Shiv Kumar Padha
Chanakya, also known as Kautilya strongly advocated for accountability as a corner stone of effective leadership and governance. He believed that leaders should be held responsible for their actions and the consequences they produce. Holding individuals accountable for their performance as crucial for motivating high performers and discouraging under performance. According to Chankaya, promoting ethical conduct the state functionaries can create culture of accountability and responsibility, minimizing risks and maximizing long-term success.
At the very outset of proceeding further in my writing I feel it worthwhile to interpret as to who are the state functionaries and the subjects of a state. In common and simple language ” the state functionaries are individuals who hold positions of authority and perform administrative duties within a government or a political party. They are essentially public servants who carry out the functions and responsibilities of the state”. They are involved in public service, working in various capacities within government offices and state owned enterprises. their responsibility is to implement policies, managing resources and ensuring the smooth functioning of the state apparatus. Whereas the subjects of a state are the individuals who are under the jurisdiction and authority of that state. This refers to anyone living within the geographical boundaries of a state’s territory. The term implies a relationship of obedience and allegiance to the state’s laws and government.
But the term accountability is interpreted by every state and its functionaries what suits to their comfort and ease and which help them shifting the responsibility and saving their skins. In reality accountability refers to the acceptance of responsibility for honest and ethical conduct towards others. It also implies a willingness to be judged on performance and not on mere pretence. In Hinduism accountability is understood through the lens of Karma, emphasizing that individuals are responsible for their actions and their consequences. This includes both intentional and unintentional deeds, and the concept extends to the impact on others and the universe. Accountability in Hinduism takes in its ambit one’s Karma and rebirth, Dharma and duty for righteous path, ethical decision making.
India has emerged as a fast developing country and is galloping towards achieving its ultimate objective of leading the international community on diplomatic, economical, defense, science and technology fronts, making India self reliant and self dependent. India has conquered land sea and the sky. But one thing which irks every nationalist and honest and dutiful citizen is the inactiveness, dereliction of duties corruption, highhandedness, adamancy, insensitiveness and sense of impunity on the part of the state functionaries, which implies a disregard for the potential repercussions of one’s actions often because the individual believes they are immune to accountability. This can be due to the social status, power, or lack of effective law enforcement.
In India the innocent citizens are considered accountable for the lapses which they have no control over, but on the contrary the state functionaries dissociate themselves and try to escape scot free from the responsibility and lapses demonstrated by them in their respective domains. There are ample examples/ incidents where the state functionaries keep their eyes shut and the ear closed over the national loses of both property and precious lives due to their non performance and non compliance of the duties assigned to them. Under such state of affairs where the subjects are made to suffer for the mistakes and negligence of concerned agencies, The law abiding citizens have got the legitimate right to seek the answers for the Yaksh Prashan (questions) from the state functionaries regarding the term accountability which it seems totally missing in the case of the state . Who is accountable;
For the red tape ism and pendency in the offices as a result of which the citizens suffer for the non issuance of the important documents/ certificates like cast, income, birth, death certificates, EWS, domicile/state subject, renewal of the licenses, character certificates, mutation and land survey documents, issuance of ration cards and allied problems.
Refusal of treatment when one fails to deposit the huge medical charges, when the patient dies in the emergency ward queues waiting for the treatment, or one dies without the blood transfusion in the event of excessive bleeding. Or due to the wrong treatment in the hospitals.
When the patient dies of negligence of the doctors and is kept on the ventilator in order to mint money to fish the troubled waters.
When one dies in the accidents due to the dilapidated condition of the roads and bridges.
When the citizens are refused the amenities of life failing to produce the documents, not issued to them even after pretty long time.
When the citizens are panelized for not submitting the ITRs in time. When the detained criminals languish in the jails in the absence of any charges even after decades of imprisonment. Late depositing of GST, violating signal. Carrying plastic bags. late depositing of TDS and the forms all resulting into the fines.
When the youth is denied admissions for want of the documents not issued by the concerned department.
Non renewal of the legal gun licenses for the last ten years. Non providing the basic necessities of life like health facilities, water and connectivity.
When the photographs of bank defaulters for few thousands of rupees are displayed on the bus stands railway stations and humiliated by the beating drums on their doorsteps where many have committed suicide of being ashamed of.
When the newly or under construction roads and buildings collapse before in angulations resulting in heavy toll of human lives and loss to the national exchequer.
When hundreds of patients including children are burnt alive in the hospitals and the cinema halls.
Where the cheaters of the nation abscond and lead a prosperous and happy life in other countries and the properties of the small loaners are confiscated by the government.
Where the political leaders and the elements involved in the antinational activities are provided with Z and Y type security and the law abiding peaceful citizen is left at the mercy of god.
Where thousands of structures collapse due to the use of junk and spurious materials in the construction. Where thousands of the poor die due to the consumption of the illicit liquor every year. Where the throats of those having faith in their religion are slit and the criminal escape free from the site un harmed an un interrupted.
Where the administration never gives any weightage the public grievances resulting into the non redressal of the public issues.
The answer to all these Yaksh Prashans is obliviously the state and its functionaries who are accountable and not the common man who always falls prey to the blunders, carelessness and non performing attitudes of the state.
(The writer is a social activist from Basohli)
