ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVISM VERSUS INDIFFERENCE TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT

ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVISM VERSUS INDIFFERENCE TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT

15-JULY-ENG 9

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------These days, an amazing scene is being seen in Bihar — from the district officer to the sub-divisional officer and the block level officer, all are seen together on the roads, roaming from village to village, from panchayat to panchayat. The staff of every department is extremely active in the process of verification of polling booths, revision of voter list, adding and deleting names. From social media to newspapers, pictures and news of the promptness of these officers are all over the place. For once, it seems as if the entire administration is engaged only in making the festival of democracy a success.

But the question is — do we see this enthusiasm, this diligence, this rush even when it comes to development? I wish the review meetings of development schemes in Bihar were as regular, the officers were as serious about the repair of roads, the condition of health services, the condition of schools or monitoring of employment schemes as they are today about the voter list. Election is a process, but development is a continuous responsibility.

There is no doubt that the voter list should be correct. But potholes on the roadside, lack of doctors in hospitals, absence of teachers in schools, lack of employment for youth - these are equally important issues that need to be resolved not just at the time of elections, but every day.

The officers who are checking the voter list at the ward level today, have they ever seen the condition of drinking water in that village, the condition of the Anganwadi centre or the condition of the primary health centre? If there was this much seriousness towards development, then perhaps it would have been possible to take Bihar out of the category of backward states today.

The work of the administration is not only to conduct the election process, but also to fulfill the basic needs of the people.

The general public will now have to understand that it is not only their responsibility to cast their vote in the elections, but they will also have to raise their voice for their rights. Making the administration aware of development, making it accountable and constantly monitoring it is also a democratic duty.

If the same administrative activism that is being seen in Bihar today regarding voter list correction had been shown on basic issues like health, education, roads, irrigation and employment, the picture of Bihar would have been different. Democracy is not just a day of voting, but it demands accountability and development every day – and this is what we should demand.