‘Forget reforms, babudom must snap out of slumber’

Shaking Bihar’s officialdom out of stupor should be priority for the next government, even before attempting reforms, say administrativ...

Shaking Bihar’s officialdom out of stupor should be priority for the next government, even before attempting reforms, say administrative experts.

Kaimur district is an example of the difference officials can make. A symbol of Bihar’s administrative failure is its inability to use Central funds. But Kaimur uses 100 per cent in most of the anti-poverty schemes. ‘‘We motivate the Panchayati Raj leaders to implement such schemes and regularly monitor them,’’ B. Rajendran, District Collector. Public hearings to ease government transactions, streamlining filing system, and informal access to subordinates at a daily morning meditation have changed the way government functions here.

Without the help of any special funds, Kaimur built a state-of-the-art conference hall last financial year. ‘‘It is only about the judicious use of available funds,’’ he adds.

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Rajendran’s success wouldn’t have been possible without Jagadanand, an influential minister in the RJD regime who insulated his home district from interference. But Kaimur and Jagadand are not representative of the RJD regime.

In Bihar, some postings were bought as a pension plan by ageing bureaucrats; some are there because they helped the regime’s political management. ‘‘By harassing innocents and protecting criminals, police and bureaucracy have been reduced into a syndicate of the erstwhile ruling party,’’ says Ojha.

The previous government didn’t find ADG (Headquarters) D.N. Gautam, ADG (CID) Manoje Nath and ADG (Special Branch) Anand Shanker convenient. So, two IG rank officials, close to the previous establishment, were put in charge of all three posts — IG Neelmani in charge of HQ and Ashok Gupta holding charge of CID and Special Branch. The ADGs, meanwhile, were given charges which should be held by IG rank officials.

Moreover, last year, two IPS officials quit — Ajit Joy, picked by the EC for re-polling in Chapra in 2004, resigned; DIG Ritu Raj sought voluntary retirement.