Every law which empowers the public official is a responsibility to fulfill.
Kiran Bedi
24th Lt Governor Puducherry, Founder at India Vision Foundation and Navjyoti India Foundation
Question is how does he exercise his responsibility.
In Puducherry we are daily lamenting shortage of funds. But have not been doing enough to recover funds which are legitimate dues. Like on Power, Water, sewerage, professional services, property taxes, Octroi, license fees, etc etc. we have not.
Just to give one example of Power Arrears accumulated over the years are over 100 Crores. When asked why did we allow this situation to worsen? The officers said’ “Every time we went to disconnect the power connection we faced interference and the police did not intervene or protect us”.
Net result was we kept buying power to supply free power to even those who could have afforded to pay.
We let them go on. At whose cost?
It was at the cost of public money which if available would have gone into civic amenities and other infrastructure development.
For which we have been borrowing from the market for our children to pay back later with heavy interest as is happening.
Good governance means rule of law.
It means correct and effective enforcement and implementation of laws. And allowing public officials to perform. And keeping them accountable.
Puducherry has been very lax and ineffective in its enforcement which is why it is suffering today for shortage of funds. And we keep blaming. We can at least change now. And do our best.
If all pay up their bills in time and the enforcing agencies implement the laws and the powerful interests do not interfere in public duties and the public officials do their duty without fear or favor, there will be enough for all. Puducherry will be prosperous.
As a Lt. Governor guiding the departments to enforce the laws without fear or favor is a duty and a responsibility. Or else being here has no meaning.
I urge Puducherrians to voluntarily clear their pending bills or else be prepared to read your names in the papers.
Or see them on Cable TV or hear them on FM radio.
All agencies now are gearing up to name and shame. They need resources. They are becoming bankrupt. Some are already.
A beginning has been made by the Power department. First day of naming and shaming has had a salutary effect. Many people have paid up.
All for a better future of our children.
With Best wishes.
Straive
6 年Super
R&D Consultant - Healthcare Research, Research Strategy in Health care, FMCG, public health & social sector
6 年Bravo
Author of "Startup Without MBA" (Startup Adviser) and Career Guidance
6 年I hope GST would help , What was CM doing these days?
Asia House Fellow | Digital Health Innovation in Asia
6 年It is important to address the problem before the dues reach astronomical proportions. Some of the strategies might be to inculcate efficiency in existing administrative processes and to improve the brand name of the government as a trustworthy entity that works for the people. When people perceive that the government is indeed working for them, massive support can be channeled towards improving services and instilling accountability of citizens. However, as always, saying this is far easier than actually achieving this. We need a thousand people with the same ethos and pathos as Dr. Bedi to be able to achieve this on a national level.
Senior Manager - IT
6 年Now madam is on hit list of politicians & corporates, so they have started spreading lies about madam and asking CG to call her back...what kind of democracy is this ? People want electricity, water, etc.. free of cost ? If you try to recover you are anti-people ? You are running parallel govt ? Honest tax payers have to wake up & support people like Kiran bedi...else our tax money will be used to feed the tax evaders.?