Right to Services Bill: Nitish Kumar is doing it

I have always been campaigning through writings for enactment of a Right to Service Bill, both at the Central and State levels, as a corollary or even follow-up of the Right to Information legislation. But governments have not been able to frame such a piece of law as yet, for various reasons of pressure from within, from coalition partners or other extraneous considerations.

Now the irrepressible Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar, has come up with precisely that piece of legislation. Please read the report:

THE Central government may have failed to introduce Civil Services Bill which was drafted almost two years ago, but Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar riding high on his landslide victory is moving ahead fast in undertaking massive administrative reforms in his state.

Bihar government plans to introduce a Right to Service Bill, which envisages a stipulated time for services to citizens, such as issuing a ration card, power connection and birth and death certificates. And once the Bill is passed, there will be a major crackdown on efficient and lazy bureaucracy in the state. Currently, citizens need to wait for a long time to get these basic services, but this new Act will ensure severe punishment for bureaucrats who fail to deliver those basic services on stipulated time.

The Central government’s Civil Services Bill is however different in nature. Indian bureaucrats have been closely watching the development related to the Bill as it envisages to break them free from the clutches of their political masters in matters related to transfers among others.

Now listen to the version of Nitish Kumar himself.

What is this right to service?

It is going to be the biggest administrative reform in Bihar. During my Vishwas Yatras, I saw that people had to make numerous rounds of government offices for the simplest of jobs.

That is why we took this innovative step. According to the provisions of this Bill, simple works like issuing caste certificates, character certificates, medical certificates, birth or death certificates and passports will have to done in set time. If the work is not done within the deadline, the official concerned will be fined. One of the most important provisions is that the fine will be deducted from the official’s salary. These are small steps but will create a huge impact.

We are also planning to take the help of information technology later. We feel that people should not have to visit government offices for these simple things. The government is establishing common service centres, known as Vasudha Kendras, in every panchayat. These will be equipped with computers and internet connections. People will be able to drop their applications at these centres. They will be able to view the status of their applications on the internet.

This can be implemented at a later stage. But right now, we want to ensure that the common man gets the services of civil servants. Our main aim is to ensure that the common man has minimum possible interaction with government officials for getting his work done.

What is the status of the Bill?

The initial draft is ready. I am actively involved with preparing it. This week also, I had a meeting with senior officials on this. You can expect it in the next session of the Assembly. It will apply to all public servants. We are very clear about it. Both the Centre and the state government are spending money for development and this must reflect on the ground.

It is time other state governments also followed suit. Kerala Government should take a cue from Nitish Kumar and frame the legislation for rendering effective services to the people.