While drawing the attention of the Angami Students Union conducting field checking at various schools in and around Kohima on misuse of government designated vehicles, as a concerned responsible citizen of the State I would like to give certain observation over the issues:
Firstly:
1. It may be true that many government officers are misusing the attached vehicles for school duties of their children;
2. It may be true that many senior officers in the state kept with them more vehicles than they are actually entitled for as status symbol.
3. It may be true that many departmental trucks are being engaged and used more for personnel and private duties than official.
Secondly: It is also very interesting to see the mindset of the society in general that-
1. The moment a new recruit joins any government department, the society looks upon him that he immediately get government vehicle.
2. The public will immediately keep on comparing other colleagues of his that such and such is driving Scorpio or Bolero and what happen to you?
3. Every social or public function will expect that all the officers are fully engaged in the arrangement along with their attached vehicles.
4. Every gospel team, crusade or convention, any public gathering, marriage etc shall first approach the Police department asking for Police buses for carrying people or any government department trucks for carrying construction materials free of cost.
5. Having new and costly vehicle has become a status symbol in the eyes of the Public.
Thirdly: These being the case the following issues may be seriously examined while carrying out any exercise on the subject matter:
1. When any government quarter is being allotted to any officer, he is free to bring in all his family members to stay and live in that very house. Can this be the same case with the entitled vehicle? Any government vehicle is being allotted to the officer based on duties as well as entitlement.
2. While appreciating the good intention of ASU over the issue it will be a bad precedent for any NGO directly interfering any governmental affairs, functions and activities unless it is officially called for.
3. If the concerned government department manning the traffic in respect of parking or checking misuse of government vehicles, is unable to effectively carry out its duties, this responsibility be OUTSOURCED to any NGO with proper MoU.
SK Kenye
Advisor, CANSSEA
