Notwithstanding the tall claims by the government, there are some departments that have a deeper malaise, affecting the implementation of welfare schemes while their performance is rated high. In an informal chat the other day, a senior IAS officer pointed to one such serious lapse – the number of ration cards was more than the State’s population, and the poor say they did not have them. “It is not that the issue is not known to the people’s representatives and officials concerned. But the anomaly is not the one that can be rectified just like that, as multiple factors decide who gets the cards, and taking remedial action is easier said than done,” said the officer, as obviously a lot of interests are involved.
“The governments have the power to cleanse the system, but what they need is the inclination to plug the leakages,” he asserted.
Not a journey to remember
The annual ‘Alai Balai’ organised by former Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya at the Exhibition Grounds last week was not without flip side. Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir left for his native Chandrapur after the function by road along with a police escort. On reaching Adilabad, the escort vehicle left the convoy in anticipation that Maharashtra police would accompany it from there. The Minister’s vehicle proceeded beyond Adilabad for over 15 km when it realised that the escort police were not following. Mr. Ahir returned to the guest house in Adilabad where he found the escort party from Hyderabad and its counterparts from Maharashtra. For the discourtesy shown to the Minister, the staff at the guest house refused to serve food to the escort police of Hyderabad. The Minister then handed over ₹ 2,000 to the police and continued his journey.
Changing tone
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao’s ‘like-hate’ relationship with Congress president Sonia Gandhi continues. He acknowledged even in the Assembly that but for Sonia Gandhi’s decision, Telangana might not have been a possibility now. But in the press conference on Friday, he blamed Ms. Gandhi for the death of several youngsters in Telangana saying she delayed the announcement. Congress leaders, however, say KCR has the habit of demonising everyone and his words against Ms. Gandhi will not be taken seriously by the people.
Staying optimistic
Senior TDP leader Motkupalli Narasimhulu has missed the bus yet again but he does not regret.
He was not among six new Governors appointed though he had been hoping to get the post for the last three years.
He says that he has not lost faith in party president N. Chandrababu Naidu.
V. Raghavendra,
M. Rajeev,
R. Ravikanth Reddy
and N. Rahul