OFFICIALS ABSENT FROM SAHYOG SHIVIR

OFFICIALS ABSENT FROM SAHYOG SHIVIR

2-SEP-ENG 4

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------The state government is organizing 'Sahyog Shivirs' (cooperation/assistance camps) in every panchayat with the aim of swiftly resolving public grievances and realizing the vision of good governance. The primary intent behind the Chief Minister's directive is for officials from relevant departments to reach out directly to the public and address their complaints. However, camps organized in the Phinangi and Ghagha panchayats of the Bihiya block in Bhojpur district have raised serious questions regarding the seriousness of this initiative and the administrative style of functioning.

The situation at the camp held on Tuesday at the Kharauni Panchayat Bhawan in Phinangi Panchayat was extremely disappointing. People arrived with high hopes, only to be met with the absence of officials. Instead of the responsible officials from various departments, only representatives or operators sent by them were seen working. The crucial question arises: if the decision-making officials themselves remain absent from the camp, how can the complex problems faced by the general public be effectively resolved on the ground?

Jagdishpur DCLR Amarendra Kumar inspected the camp as the senior official in charge. A coordinator from the Education Department and an operator from the PHED were present. No official or employee from the Block Statistics Department arrived at the camp. Anil Kumar, the in-charge of the Bihiya Community Health Centre, was present on behalf of the Health Department, but he was not seen at the camp after the senior official's inspection. Villagers also expressed strong resentment regarding the quality of the medicines available; they refused to accept medicines that were damp or wet.

Anil Singh, the representative of Panchayat Mukhiya Munni Devi, stated that officials and employees from several departments had failed to attend the camp, sending representatives in their place instead. He was unaware whether this deputation was based on written orders or verbal instructions. He remarked that the camp was organized to resolve public issues at the Chief Minister's initiative; if the concerned officials themselves are not present, who will listen to the villagers' problems with the seriousness they deserve? Villagers expressed the view that the 'Sahyog Shivir' had effectively been reduced to a mere formality. The general public sees no prospect of deriving any benefit from this. People ask: if there is no competent official present to listen to their issues, how will their grievances be resolved?

The failure of the 'Nal-Jal' (Tap Water) scheme also came to light during the camp. According to the representative of the *Mukhiya* (village head), water supply has completely stalled in most areas, including Wards 2, 4, and 6. The scheme has been kept non-functional citing reasons ranging from technical faults to issues regarding electricity bill payments. Ironically, water intended to quench the thirst of ordinary citizens is instead being misused for irrigating agricultural fields. Meanwhile, a similar camp was held in Ghagha Panchayat, where the situation was much the same. BDO Archana Verma stated that twelve applications regarding various issues were received from Phingi Panchayat, and fifty-three from Ghagha Panchayat.

Although 12 applications were received in Phingi and 53 in Ghagha, the mere submission of a large number of applications cannot be the sole yardstick for success. Unless the personal presence of officials and their accountability regarding problem resolution are ensured, these camps will prove to be nothing more than a paper formality.