Whispers Forum

DEBATE
As the country battled a second COVID-19 wave and several states went for lockdown, election rallies and the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar clearly compromised efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 with the result that the second wave of the pandemic proved to be more challenging and aggressive than the first one which led to a nationwide 50 days lockdown in March last year. In four months into 2021, till the elections and Kumbha fair lasted, the daily cases not only surpassed the high reported in 2020 but more than tripled. The impact of the pandemic is clearly visible across the country with bodies piling up in crematoriums and long queues of ambulances outside hospitals with peoplpe running helter skelter for beds or Oxyzen or both for their near and dear ones.
Jeevan
DIET officers and employee's salary issue needs attention
Javdekar Sir, you are requested to look in the Maharastra’s DIET officers and employee's salary issue. They are suffering irregular salary issue in Covid situation because of the grant not being released by the centre ...Hope being ex minister of education you will look into the matter.
Yogesh Survase

DEBATE
Both religious and political events which have largely contributed to the ‘havoc’ in the country could have been stopped at one stroke of the pen. But the ruling party – and to be fair, all the political parties - continued with their large election rallies focusing on the election battles in five states and their outcomes. Neither did the central government immediately stop millions from congregating at the Kumbh mela, one of the largest religious gathering of people on the planet though they finally cut it short under pressure. But the damage was already done. The spike in cases, meanwhile, became a flood. The healthcare infrastructure across many states, which was already stretched, broke down completely with shortages in everything – beds, oxygen, doctors. Today the entire world is caught unaware on what has went wrong with India.
Girdhari
Two hoots for suggestions to effectively prevent outbreak/spread of epidemics
The Third report of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission was on the subject of 'Crisis Management'. The Chapter No.10 of the Report is on the subject of 'Epidemics'. The following were the recommendations and accepted by the Government for implementation in the year 2008:- (i) To more effectively prevent outbreak/spread of epidemics, it is imperative that a comprehensive revised 'model' legislation on public health is finalized at an early date and that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare systematically pursues its enactment by the states with adaptations necessitated by local requirements. (ii) The Union legislation governing Public Health Emergencies be introduced for final consideration in the light of feedback received from the states at any early date. (iii) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has to ensure that requisite plans envisaged under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, are drawn up in respect of epidemics also and that the role of the district administration finds explicit mention in the Public Health Emergency Bill. The structure created by the Disaster Management Act, 2005, should be utilized for managing epidemic also. (iv) While surveillance and management of epidemics are the responsibilities of public health professionals, it is clear that a particularly severe outbreak could overwhelm the capacities of the 'line organizations'. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the State Governments must ensure that 'standard operating procedures' are devised to assign roles and responsibilities of agencies and personnel outside the line organizations wherever a situation so warrants. (v) State level handbooks and manuals concerning disaster management should have a chapter on "epidemics-related-emergencies". A model chapter may be circulated by the Ministry of Health & Family for guidance of states. It may be useful to document the past handling of epidemics like the Plague (Surat) and Japanese encephalitis (Easter UP) to facilitate standardization of response mechanisms. If relevant and timely had been taken by the selfish Central and State Government officials and Ministers, we would have not faced the present catastrophe of Covid-19 in such a miserable manner. The UPA Government did not do anything as they were busy in earning money. Mr. Modi with his 'mai' attitude put all the recommendations of the second administrative reforms commission into the garbage bag. A lot of tax payers money is spent on Committees/Commissions. The Committees/Commission make their recommendations. But the lazy government officials do not take any pains to implement the accepted recommendations. Everybody is busy is passing through his tenure without having had to put to hassles.
Bimal Bahadur Srivastava

Institutions for the welfare of underprevileged flounder
It is very surprising to see even the institutions set up for the welfare of underprevileged such as the National Commission for the SC not taking pro-active steps for the disclosure of information. I have been watching this column and have a couple of cases where it is seen that the National Commission has floundered. By not making suo-motu disclosure, they are failing in terms of their statutory duty as well as moral duty. It may not be an exaggeration to say that these Commissions have failed to bring out a real change and their action is restricted to merely making more sound and giving TV presentations.
Samar

Appellant had taken a home loan and asked the Bank why there is a difference of amount between OS (Outstanding Amount) and DP (Drawing Power) and a related question. The PIO informed that difference in drawing power and outstanding amount occurred on account of interest accrual over a period of time due to delayed repayment or due to interest rate change. The CIC directed the PIO to revisit the RTI application and provide revised information including copy of the calculation sheet of the appellant’s loan account.
Comments
The RTI Act includes providing the existing information and does not involve creating information. A citizen cannot expect a PIO to create a fresh information to satisfy his query.
Citation: K. Subbramaniyan v. State Bank of India in Second Appeal No. CIC/SBIND/A/2019/106076, Date of decision: 16.04.2021
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is an expert on RTI matters and has co-authored the books RIGHT TO INFORMATION - LAW AND PRACTICE and PIO’s guide to RTI. Apart from her weekly article here, her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link: www.rtifoundationofindia.com

DEBATE
How can you justify political rallies and religious congregations when there was life-threatening surge in the number of Corona cases, which is highest in the world. It has been substantially on account of a free run enjoyed by the super-spreading events including political rallies, religious congregations and festive events but the government remained callous.
Nadeem Ahmad
Pathetic medical Education in our country now exposed
Pathetic medical Education in our beloved country now exposed in corona crisis. Penny wise pound foolish approach by PMO by postponing the PG exams and putting graduating medical students to the corona management .
Our healthcare and it’s precursor Medical Education is convoluted and not convivial at all lacks erudite approach with attempt and intention to provide ephemeral relief only
Healthcare system continues to remain Achilles heel because of Leviathan of multilayers governance remaining immune to accountability, deterrent or punitive actions swiftness data than tour people native action with all clear lines of accountability blurring
we need a big number of doctors and need Indian Medical Administrative Service IMAS because hitherto strangulating approach of the crazy bureaucracy ruining the medical service has brought us to to such abominable situation.
There should be immediately in national medical administrative service which should be groomed to control the medical profession and not under the hands of Junior most bureaucrats who may not be even gain fully qualified to understand the basic corollary of medical system ,they should be insulated from the classes of the bureaucracy and for this The exam should be conducted by UPS Cto take it forward for the control of this medical profession
The other main cause of this pathetic situation particularly in government hospitals is because of the very low number of seats created for MBBSMDMSDMNMCH while students and doctors during the course of undergraduate who is graduating super specialization are subjected to the enormous pressure because of total mismatch of number of doctors versus the patients in flow besides living in the abject inhuman situation and many of times undergo various ailments like depression and disorientation because of the seamless posting for 30 to 40 hours while working in the abominable condition dealing with sputum and the excreta of the patients
The medical profession which is long drawn trajectory without any excellence of getting good jobs at any point of time is badly looked down by the society, that is the reason that the doctors and their family get frustrated because they’re only subjected to dirty environment pranks and sarcasm of seniors and most of the time getting assaulted by the attendants of the patients
Let us rise to the occasion make many more medical colleges so that the hospitals get respectable umber of supporting doctors as also nurses ,as per calculation of today need around to two Lakh nurses and 1.5 lakh of doctors to contain this corona crisis
While summing up ,it is requested that the Indian medical administrative service should be created at the earliest so that this medical profession is controlled legitimately by none other than the great doctors who know into the working of such complex field of medical science and they should not be subjected to the junior most Bureaucrats like the DM ridiculing the chief medical officer and under secretary of Health ministry ridiculing the medical superintendent, medical directors of the state of the art and the biggest hospitals which create dystopia in the minds of ablest doctors, this version is enacted keeping in mind existence of black sheep in this noble profession
Mahendra Goel

DEBATE
Gatherings, whether political or religious or of any other king shouldn’t have been allowed at any cost when the hazardous corona was spreading its tentacles. T few places, night curfews, lock downs and other restrictions were imposed in the name of Corona prevention and at other places, gatherings were not only allowed but were invited. Any sense ?
Vijay Shukla
Illegitimate comments, not meant for action.
Many years back, in the Legislative Assembly, a minister, while replying to the starred question said, ''The enquiries have revealed that the allegations of corruption and fraud against the officer were not substantiated.'' The supplementary question was that the enquiry officer should be proceeded against as there were hundreds of affidavits filed against the officer and the charges were proved beyond any doubt. The minister replied,
''I will look into it and jey kise afsar da qasoor hoya ttan mein ohnu putha tang dianga.'' To counter this, the leader of the opposition said very politely, ''Maanyog Speaker sahib, mein tuhade rahin mantri ji kolon puchhna chahunda haan ke ki mantri ji kol koi adhikar hai ke oh kisse afsar nu putha tang den.'' The mature speaker only said, ''I will remove these remarks from the proceedings of the house. The minister embarrassed himself by playing to the gallery.
Recently, when the entire country was in the grip of fear and panic, because of shortage of oxygen, essential medicines, and beds in the hospital, in the wake of corona pandemic, it was warned by a honourable High Court to hang any person trying to obstruct oxygen supplies to hospitals. These observations sent a signal of relief to many ,but the academicians were not amused as they felt the court did not have the power to hang anyone summarily and the law-breakers knew this too.
On many occasions ,the persons sitting at very high positions indulge in unnecessary blame game and invectives and create unsavoury situations by indulging in tall talk ,instead of diligently using the powers vested in them and maintaining decency. In a state level meeting, a minister asked some questions from the lady administrative secretary. The officer was replying in a very knowledgeable and cultured way, when the minister cut her short, ''But why Mr A has not been reinstated, when i have ordered it? The officer said, ''Sir, I have referred the case to the CM sahib ,since I have difference of opinion. ''On hearing this ,the anger of the minister shot upto seventh hell and in bullish rage he cried, ''you can leave the meeting. ''The lady said, ''Sir, I cannot leave the meeting as it was my duty.'' The minister said ,''Phir mein bahar chala janda haan,'' While saying this, he barged out of the room.
A cabinet sub-committee was holding meeting and chief secretary was briefing it. Suddenly, the minister chairing the meeting remarked that if the chief secretary had already done the exercise then what was the need of this committee. Chief secretary was taken aback. He told that cm sahib had approved the policy. Hearing this all the committee members created a scene and in the din of loud voices walked out of the meeting. The chief secretary felt insulted as never before and he could not find the reason for this unruly chaotic scenario..
There was a CM, whose sons would make it a point to attend the meetings presided over by him. On many occasions, they would cut the officers including the chief secretary short. They would very often tell the secretaries, ''Aapko kuchh pata nahin hai.'' Once, when chief secretary was holding his point, one son said, ''Tu gadha hai ,tere ko cs kisne banaya?'' The CS looked imploringly at the CM, who started looking the other way.
Surinderjit singh sandhu, Amritsar

DEBATE
Gatherings, political, religious or any other kind at this time were not at all justified. Rise in number of Covid cases after this is an ample proof that the decision was wrong. Now the entire country is paying for one silly mistake of the government.
Sarabjeet
Say ‘no’ to re-employment of retired personnels
There should be firm ‘no “ of deploying retired personals in various organizations while unemployed young qualified youths are staring for a job and should be given chance to reduce part of the unemployment. While , country is burning because of Gargantuan problem of unemployment ,qualified youths are yearning for even menial jobs ,publish the newspapers that BTech , MTechhave even applied for cleaner posts oxymoron to same various government organizations are still resorting to the employment of retired personals to escape the difficult process of recruitment There is no argument of thought that the retired people have had good exposure in government machinery but at the same time it cannot be ignored that they worked in an environment which has become primitive with every passing day and are not savvy with technological advancements. The youth on the other side are having preparedness, capacity and enthusiasm besides better connection with the electronic dispensation . It is not even justified in case of constitutional posts like UPSC, CIC CAT etc. and for others it is truly buffoonery to take retired people and not giving chance to better qualified youth to reduce a pinch in the serpentine queue of unemployment. The youth are available even at the lower financial compensation and can evaluate their strength and weakness in a more productive manner it will be good for the country if a strong missing is issued from PM office or from DOPT to allControlling institutions ,not to prefer reemployment of retired personnel who have become primitive ,vestigial ,forgive me to write so because with the technological advancements ,yesterday is always vestigial for tomorrow and even for temporary jobs, recruitment be done from plethora of energetic youth who are staring at govt for providing jobs to them.
Mahendra Goel

I feel political rallies, kumbh mela, elections etc have brought India to this tragic scenario. It reflects Government 's insensitivity to the issue and above all poor governance. If GoI can pass 3 farm laws during this difficult time, why the hell parliament unanimously couldn't pass a law to postpone elections in such exceptional unavoidable situations or circumstances. What is done is done can't be undone now. The best would be to use each religious place ( irrespective of religion), community Centers, banquet halls etc for extra beds.
Harish Kumar
BJP wrongly fielded turncoats
Although this forum is not to discuss political issues, I think the biggest mistake committed by BJP in Bengal Elections is the fielding of those who had moved from Trinamul to BJP against those who had worked hard over the last more than 5 years. Unfortunately, most of those who shifted from Trinamul Congress and fielded by BJP have lost
Pradeep Kumar

BJP over relied on top leaders without having a good base upto block level . So many imported TMC turn coats who were given tickets by bjp point out to lack of leaders at grass root level in W Bengal . Variety is good for democracy. But lack of a national opposition to ruling party is a matter of concern.
R B Lal
PSU banks should update to be more Customer Friendly
Fully agree with Naveen. PSU banks should update their systems to make it more Customer Friendly. They should be told to be proactive in providing services to the customers.
S Gopal

The appellant requested for status mentioned by his wife in the bank account opening form regarding her marital status like whether Single/ Married/ Separated/ Divorcee as a matrimonial dispute between the appellant and his wife was pending before the Hon’ble Family Court. In the second appeal, he stated that he is husband of Mrs. Nisha and has every right to know about the marital status of his spouse which could be decisive factor in deciding the maintenance order. The CIC held that the basic protection afforded by virtue of the exemption from disclosure enacted under Section 8(1)(j) cannot be lifted or disturbed by a private dispute between husband and wife, unless the petitioner is able to justify how such disclosure would be in ‘public interest’.
Comments
A delicate balance has to be maintained between the transparency and the fundamental right to privacy. Whenever there is a conflict between two rights, the same have to be reconciled and harmony has to be maintained.
Citation: Keshav Anand v. Bank of Baroda in Second Appeal No. CIC/DENAB/A/2019/107456, Date of decision: 16.04.2021
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is an expert on RTI matters and has co-authored the books RIGHT TO INFORMATION - LAW AND PRACTICE and PIO’s guide to RTI. Apart from her weekly article here, her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link: www.rtifoundationofindia.com

Banking services is one of the important services for the economic growth of the country. Banking services, specially PSU banks, require serious thinking about the deplorable services. The working can easily be understood by their balance sheets specially NPA. It is reaching nearly 10%, even after this there is no accountability. It is being said that their salaries is directly proportional to NPA and inversely proportional to customer services. Customer services are completely neglected by banks. In Board, there is nominee from Govt. normally Joint Secretary from Ministry of Finance and one from Regulator i,e, RBI but no one looks what services are being provided to the customers. Country is passing thru a pandemic situation last one year and advisories are being issued on regular basis to remain inside and avoid rush. Every customer after close of FY is looking following five services which can easily be provided on line by banks to avoid rush in banks: 1. Bank Statement for FY 2. Interest Certificate 3. Submission of 15g/15H forms 4. TDS certificate 5. Form 16A for pensioners Can anyone from the Govt. or Regulator look how many PSU banks are providing these services on line? This is not a big job or requires Rocket Science but can be done easily by taking proper initiatives and making CMD of Banks directly responsible to provide these services on line thru net banking or mobile app to customers in specified time frame failing which action can be initiated. Govt. is giving required tax payers money to banks in the form of recapitalisation and banks should deliver the results. In case they are not, the right step should be disinvestment. Bank employees are being given rise in their salary, perks, pensionary benefits and number of holidays. Let them provide good services to customers and good earnings to Govt. as private banks. As situation in country due to Covid-19 pandemic is not conducive, Ministry of Finance should allow the submission of Form 15H later may be in month of July, 2021 and consider the same Form 15H submitted in FY 2020-21 is applicable for Q1 FY 2921-22. These small steps can be taken by the Govt. to ease the problems of Sr. Citizens when they are not allowed to come out and submit the Forms. Let us move to digital era in providing customer services on line as far as possible considering we have best software engineers in the world and can develop any software required by the Banks. Let us put 15 days time in providing above five services to customers on line by every PSU banks.
Naveen