1. SOUND OF SILENCE. A Case Study. Kudikuda is a famous district in Tamil
Nadu. It has a rich cultural heritage, having a good potential for tourism.
1 SOUND OF SILENCE A Case Study
Kudikuda is a famous district in Tamil Nadu. It has a rich cultural heritage, having a good potential for tourism. Smt. Barua taking charge as District Magistrate assumed charge on 10.12.1985. She was a livewire youth with endless interest in history & culture. Before coming to the district, she heard much about the cultural heritage of the district. While performing her routine duties, she spends the next seven days in search of comprehensive information about the area. There was no directory, gazetteer or any other books in the district library or in DM office, which she was desperately looking for. She felt the need of getting such a directory done. At the end of the monthly meeting of district level officers , after the official agenda got exhausted and everybody was in a relaxed mood, DM raised the issue of the glaring absence of a comprehensive directory that might come handy to anybody interested in the district and the state as a whole. When the discussion started a few members left using an alibi or two. Breaking the silence that descended after her question one of the ADMs hesitatingly said, “ Madam, efforts towards this had already been taken”. “Taken? When?” She immediately called for the relevant file. The file disclosed to her utter astonishment that the procedure regarding the engagement of an NGO, Kristi was not followed and there was no reference regarding the same. There was no advertisement published either in the local newspapers or in the national dailies, nor was there any reference of previous experience of this NGO in this district. Though substantive credentials regarding this NGO were not found in the file, a few brochures containing tall claims were there. Nevertheless the NGO promised to create information booklets on the commercial scenario of the district along with publishing the necessary directory on heritage. Digging further into the matter she discovered that the engagement was made as per verbal direction of the MIC the Deptt of Information & Culture. However a huge sum of Rs. 80 lakhs had been disbursed and it had entirely gone to KRISTI.
2 The DM immediately called the District Information Officer to her chamber and asked, ‘Mr. Rao, do you know this NGO called Kristi?’ Mr. Rao said ‘ I don’t know much about it except that they have been engaged for preparing a District Directory.’ DM ‘ But haven’t you signed the file?’ DIO, ‘ Uh , Yes, I was instructed by my superiors.’ DM, ‘Were the procedures taken care of?’ DIO dropped his gaze and remained silent. DM then entrusted DIO to collect all the relevant information regarding this NGO including the progress of work and fund utilization statement. When the NGO came they prayed for a month’s time for submission of the documents to which the DM replied that a fortnight should suffice. Next morning she received a phone call. It was from the MIC, Information and Culture. MIC, ‘Good morning Madam, Welcome to my district.’ DM, ‘ Thank you Sir’ MIC, ‘ I have heard much about your interest in the field of culture and heritage hence you may be delighted to hear that I am thinking of recommending your name for a culture exchange programme in France.’ DM, ‘Sorry sir, right now I am tied down with a very important project’ MIC, ‘Really? What is so important?’ DM , ‘Actually Sir , right now I am engaged in some priority work in the district’. MIC , ‘But do you want to sacrifice your personal gain and well being for that? DM, ‘Yes sir, this is my duty’ After this incident DM received more such calls from MIC himself where she was offered pecuniary benefits, tempted with plum postings and when this failed she was even threatened with dire consequences like slandering and garage posting. After that when secretary of the NGO arrived with the relevant papers the DM asked for, she directed the peon to tell the secretary to submit it at the receiving section. That evening she called the DIO and entrusted him with carrying out the relevant verifications and enquiry.
3 A week long verification of the documents confirmed her suspicion. The DIO unearthed the following irregularities: a) Most payments were shown to be made by cash or bearer cheque; b) Most of the payment vouchers turned out to be false; c) A visit to the press which printed the vouchers revealed that printing order was placed after the delivery of vouchers made; d) Many advances to subcontractors were found to be fake; e) The books of accounts exhibited gross manipulations. A month passed away. The DIO submitted a preliminary report of the enquiry. The next installment for KRISTI was not disbursed. She started receiving series of anonymous calls ordering her to close the file or face direct disruption of administrative work by party members along with slandering and harassment by men folk. She was also threatened with indefinite gherao. KRISTI topped the list of the agenda in the next monthly meeting. Silence was translated into eloquence. Each member came out with his or her own piece of puzzle. Putting them together she constructed the entire picture of embezzlement. The Sabhadhipati of Zilla Parishad preferred a confidential discussion. Sabhadhipati told that he was aware of the month long enquiry in that regard and the matter had been discussed at the party level. The party was quite dissatisfied with the highhandedness of the MIC. It had been decided that the DM would not be obstructed. Law will take it own course. A letter arrived in the NGOs office, a week later, showing in details how they have misappropriated public money. They were directed to refund the entire amount within a month failing which vigilance proceedings would be initiated against them. The nervous Secretary sunk into a deep silence realizing that he was left with no money to refund.
4 SOUND OF SILENCE TEACHING NOTE – •
Characteristics of the place – Environment - Tourism – additional source of livelihood
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Characteristics of DM: Livewire youth, pro-active, interested in conserving heritage, spirit of enquiry, strong value system, leadership quality, faith in the system, capability of team building.
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Absence of a comprehensive Information Directory. DM’s search for information.
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Why at monthly meeting – every meaningful member will be available
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Few people left – Escaping the sensitive issue. Scared and uneasy.
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Irregularity – violation and flouting rules in appointment of NGOs, the approval was bypassed :
a) Application showing interest was not rooted through DM office b) No documents towards calling Tender was found c) No enquiry was made regarding the ability of the NGO. d) No utilization certificate was called for before disbursing the subsequent installment. e) The DIO always kept in the dark. •
Phone calls offering compromise, bargain & threat.
*Compromise – Name will appear in the list of beneficiaries, name may be considered for overseas training * Bargain – Posting of your choice * Threat – Political disruption of daily administrative work, garage posting & lastly slandering by male folks taking advantage of gender. •
Superb rapport building by the new DM – involving the officials in the enquiry process and thereby giving them importance and trust.
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NGO – Social & Political actor
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Accountability and transparency is very much expected as they suppose to work for community
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Spend public money and so are responsible to act scrupulously.
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Firm in her action – DM firm in her duty
a) Her refusal to meet the NGO officials thereby making them unimportant b) Ignoring the threat from MIC •
Backlash of administration started – installment stopped
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Diligent action by conducting verification
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The DIO also was put under pressure and threat to which he succumbed and prayed for long leave.
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She assumes the driver seat and runs full throttle – The ruling party toes her line
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Positive role of Sabhadhipati
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Stood for DM and for the public cause
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Support from the political party
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From the aspect of financial management fund will be released in small installments and only after getting proper utilization of fund.
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Nemesis follows.
A person with integrity can successfully use the conflict among various groups and can serve public interest.
Silence is the breeding ground of corruption.
A few lingering questions: 1. Are the NGOs inevitably becoming a part of the corruption process? Are they safe channels for siphoning public money? 2. Relation between state &institutions of the civil society. 3. Role of social audit in the functions of the state & the civil society. 4. Is collective resistance possible in combating corruption?
6 5. What role do personality traits play in mobilizing resistance against corruption? FOCUS OF THE STUDY: Role of leadership in handling public money and combating corruption . A leader is a person who knows that he is accountable. Government regulatoins clearly states that public servants must guard public money more zealously than their own money. They must be aware of the equations among: PUBLIC MONEY----- PUBLIC INTEREST----DUTIES OF A PUBLIC SERVANT.
