Eliminating waste and corruption

In a telling indictment on the state of affairs in public sector institutions Public Adminstration Secretary D. Dissanayake has pointed out that as much as 15 per cent of funds allocated to State bodies by the national budget is fritted away on overtime payments, travelling costs and stationary,

The issue assumes significance in the wake of efforts by the Government to cut down on waste as reminded at every turn by Government Ministers at various opening ceremonies.

The laissez-faire attitude of State sector employees numbering nearly one million to Government resources is all too well known to warrant elaboration. This has proved to be the bane of our public service which in turn has spawned lethargy and inefficiency rightly earning for it the appellation “white elephant”.

Time was when Sri Lanka’s public service was held in high esteem and was considered one of the best in South Asia, noted for its disciplined work force and exacting standards. This was when the public sector was shorn off political influence where officials called the shots.

Things took a turn for the worse with political tentacles gradually taking hold of the public sector signalling the downfall of the country’s administrative machine. Discipline was thrown into the winds with Government functionaries owing their appointments to politicians looking the other way as subordinate staff made merry. Financial rules were openly flouted from the highest official to the lowly peon all joining in the gravy train.

Workers who idled in their seats all week made it a habit to work on weekends and holidays to claim overtime while stringent safeguards that were in place to avoid profligacy were ignored at great cost to the State.

The subject of overtime has always been a sore point with authorities who are compelled to play safe fearing strike action which has emboldened the work force to demand more privileges out of proportion to their real output.

Hence it is high time that the Government took measures to instill a proper work ethic among Government servants who have today taken State institutions for granted and are milking them dry of their resources with no line of responsibility to account for any lapses.

Ideally the State sector should give the lead in the Government’s call for sacrifices in the midst of the constraints experienced by the State which is compelled to fight terrorism while being economically assailed on various fronts by rising fuel prices and other cost escalations.

We are not aware whether the Charter introduced by Minister Karu Jayasuriya to be followed by Government Departments has any reference to austerity measures. If not this feature needs to be introduced to spur the elimination of waste.

Time was when a Government clerk had to produce the empty cylinder of his ball pen to receive a new one. We are not aware wether such practices still exist. However going by the stories of waste and corruption in Government Departments a small thing like this would hardly figure in the equation.

Therefore an all out campaign should be launched to halt the rot in State sector hitherto being treated as a milch cow by all and sundry.

According to the Secretary, between 10 to 12 per cent of public sector employees take bribes.

Of course the cancer of bribe taking in state Departments is too deep rooted to expect overnight remedies.

More or less there is trickle down effect, i.e. when the low functionary is aware that his boss is on the take he would salve his conscience and engage in the same.

This is why the Government must take stringent measures to deal with big wigs accused of bribery before the habit percolates to the lower ranks.

Turning a blind eye to the issue can only worsen the situation.The Bribery Commission should be equipped with additional staff and resources to keep tabs on Government Departments.

Above all, immediate steps are needed to deal with the hydra headed monster that has lain seige to the State sector eating into its vitals and imposing a huge liability on the State.