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Monday, October 21, 2013

“Our work culture needs to become relevant to the time and age”

CM Speaks -
Intro: A meeting with the Chief Secretary, Heads of Departments, Principal Directors, Directors and Chief Engineers was held at Samman Bhavan on 18 June 2013. The Chief Minister addressed the meeting after the Secretaries and Heads of different Departments presented reports of their respective Departments. The CM’s address is excerpted below:
Chief Secretary Madam, DGP, Principal  Secretary, Special Secretaries, Principal Directors, Directors, Chief Engineers and Heads of Departments.
This is a high level meeting of the officers of the State. That is why we have called Directors, Chief Engineers and high ranking officials to this meeting. People have given us the mandate to run the Government. We have called this meeting to discuss the welfare of the people. We will talk on our accountability and responsibility. You must take it seriously. We will talk and discuss on the responsibilities and accountability of the employee mechanism and the responsibilities and accountability of the Governmental mechanism. In a democratic set up, people are the powerhouse. People have provided us the power to run the Government. They have empowered us. People have empowered us to make policies, projects and schemes and we are doing exactly that.
Finance Bill is passed in the Legislative Assembly. After the Council of Ministers passes the plan then the bureaucracy has one hundred percent responsibility for its implementation. You must be responsible to the Government the way we are answerable to the State, country and the people. But the weakness of the Indian bureaucracy is that it lacks the feeling that it has 99 percent responsibility for the implementation of the policies made by the Government. Our Indian bureaucratic mechanism is capable and good but it is due to the lack of this feeling that we lag behind when compared to most of the countries. But we tend to blame the Government for our backwardness. Nobody thinks why the policies, rules, schemes of the Government are not implemented. The Tourism Secretary, Forest Secretary and IPR Secretary just now talked regarding environmental clearance for the Bhaley Dhunga skywalk project. We have brought such a unique project like the sky walk but we are not being able to start it on time. The reason for the delay is that we need to procure environmental clearance and clear other formalities from the Supreme Court.
We are working in the interest of the country and the State. This will benefit both the State and the country. Schemes and projects that will be beneficial for both the State and the country should not be lost in the web of the framework of rules. Bureaucracy only shows rules and nobody thinks about the welfare of the State and the country. Bureaucracy must not become a hurdle for development.  I want the bureaucracy of Sikkim to be the best bureaucracy in the country. Let our bureaucracy be a model and let this message go out in the whole country. Every officer should take a personal interest in the policies and programmes of the Government. Please work in the interest of the people, State and the country. You must work with a feeling of generosity.
Rule can be changed. Any rule can be changed if people want or if it is in the interest of the people. The employee mechanism must be able to use rules for mass welfare. But now if we go to see, rules have become a hindrance for mass welfare. I request the bureaucracy of Sikkim to set an example by working for mass welfare. We have been running the Government for twenty years. We have made this Government the Government of the bureaucracy, Government of the poor and the Government of a State of India. We have been running this Government as a Government of Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists. Everybody should be protected in a Government. Let the poor, businessmen, bureaucracy, everyone say that it is their Government. We have worked for the welfare of the Government employees in twenty years. We have been giving timely promotion to everyone. We changed the Service Rules for the welfare of the employees. We give the best perks and facilities and salaries to employees. We have given respect and honour to bureaucracy. Nobody threatens anybody in the name of the ruling party. This is what intellectuals need. You need peace and security and the Government has provided them. So you must work with enthusiasm. Let our administration be alive. Bureaucracy is the cream of the society. So it must be lively and vibrant. I feel sad when I don’t see that happening. We have everything. I wish everyone shared my passion and my enthusiasm. Please work with enthusiasm.
The Chief Secretary presented a report on the previous coordination meeting. Let’s decide what all we need to do.
Our implementation factor is weak. We all have to pay attention to this. All work must be completed within the stipulated time frame. All our work should be time bound. But for this, we all need to be honest, right from a peon to the Chief Secretary, from a Panchayat to the Chief Minister.
Our work is often delayed on all levels. Tender process is delayed, work order is issued late, and contractor delays the commencement of work. Stock materials arrive late and there is delay in the payment of the bill. Agencies on all levels are responsible for the delay. So I request the Heads of the Departments to stop this cycle of delay.
The 42 day tour was also discussed today. Whatever work the Government sanctioned during that period, the budget is the same. Irrigation Department has been sanctioned 63 crore for the schemes sanctioned during the 42 day tour but just now we don’t have the money to give. You must understand that there is no separate budget for the 42 day tour.
I request all the Heads of the Departments to meet the public at least for one hour from 11 am to 12 noon. I request you all to bring a change in your behavioural attitude. People are the masters. They are our kings and queens. So you must behave in a humble manner while dealing with them. Let there be a paradigm shift in your work culture and conduct. We hear a lot of complaints against doctors. We must democratize our thought process as we are in a democratic system. We have to serve the people. We have to give them qualitative service. We must change ourselves for this. We must be ready for this. Our administration must now become people-centric and people-friendly.
- There is a system of e-tender for tender work above Rs. 3 crore. We must make everyone understand this. This is a step to take our State towards the cyber age. We must tell everyone clearly that we have to do e-tender. If we still do paper tender, then it is a regressive act for the State.
- The Secretaries of Forest and Tourism Departments must work to make the sky walk project successful by obtaining all the necessary clearances. Other Departments must also coordinate and help with this.
- Forest Department must look into the requirement for Chief Minister’s Rural Housing Scheme. There should be no hindrance of any kind.
- Let’s celebrate the fortnight from 15th June-30th June from this year as Environment Festival. All Departments must engage their labourers and plant trees. Let’s take the Green Mission on a war footing. The Forest Department should provide saplings to everyone.
- It is a healthy imagination to develop our roads as green roads. It is possible to do this. The Buildings Department must take this forward.
- The Secretary of HRD Department in his report said that excess teachers have been sent to schools which have a dearth of teachers. I thank him. Every year we hear that there is a lack of money to give salaries to employees and teachers under HRD Department. The Department must decide on time and properly on the requirement of teachers and their salaries. We also hear that there is still dearth of teachers in some schools. I heard that the teachers of Blind School at Namchi have not received their salaries. I have also heard that there is a dearth of teachers in Tikpur. The HRD Department must look into these issues.
- All ongoing schemes must be completed on scheduled time.
- We have recently revised the tender schedule. Now no recommendation should be brought for 20 percent above tender. This kind of wrong things should not happen.
- We had given money for building, quarter, canal, road repairs under NDRF, PM’s Relief package. But the repairs have not been satisfactory. The work under NDRF, PM’s Relief Package and 13th Finance Commission must be completed immediately. The work is being done in a slack manner. We must also utilise the grant received from the 13th Finance Commission at the earliest.
- There is a need for a ring road in Gangtok given the traffic congestion. The Chief Secretary must bring all the Departments together for this work.
- There is duplication among Departments with regard to some schemes. Distribution of milch cows is an example. The Animal Husbandry Department must be the certifying Department for distribution of cattle no matter under which Department the scheme comes.  Similarly, construction of roads is the work of the Roads & Bridges Department (Public Works Department). But RMD D is also doing it. This may lead to the completed work being sanctioned again. This must not happen. There should be understanding and coordination between all the Departments.
- Stock materials procurement should be looked into at the beginning itself. The work is delayed if the stock material is not available on time. People suffer if there is delay in the work. People should not suffer because of such petty issues. Sikkim should not suffer.
- Let’s not bring seeds and seedlings from outside from now onwards.
- Cases should not be filed just because you have to achieve the revenue target. If somebody says that revenue target has been determined from a higher level, then it is misleading. Drivers should not suffer because of such things. Revenue target is achieved through excise and sales tax etc.
- We need a lot of reforms in Power & Energy Department. Power projects must be completed in stipulated time. All the schemes and projects of the Government must finish on time. We hear about linesmen dying due to electrocution. We must give justice in such cases. Training must be provided to untrained linesmen.
- People try to raise hue and cry regarding power projects. Political parties and non Governmental organisations always have something to say about power projects. They try to make people see the disadvantages of power projects. But nobody talks about the advantages. We will earn 500 crore per annum once the Teesta hydel project is completed. This will increase to 17500 crore in the next 35 years. All the projects will come back to the Government. Teesta Stage III is the second biggest project under PPP mode in India. This is an example in itself. We will have a readymade income of around 1,00000 crore in the next 35 years through hydel projects, tourism and pharmaceutical. But nobody speaks on this. Bureaucrats must speak on such issues. You all must speak.
- Education, health, tourism, hotel industry, industries, power projects, agro-based industries, organic farming is our priority sectors. The Government has an investment friendly policy. I request our officials also to be investment friendly. We must understand that investors come to give us something. But we Indians have a tendency to scare investors away. We in Sikkim scare investors with things like Revenue Order Number 1 and Sikkim Subject. We must save Revenue Order Number 1 and see our benefit at the same time. All Departments must have an investment friendly attitude. All Departments must appoint a separate Officer to deal with investors. Everyone must coordinate. A big hotel chain wanted to invest in Sikkim but the delays and the hindrances deterred them so they finally did not come to Sikkim.
- License for companies and trade licences should be issued immediately if all the required papers are in order. We must encourage our educated youth to take up business.
- We must be very careful while issuing driving licenses. Licences must be issued only to those who are absolutely proficient in driving.
- Birth certificates should be issued only after proper verification. Birth certificate becomes an identity. This leads to influx. So the administration, concerned Secretary and officials must be careful about this.
- Local newspapers sometimes carry misleading news items. The concerned Department should immediately condemn such news items through the IPR Department. If we don’t refute a false claim then it might become a proof in the court. That is why we have to refute false allegations and charges.
- Government properties must not be abandoned. Departments must see how buildings, land and vehicles can be disposed off in a proper manner. You should auction items if it is needed. The Dalda factory now resembles a no man’s land.
- Money for midday meals, old age pensions, salaries of Muster Roll employees must be paid every month.
- We have received reports that the money has not been received as per the new rates. The new rate must be implemented immediately and the payments must be made.
- MDR, tuberculosis, drugs, HIV, AIDS have become a matter of grave concern. The Secretaries of Health Department and Social Welfare Department must take necessary steps to obviate these problems. We must fight against these problems. We must have both curative and preventive measures.
- We must not let things like drugs, rape and suicide increase in the State. We must start helplines.
- All the Acts passed in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly must be enforced. All Departments must pay attention to this. We have passed a lot of resolutions. These resolutions must be sent to the concerned Ministries.
- All the assets on the roadside must be transferred to the Tourism Department no matter under which Department they come.
- We need to further strengthen power decentralisation.  We have renamed BDO as Village Development Officer. We had to do this as we follow the two tier Panchayat system. The post of a BDO is suitable only in a three tier Panchayati system. From now onwards, ACF, AD or any other officials must oversee work of all sectors of the Department irrespective of which section he belong to. We must empower them in this manner. This kind of Governmental message must be given immediately. And this must be implemented at the earliest.
- All our officers must go for site visits.
- The Principal Secretary must visit the districts once in every two months. The Chief Secretary must visit the districts every six months. This will result in better monitoring of all the work and schemes.
- Secretaries must conduct meetings with their officers every month and give directions regarding the Government’s policies and programmes. They must also gather information on the work being done by the officers.
- Similarly, Deputy Secretaries and Under Secretaries must conduct meetings with Office Superintendents and the Office Superintendents must have meetings with LDCs and peons. I give this direction.
- Our office timings are 10am-4pm. We must ensure that every body works during this time. We will earn the curse of the people if we don’t work from 10am-4pm.
- Casual leave is only ten days in a year. But we get to hear that Casual Leave exceeds ten days. We must control this.
- Employees when transferred often give the excuse of not having chair/ table so that they don’t have to work. We have to do away with this. Secretaries must provide table. Chair, work and office to the officers and employees who go on transfer.
- Everyone must have information about the number of officers and staff in their respective Departments.
- No employee or officer should be transferred without first having a replacement.
- Employees must not go around Departments chasing their TA/ DA. All their dues should be paid and action should be taken if employees are found wandering without any purpose.
- It is necessary for every Department to do proper manpower planning. We hear that drivers and conductors are in excess in Transport Department. This is a result of the absence of manpower planning. We must keep a watch on employees who are alcoholics. If somebody is not in the condition to work, then he must be removed or given compulsory retirement. The Secretary of every Department must think on this. We must make a policy regarding this matter. You must send a concrete proposal for manpower planning. Scholl expansion is under HRD Department but not classrooms. The HRDD Secretary must prepare statistics of the number of students passing out and the number of students going to college and the number of lecturers required. Resource planning needs to be done for all these things.
- We must also have a proper figure of drop outs in the State.
- We must also have information on the number of unemployed youth in the State.
- We must impart employment-oriented training. The concerned Department must bring a suitable proposal for this.
- Books need to be written on tourism, environment, organic farming and social justice. All concerned Departments must prepare books on the subjects that concern their Departments.
- All Secretaries must prepare a data bank of their respective Departments.
- Somebody immediately takes over when the position of Prime Minister, Chief Minister or a king when it is vacated. Sometimes caretaker Government is also formed if the existing Government is toppled.  But in our State if a Lower Divisional Clerk goes on leave for a month then he/ she goes locking her working space. If any employee goes on leave then a replacement should be provided immediately. This should apply right from the level of the peon. People suffer when clerical staffs go on leave. This should not happen.
- We must pay attention to the problems of the people if we want to improve our administration. People should not go back disappointed. So we must all work with a human touch. Everyone on every level must pay attention to the solutions for problems. If this is done then problems will not come up to the higher level. We must not pass the buck but try to solve the problems wherever and whenever possible. Secretaries must give this kind of direction to their officers.
- The administration must be made active on all levels in order to solve the problems of the people. The administration has to me made lively and active.
- The administration should not exhibit fatigue syndrome. Officers must possess a feeling and a sense of responsibility.
- The local administration must find out and monitor the problems of the people. If the lower level employees and officers do not do the work of the people then the Secretary must intervene. Whatever I am saying to you is in the interest of Sikkim and the Sikkimese people. I am saying all these things so that the Government becomes people-oriented and result-oriented. We are mere facilitators. You are the one who does the work. Nothing is possible unless you take responsibilities. I give policies, dreams and programmes. You have to give the result. You have 99 percent of the responsibility. Please help. We have to prepare the BPL list at the earliest. We are thinking of giving rice at Rs. 2/kg. But it is getting delayed. I visited Hur Hurey Dara yesterday. I noticed a broken railing. A GCI sheet had covered the broken portion. I felt that such a petty work could have been done by engaging a Muster Roll carpenter. The Government has appointed 20,000 Muster Roll employees for such work. This shows that we lack the will to work. We lack the feeling of ownership of public properties. I was sad to see that broken railing.
We reached Ridge Park later. The water fountain was not functioning. We had given the message in the earlier meeting that all water fountains must always be kept working. There is a need for some space for emergency cases in STNM Hospital. A small shed could have been made in the premises for emergencies. We all must take whatever responsibilities we can from our individual levels.  
Thank you!

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