Now that the PAC has revealed this abuse by bureaucrats, it is incumbent on the body to take strict action. The first step it should take is to name and shame those who are taking advantage of the benefits system and then haul them before parliament. A simple warning is not enough. Those found guilty are no better than common thieves and so they should be treated as criminals. Firing them is an option or, at the very least, they should be suspended from their jobs without pay for a significant period. This should hopefully deter others from taking undue advantage at the expense of the taxpayers.
But only taking action against individuals will not suffice. The PAC also needs to look at how such abuse is made possible. That means exploring corruption at a structural level. It should not be so easy to double-charge the government for benefits. That so many bureaucrats were able to do so for so long means that it is the entire system that is rotten. Rather than being seen as the crime that it is, such corruption is merely winked and nodded at. What is needed is reform of a system where taxpayers’ money is casually divided up by greedy government workers. Simple audits are not enough; the entire culture of government will have to be overhauled.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2012.
COMMENTS (7)
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we talk so much about the corruption in bureaucracy and other spheres of life. All these matters require serious thinking and close monitering. The real problem is that we are a society without any direction and commitment. we are like a rider who donot know his destination but the horse is galloping very fast without the control of the rider. Our institutions are rotton and the standard of newly recruited civil servant is decling day by day. There is no idealism in them and most of them are starting their their career with ambition to get wealth and luxorious life style within shortest possible time. The civil service is the backbone of any state and we are seeing the very fast destruction of this very strong and committed institution.
When their masters do not spare the money of tax payers how could they lag behind from them. Everyone of them know about each other's corruption but they are silent as the money comes from the pockets of the masses.
@azad: As for the past, I agree with you my dear. But we are talking present.
we must not forget the process through which these bureaucrats are selected and appointed. the civil services, if we go in the past and look, these officers have made a difference when they were allowed to work freely without any fear of the ministers or various leaders. I say let the bureaucracy be free of the fear that if they do not comply with the appointed MNAs or MPAs they will be transferred to some other less important post and then see the results these civil servants produce. the beauty and versatility of the civil services is that a MBBS doctor ends up as being secretary for livestock. after all this is his choice that he opted to join civil services after becoming a doctor, the state just provides equal opportunities for all to compete in the exams. and as far as the corruption is concerned, let there be an across the board optimum level of checks and balances and then see the how the officers misuse the perks given to them.
We as a society can no longer distinguish legal from illegal. In our mind anything goes and ripping off the state is fair play. All these bureaucrats should be fired and their accrued benefits taken away. Plots of land acquired at huge discounts should be confiscated. Short of jail they should disappear from the scene. Punishment should fit the crime so that no one dares to misuse public tax-payers money. Ask how the Moghul dealt with such chicanery??? Chopping off their heads. And the system delivered.
Abolition is the best solution of all the problems associated with bureacracy. Let the Technocrates lead the services. Is'nt it funny that a man who studied medicine for five years spends ten years in Income tax, five years in Secretariat and rest of his life as secretarty of livestock, fisheries, local bodies and sports. it is all nonsence. The entire life is spent in the struggle for posting and in the end of the day we have a retired person leaving no legacy for his juniors except the struggle for posting.
As suggested by Nadeem ul Haque of the PC of Pakistan all these perks should be monetised. Its better for the bureaucracy's professionalism and improve the country's coffers.