BHOPAL : The Winter Session of the state Assembly, which concluded on Wednesday, has exposed the lax attitude of the bureaucrats, especially vis-à-vis work related to the well-being of the common man.
The state government had, recently, served notices to as many as 24 Collectors of drought-affected districts for delay in distribution of relief to farmers.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan had cancelled celebrations to mark the completion of his 10 years in office owing to drought in the state.
On the contrary, these days almost all bureaucrats are busy rehearsing for dances, songs and plays they are going to present in the ‘IAS Meet’ to be held in the city from December 19-21.
For the last fifteen days, bureaucrats including Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretaries are busy in rehearsals.
These rehearsals are affecting official work. Generally, meetings at Mantralaya continue till late in the evening but now the officers are leaving their offices earlier for rehearsals.
Four groups of serving and retired officers and their kin have been made for the Meet.
These groups are headed by State Election Commissioner R Parashuram, Additional Chief Secretary Aruna Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary SR Mohanty and retired IAS, Prashant Mehta.
Each group has around 170 persons including kin of IAS officers.
These groups would compete with each other. The preparations are affecting decision-making in the government.
Although IAS Meet is held every year but preparations are being made this year on an unprecedented scale.
Govt to foot bills of outstation officers
Collectors of several districts and other IAS officers will come to the capital to attend the three-day IAS Meet. These officers will attend the function at government expense. Preparations are on to ensure that the officers who come with their families for the Meet need not spend a penny from their pockets. The last day of the Meet (December 21), is a working day but no IAS officer participating in the Meet has taken leave.
