Public Administration Reform
The DS report under the heading of "Ex-bureaucrats oppose extension of service" published on the 11th January, 1999 made quite an interesting reading.
It may not be well known that there must have been at least 1000 various commissions/committees, some for reform and others for inquiry, since the Liberation. Expect the bureaucrats, has anyone else seen these reports or know of the measures taken in response to the recommendations of the-se commissions/committees?
As for the current administrative reform, I am sure it would make an interesting reading if one could get hold of the Report if and when it is made available. Leaving that expectation aside, the current concerns of the persons involved are quite revealing, as reported.
One must not forget that these administrative reform commissions are always formed with very senior, experienced, top level bureaucrats and they consort with similarly situated persons, as the list of those attending the meeting indicates. The underlying assumptions are quite clear.
First, the bureaucrats are in the best position to know the real problems of governance. Secondly, they clearly have the best notions about the ways and means to resolved the problems.
What are the problems currently being looked into, for which the opinion of other very senior-experienced-top level (bureaucrat) were sought? The DS reports that their first concern was ways and means for improving the accountability and service standard. Accountability to whom? Perish the thought that the bureaucrats would even have nightmares about making themselves accountable to anyone but themselves. Would they ask anyone but themselves about the standard of the service they are providing?
The second concern was the system of receipt of letters in the Secretariat and their acknowledgment. Wow! What a major problem!! How do you receive a letter and acknowledge that you have actually received it? Surely, such a problem calls for a major consultation meeting of numerous very senior-experienced-top level-civil bureaucrats. Aren't we impressed? I am sure after due and deep consideration, may be with the help of another high level committee, the bureaucrats would find a way to receive and acknowledge letters. That would be the day!
The third and another major concern was the simplification of payment of travel tax. Dear reader, please ponder over the enormity of the problem. How do you actually pay travel tax at the airport? I am sure we are all at our wits end. How do you figure out a solution? Obviously, you call a meeting of numerous very senior-experienced-top level-bureaucrats, 'right'?
The next problem was "early retirement with incentive". Now, how many of you, dear readers, know of government officials, particularly those involved in governmental transactions, who wouldn't actually pay incentives to the government not to retire them?
The next problem that the numerous very senior-experienced-top level-bureaucrats pondered over was how to simplify procedures of pension. Not your pension. Their pension, after they have actually retired. After having so diligently and very honestly served the government for, say, a quarter of century, it they themselves can't get their pensions paid to them, have they pondered about the situation of those who are owed money by the government? Those who only have occasional dealings with the government and none of the powers of the bureaucrats. Perish the thought that they would be concerned about you and me, about our payments.
The list goes on. How do you pay all your bills easily (the so-called 'one stop bill payment system'). It makes you shudder. Doesn't it? Lets pray that this committee's solution will complicate the matters only up to a certain degree and they will leave it to the next committee to bring in yet more complications in your bill-paying endeavours. Actually I'll bet on that as I am sure their ability to harass the public, despite their best efforts, is limited by their inability which clearly outweighs their abilities. Then there is the "magnetisation of the vehicle entitlement of the officers". Not so long ago there were reports in the newspapers that each government vehicle costs the tax payers some thing like Taka 27,000 per month to operate. Will the monetisation be based in such a figure? You bet!!
In this time of Eid festivities, will the readers join me in wishing the bureaucrats? Happy Reforms!!
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