Editorial
Govt to closely monitor service delivery in districts
A thoughtful initiative that must be followed up
THE government's initiative asking the deputy commissioners to file reports to the establishment secretary by the 10th of each month elaborating on anti-corruption activity, state of education and service delivery at the district and sub-district levels instantly strikes a responsive chord in us. These are not meant to be proforma reports, something that is refreshingly revealed through some excerpts of the letter which the establishment secretary had dispatched to the deputy commissioners.
The whole purpose behind the process being set afoot as we understand it is to establish answerability of the district and upazila administrations. The latter should be held accountable in the first place to the local people, civil society, public representatives, i.e. all stakeholders and, then to the establishment ministry as the controlling authority of the district/upazila executives. The constituency of the local administration is hardly aware of the different government agencies there are, or what facilities they provide, far less the services the designated officials are required to deliver and the procedures to obtain these. The DCs would now provide information charts to the people so that they are in a position to know how to go about demanding their rights and what their obligations to the state are.
Specifically on corruption, DCs have been advised to take a role in associating people to build an anti-corruption culture in their districts. As far as education goes, they are required to launch a social movement with the help and support of local public representatives, reputable community figures, NGO representatives, teachers and the taught, parents and guardians to ensure acceptable standards. The institutional limitations can be overcome by virtue of a cooperative environment. On primary healthcare, a good infrastructure is available, but what is lacking is human resource that refuses to disperse to the outlying areas.
We believe the move is in keeping with the Right to Information Act insofar as requiring the officials to inform people about the services being made available and their delivery to the people who demand these are concerned. It would be indeed gratifying if the district and upazila administrations were to have designated official spokesmen so that the people know where to knock for information. While being on the subject, could we urge the government to release the reports furnished by the DCs to the additional secretary concerned of the establishment ministry along with the evaluation reports of the latter thereon, at least the relevant excerpts of these to the press by way of public dissemination.
One final point, could the ministries, directorates, autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions embrace the information-sharing culture for the greater good of the nation?
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