Gulmarg the tourist hot spot of Kashmir has lately become the place of entertainment and amusement for top bureaucrats like the top political helmsmen of previous popular governments who used to entertain themselves at Gulmarg on Christmas and new year occasions. Tending to be more loyal than the king in the absence of a popular government and more so after downgrading of the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state to a union territory and withdrawal of special status to it on August 5 last year the top local bureaucrats like the top political helmsmen of previous popular governments of erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state don’t waste even a fraction of a second in implementing new decisions on lands and jobs in the post Article 370 abrogation scenario only to appease their bosses in the Jammu & Kashmir Government as was evident from the latest demolition drive against the violators of the Roshni Act. Unfortunate for these careerist bureaucrats that they had to put on hold every planned action in view of the latest orders of the Supreme Court on Roshni Act violations and assure some prominent hoteliers of more extensions of their lease agreements instead of more demolitions at this famed tourist destination of North Kashmir. Interestingly Gulmarg has now become such a dearest place to the top local bureaucrats that they even hold review meetings of their concerned departments and districts under the garb of preparations for the planned winter games at this famed tourist destination only at the weekends to celebrate only weekend holidays with their families in the famed tourist resort of the erstwhile state since downgraded to a union territory. The top helmsmen some of whom are occupying key positions for the first time in the highest echelons of power in Jammu & Kashmir don’t bother to even seek explanations from the top bureaucrats for needlessly holding review meetings of their concerned departments and districts at Gulmarg instead of Srinagar or any one of the three district headquarters of North Kashmir. Not loyalty but accountability and neutrality are the only two ways to reduce the government’s growing public disconnect with the people and improve the working of the government at the grass roots.
Though BJP controlled central government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks much about financial austerity for the purposes development in Jammu & Kashmir but can’ t do much in presence of bureaucrats presently allowed to wield power on key positions only for the purposes of loyalty but not deliverance with transparency in the execution of the plans and polices of the government besides the delivery of essential services. Before work culture in government departments is spoiled more, the Modi government needs to step in for drastic changes in the bureaucracy to restore accountability and neutrality in the working of the government.
Unfortunately the top helmsmen of the Jammu & Kashmir Government show no concern for the much hyped financial austerity blatantly thrown to winds by the top local bureaucrats only for the purposes of the appeasement of their bosses at the top both in the Jammu & Kashmir Government and as well as the central government. Though BJP controlled central government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks much about financial austerity for the purposes development in Jammu & Kashmir but can’ t do much in presence of bureaucrats presently allowed to wield power on key positions only for the purposes of loyalty but not deliverance with transparency in the execution of the plans and polices of the government besides the delivery of essential services. Before work culture in government departments is spoiled more, the Modi government needs to step in for drastic changes in the bureaucracy to restore accountability and neutrality in the working of the government.
