Speaking at a vigilance awareness week function held at the secretariat, CM Pramod Sawant heavily criticised senior officers, especially HODs and secretaries, for their working style. The CM was right: government officials at all levels should serve the people. Some do their jobs honestly, which is commendable, but most are lethargic and incompetent. Action needs to be taken against them. Who will take it? The government must draft an action policy for prompt improvements.
Why am I saying this? I wrote two letters to the CMO’s office”one about the Archives office and a second about stray dogs in our area. Both were in the public interest but were dismissed as self-explanatory. I don’t understand why. The CMO forwarded my letters to the relevant departments. One was sent to the Animals and Husbandry Department, which forwarded it to an NGO; however, no action has been taken. The CMO sent the second letter to the Archives office, which has never replied.
This means there was no follow-up from the government, nor priority given to CMO matters. Where is government discipline? I usually correspond via email, which is easy and fast, but they reply by post. A few officers, like those in Civil Supply and Public Grievance, do reply via email. Anyways, at least prioritise CMO correspondence.
