-SATISH HANDA

Controversy is gong on since paste some time in Haryana state over government bureaucracy neglecting to MLAs in the state as complained to Speaker Haryana Vidhan Sabha by few MLAs. Former chief ministers in the state Late Ch. Bansi Lal as well as Ch Om Parkash Chautala had rightly said that bureaucracy in the state is similar to a horse moving on the tips of rider and in case the rider is not competent enough to handle horse may be thrown by the horse. Similar is the case of bureaucracy in Haryana state became expert political players while working with different chief ministers for a long time in past years and well aware of how to deal with an MLA or a political leader. Similar is the case of an experienced MLA well aware of how to deal with the bureaucrats and have importance as well as get cooperation from him.

Increasing rift between MLAs and government bureaucrats in the state is a matter of deep concern when appear on headlines in newspapers in recent past some time in which MLAs are blaming bureaucrats severely neglecting them, not listening to public grievances in their Vidhan Sabha constituency as a result they are losing faith of people in their constituency. Not only this, several MLAs in the state alleged government officers not only receiving their telephone calls but also not bothered to call back if message is left with their PAs.

In order to solve increasing rift between MLAs and government bureaucrats, Gian Chand Gupta Speaker Haryana Vidhan Sabha took initiative to resolve matter as regard government bureaucrats neglecting MLAs, not listening to grievances of people of their constituency and took up matter with chief minister Manohar Lal Khatter who directed his Principal Secretary Rajesh Khuller and  Chief Secretary Keshni Anand Arora to release standing orders to all government officers in the state that stern action will be taken against officers neglecting to listen to MLAs in the state. Information reveals, positive results are visible in this regard in case of category I and Category II officers in the state but no change has been seen in category III officers. Moreover, it has been observed that government officers are now seen present in public grievances meetings called by MLAs and MPs in the state and most of the public grievances are solved at the spot.

When talked to the former Vidhan Sabha Speaker Satbir Kadian. He said according to proto call the status of an MLA is above Chief Secretary and usually MLAs are burdened with the public grievances of their constituency, which can only be solved by the concerned officer as such it is duty of an officer to listen to MLAs who are public representatives and solve genuine problems without delay. Kadian said that at the same time there is utter need of personality in a MLA, there is no reason that an officer would overlook a MLA or avoid to pick up his telephone call. He said, sometimes there are limitations before an officer to do a particular work and an MLA should also understand such limitations.