Monday, 11 April 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
Former chief minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat has said that the bureaucracy needs guidance and has to be led from the front. Whether it be the chief minister or the ministers, they will have to understand that the communication with the bureaucracy is not held through newspapers. If communication has to be made, they will have to do it on files, cabinet decisions and in places where construction is being undertaken or decisions are being taken. If the CM and ministers lead from the front, the bureaucracy will definitely follow them, said Rawat, while also expressing concern at the condition of the bureaucracy and departments in the state. He also stressed that an unconcerned bureaucracy is bad for the state.
Taking to the social media on Sunday, the former chief minister said, “The condition of the bureaucracy in the state is a cause for concern. The number of persons who can take decisions at the secretary level are decreasing. For the past few days, I have been looking for a Finance principal secretary or Finance secretary in my mind. Though a couple of names come to mind, I am not convinced. The State is facing some serious challenges with the biggest of them being the challenge of increasing financial resources. Recently, the chief minister knocked hard at the Central Government and I also welcomed it as that is also a strong means of increasing resources. However, the state government will also have to undertake various other steps but this thought seems to be missing.”
Listing another challenge, Rawat said that rising unemployment is a major challenge, adding that the noise around this issue being heard before the elections is missing now. He stated, “The structures of nearly all the major departments in the state are weakened but the structure of the Education and Health departments has weakened to alarming levels. No concrete initiative appears to be taken to systematise these structures. I am also interested in knowing how many incapable persons are identified and sent on forced retirement by the government. There are many other steps expected of the State government, which should take these and lead from the front,” said Rawat.
The Congress veteran said that on Monday, he will mention some challenging works completed in a commendable manner by past governments of the state with the cooperation of the bureaucracy. “However, I would like to make it clear that I am neither an unnecessary critic nor an unnecessary admirer of the bureaucracy. An unconcerned bureaucracy is not in the interests of the state and at present, many bureaucrats who are close to the power appear unconcerned,” he added.
