or small group of people to improve society are brought to a standstill by people with power.  The latest example being of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal who took on a powerful sand mafia in the state and helped curb the illegal mining activities happening in the state.  Soon after which she was suspended by the state government stating it was for ordering the demolition of an under-construction mosque wall in a village in Uttar Pradesh.  Transfer of bureaucrats by politicians is not something unheard of, at least in India. Some of the representatives of the government are actually famous for their tendency to transfer and try and exercise their powers over bureaucrats.

Such incidents and situations give people infinite opportunities to begin the blame game.  Political parties and bureaucrats try and wash their hands of such situations by accusing each other for causing the incident. Many a times it is done to tarnish the others image or is a well thought political move or with personal agenda. Politicizing any situation is not a solution to a mishap. 

We are aware about such incidences but we do not understand the degree to which they are a hindrance to the growth of our society. This leaves me disheartened with a lingering thought, why can’t politicians and bureaucrats forget their personal agenda and instead take accountability for their actions and look out for the public at large.

The politicians and the bureaucrats should come together and rectify this situation and ensure such incidents don’t take place again instead of taking potshots at each other.  Only if they work together and not against each other can such situations not occur in this country. The attention needs to be diverted from accusations to solutions


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