From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Sep 12: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah did some plain speaking to the government officials – Deputy Commissioners and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officers – at their conference held in Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday and said government officers must be available in their respective offices and made it clear that Work from Home (WFH) culture will not be tolerated in the districts and taluk offices.

“Government officers must have empathy, concern and dedication to serve the people,’’ he said asking officers without humanity or human concern to keep away from public service as those in public service must respond to the genuine difficulties of the people.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and other ministers and senior officers, including Chief Secretary Vanditha Sharma attended the meeting.

Siddaramaiah said the DCs, CEOs and Tahsildars must hold regular meetings with the people and respond to their genuine concerns and grievances.

“If the people from the districts and far-off places in districts and taluks are forced to visit Bengaluru to meet me, Deputy Chief Minister or the Ministers to solve their problems that can be tackled at the respective places if the officers concerned showed some enthusiasm and dedication, what is the use of the bureaucracy,’’ he asked.

The Chief Minister said he was surprised to find a large number of people waiting to meet him in Bengaluru or in districts during official tours with petitions and wondered why such problems are not solved at the district or taluk levels.

He said common people would not waste their time in running after ministers for the redressal of their grievances if the officers at the district or taluk level were to meet them often and hear the public grievances.

Siddaramaiah also warned that harassment of farmers by private lenders and banks will not be tolerated.

“At least 251 farmer suicide cases have been reported in the state, of which 174 have been resolved. The rest of the cases should be disposed off early and compensation should be distributed. Delay in this regard is not right,” he stated.

The Chief Minister suggested that private money lenders should be monitored after a drought is declared.

The Chief Minister aside the government officers to live up to the expectations of the people and always remember that they are public servants, who salaries are paid for through the taxes of the people.

“We should remember that just because we are in power or in government service, it does not mean that we are kings. We must serve the people. This applies to all ministers, MLAs and government officers,’’ he said.

Making it clear that the government will not tolerate laxity or inordinate delays, he said it is shameful that there are many cases pending in the officers of DCs, CEOs, Sub-Divisional Officers and Tahsildars for over 5 years. “This clearly shows that the local government officers have not been functioning properly,’’ he said pointing that inordinate delays breeds contempt among the people.

“Justice delayed is justice denied. The longer the delays, the longer will be the scope for corruption,’’ he said directing that Tahsildars must dispose of any application within three months.

There is a long delay in the settlement of appeals coming to the Sub-Divisional Officers. It should be resolved in at least six months. DCs should resolve the cases within one year, he said.

“District Collectors should not unnecessarily adjourn the case, keep the parties waiting or make delay in giving the judgment after hearing the arguments. Our government will not tolerate any delay in clearing the case and will take strict action,’’ he asserted.

Siddaramaiah said that it was shocking that three cases of people dying due to drinking contaminated water in the three districts and Chitradurga recorded six deaths. Such incidents should not be allowed to happen as it brings a bad name to the administration and the government, he said.

He said the government has implemented four out of the five guarantees of the Congress party as promised during the elections and the fifth will be implemented by January. "There is no dearth of funds and it is the responsibility of officers to implement the pro-people welfare measures,’’ he said.

The Chief Minister wanted the officers to be vigilant during the celebrations of Ganesha Chaturthi and immersion of idols and ensure that there were no law and order problems. The celebrations and processions should not lead to communal clashes or disturbances, he said.

DKS wants DCs, Tahsildars to be diligent

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said 70% of government officers have been found to be not available in their respective headquarters and were not available to the common people, which was causing difficulties to the people forcing them to run after the ministers or MLAs.

He said all government officers in the district and taluk levels must prepare a dairy of their work for 15 days in a month and bring it to the notice of the people so that they are aware of what is happening. Those who cannot comply with the direction must quit, he said pointing out that officers responsible for dereliction of duties bring bad name to the government.

The officers must not indulge in corruption or give room for irregularities, he said asking the officers to ensure that the industries in the respective districts spend the CSR funds within the State instead of spending them in other States. The corporate companies must be made to realise that they owe their success to the State and the respective region, he said.