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OPINION

Better Bureaucracy

AMawaz
Mr Abul Ehsan's commentary on the bureaucratic systems (Star. September .2) was interesting, in these changing times, when new and inexperienced politicians (the shortcoming is circumstantial) are pitted against well established institutions such as the civil service. The dust has yet to settle down since the British left in the middle of the 20th century.
1 The new democratic government is at present facing so many artificial and politically oriented problems that it Is hardly the time to look Into the restructuririg of the civil service to make it more modern and efficient. This exercise. of course, would not imply witch-hunting or chasing Individual records, but focusing on the benevolent goal to make the civil service more citizen-friendly. It does not necessarily meqn that the invisible wall of the Secretariat be completely removed. .A small doze of the de Gaulle mystique Is good for the governed. •
Those who have devoted "their lifetime to the Civil Service (three decades or more) would not find it difficult to come forth with varied lists of of the weak areas have been pointed out In the article. By broadening' the parameters of the article, it is possible to of fcr a few comments on some areas which should have priority while examining plans for reshaping the Civil Service.
1. MANAGERIAL INEFFICIENCY is mainly due to the lack of the right type of training and the right type of expe ricnce. Behind these lapses are the structural weaknesses misapplied in today's administra-
tion. The re-orientation of thousands of government servants is a huge task; but the new entries could be channelled into the right track for moulding better and faster service to the taxpayers.
2. WORKLOAD INEFFICIENCY is due to surplus staff with underload of assignments or responsibilities. The staff has to be trimmed, with more individual assignment for greater output per hour. The slow-moving leisurely atmosphere in the government offices is not In public interest. The Secretariat never hums with activity. The increase in Individual efficiency will work wonders.
3. How far Internal ANONYMITY Is to be observed has to be looked Into. The prevailing system of "passing on the buck" has to be permanently removed. This means less noting and more responsibility. Unnecessary paper work is a tremendous waste, especially In the developing countries. It Is .possible to keep adequate written records (to check on precedents) without waiting or using so much paper. Here policymaking work and operational work have to be distinguished (the difference between the Scctt and the attached De partmenu). There is too much noting in the operational offices, delaying and reducing the daily outturn.
4. TRANSFER MORE OP ERAT1ONAL SERVICES TO THE NON-PUBUC SECTOR, thereby reducing the toad on the over burdened and Inefll dent bureaucracy. It is not necessary for the government to run all the essential, and al
leged, sensitive services. The private sector has to be encouraged. The trial and error period is still on. but the nation has to pay the price for the neglected training and the experience. The semi-autonomous sector has a bad performance record. This has to be analysed and rectified. The key question is whether the civil servants make good managers. The counter question is: How about vice versa?
5. TRANSPARENT ACCOUNTABILITY has to be introduced. The question is how and when. The loyalty of the civil servants has to be clearly defined. This is especially required during the period when the various political institutions are passing through the teething time. In fact such institutions are now being built up through scratch, after several decades of successive autocratic rules.
6. In a have-not society. MISUSE OF POWER AND MONEY would continue for some period. The checks and balances, and the deterrents have to be evolved. This will also take time. The rules of the game have to be laid down clearly.
7. USE OF FASTER COMMUNICATION SERVICES such as fax and telephone: Fax Is much faster, and cheaper In the long run than the peon-delivery system (India has Introduced reminder service using her domestic satellite). The outgoing telephone calls from the Secretariat, at feast locally, should be encouraged It is more time-saving than returning a fife with a petty objection, or a written call for supplementary Information. The officers are not yet telephone-friendly.