This refers to ‘Clever Revenge’, November 12, 2008. First, the interpretation that the armed forces are subservient to the babus is misplaced. The armed forces are subservient to the political bosses only, that is, to a civilian authority. No IAS or IPS officer can claim to be superior to the armed forces as they have always called on the army to help, whether it is for relief operations in floods, tsunami or earthquakes. In contrast, can anyone give one instance where the army has called the IAS or IPS to do their job? Ask babies who fall in borewells — who do they prefer to be rescued by?
True, army officers have batmen but they are entitled to them. However, go to any IAS or IPS officer’s house, particularly in the districts and you will find government employees doing personal work in their houses.
When I was in Palanpur I have seen government employees cooking in the residence of the then DDOs. I have also seen police constables doing personal work in the houses of police officers who are my friends/relatives. These staff, particularly in UP, Bihar etc, are used also to grow potatoes/other crops in the vast area that comes with each house. These potatoes are then sold and the money pocketed.
Will the babus stop this practice to which they are not entitled? In fact some collectors have refused to vacate their houses on transfer because they are waiting for the potato crop to be harvested!
T R Ramaswami, Mumbai
