Islamuddin
 

Garam Chasma Area Development Organization (GADO) held its second Annual General Meeting (AGM) since its inception in 1997 and registration under Company’s Ordinance in 2007. Veteran rural development activist and retired Government school teacher Muhammad Siddiq presided, while this scribe was made Chief Guest. Muhammad Wali, a serving Government school PTC teacher, who is also Chairman GADO, conducted the proceedings. Many Government school teachers , including the Chairman GADO who had twice filed affidavits with the District Assembly and EDO office that they would not indulge in politics and NGO business in deference to their service rules and Civil Servants Act 1973, had apparently backtracked from their oath and were occupying the stage. A functionary of EDO office, commenting on the situation expressed surprise as to how a Muslim could do so and added that the department will now look for other measures, including stoppage of pay to these teachers to establish rule of law. It is ironic that how violators of law and rules can develop students holistically if they themselves were not developed.

Chairman GADO presented the organization’s annual report and financial statement; the former elicited some interest among delegates who accused Board members of favouritism in allocating funds, while the latter report went un-noticed because the delegates were not adept in accounting matters. Insiders had hinted at some grey areas pointed out in the audit report. When the Chief Guest advised the VO representatives to send literate people to such meetings, one Director, himself illiterate but representing his Cluster since the establishment of GADO tried to target the Chief Guest accusing him of trying to deprive the area of Rs.1 million CIADP ( a Norwegian funded project of the influential Thrive Company which successfully resisted initial local opposition to its development strategy and has since shifted itself from the supervisory control of DCO to that of Planning and Development Department) funds for a protective wall. In response the Chief Guest informed the audience that he had opposed the design and insufficient outlay, which has been borne out by subsequent events. The Government has withdrawn Rs.20 million allocations for the same project saying that CIADP was doing the job and these funds can be spent elsewhere. The meager CIADP funds were perhaps preferred because GADO directors themselves were authorized to spend them while Government funds were to be spent through contractors under the supervision of the Irrigation department.

The meeting was confronted with fait accompli in the election of directors to replace the retiring ones. They had already been got elected through resolutions drafted in drawing rooms in violation of the law, which had authorized the AGM to do so in its annual meeting. In some of these resolutions signatures had been fabricated and at least in one case the process was deferred. Surprisingly none of the AGM members objected to the hijacking of their powers for producing desirable results. No body objected to Government employees working for NGOs while drawing salary from the state exchequer, a tendency which was undermining governance and rule of law, besides promoting culture of impunity and cronyism.

An interesting situation developed when a delegate pointed out that the annual report was silent about the implementation of the resolutions unanimously passed by last AGM. In response the Chairman produced hand written copy of minutes which were in variance with the minutes officially issued on letterhead by the Manager GADO. On this the delegates, especially ladies, became furious and blamed the BOD of using the AGM to endorse their own agenda instead of implementing AGM policy guidelines. It may be noted that the present BOD has already disbanded expert advisory committee, turned AGM into rubberstamp and has now kicked the Manager upwards in the I.C funded Livelihood Program, to pave way for whimsical and motivated decision making. Another interesting goofy coming from the Chairman was his advice to audience to spend electricity without installing meters, while electricity generating clusters are trying to get meters installed to stop electricity thefts and improve their cluster incomes. Had there been no disaster rehabilitation funding most of these micro hydels would have closed down by now, thanks to the culture of not paying bills and cheating. It may be noted that these micro hydels generate electricity barely enough for lighting through energy savers and its unchecked and meter-free use may send these power houses packing into the dustbin of history. The meeting ended with prize distribution among volunteers of GADO. --Comment by Islamuddin, Garam Chashma, 10 July 2011.

Comment 1

The association of any Government servant with an NGO or any Political Parties is the violation of service rules and Civil Servants Act 1973, but we can see in chitral a huge numbers of Government servants are involved in politics, and they have strongest backup from the political setup they belong. I consider involvement of any Government Servant as a volunteer with an NGO for Good Will, like helping people and community based organization for betterment of the community will be a positive work, as in this link beside his/her official obligations he/she is doing additional work for the betterment of the local community, subject to the condition that his/her official work is not affecting.

There is a need to take bold steps to bring to an end the involvement of Government Servant in political parties which is degrading our institutions. I judge GADO is a strong platform of the local community and can be very helpful in rural development of the area through local community participation and we must encouraged these grass root level organizations. This is the time to work jointly for benefits of community in different capacity like Teacher, Religious leaders, Government Servants, Political leaders etc. there is a need to promote Volunteerism in Chitral especially in youths, as Volunteering is one of the most rewarding ways we can make a real difference to people living in the toughest circumstances like in remote areas of Chitral. -- Ajaz Ahmad, Chitral, 11 July 2011.
 

Comment 2

I fully agree with Mr.Ajaz that every body should participate in community work. Perhaps this was the reason that we connived with the government employees working in NGOs despite the fact that it was clear violation of the rules reproduced below. Our connivance not only undermined efficiency of government departments but also developed culture of impunity in society. Following is the rule position:

Sl 28 of Estacode says ‘No government servant can engage himself in any trade or business directly or indirectly, without previous sanction of the Government. Such transactions, therefore, constitute violation of that rule and render the Government servants liable to disciplinary action under the Government Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules”

SL 32: “There is no bar to government servant becoming office bearers of (private social welfare) Associations, provided they inform their immediate departmental superiors, who will decide, with reference to the said rule (Rule 15) and note whether the matter should be reported for the orders of the Government”.

SL 33: No serving government servant should associate himself with any private trust, foundation and similar other institution, which are not sponsored by the Government itself.

SL 53: When a Government servant accepts an invitation to a function organized by a political party and attends it, it will appear to amount to his participation in the activity of that political organization and will be in contravention of the provisions of Rule 23 of Government Servants Conduct Rules, which prohibits government servants from taking part in or subscribing in aid of or assisting in any way in politics.

SL 76, 78 and 79: In order to prevent government servants from visiting foreign countries without prior approval of the Government, it is considered necessary that no government employee should approach foreign missions for visa without prior permission of the government.

SL 42: No government employee can address press conference without prior approval of the head of department, even if the matter is concerning official business. Such approval may not be necessary in respect of press statements of official nature conveying information, for which the government servant is authorized.

NWFP Civil Service Rules of 1981 regards government servants, including teachers as 24 hour employees, who can not engage themselves or their espouses in private work or business without prior permission of the government or informing the government.

Civil Service Rules also oblige government employees to inform the government about their buying or selling property. (See SL 29 and 31 of Estacode, a compilation of Civil Service Laws and Rules -- Islamuddin, Garam Chashma, 12 july 2011

Comment 3

This is with reference to Islamuddin’s news report on “GADOs Annual General Meeting in Garamchashma”. One cannot agree with his advocacy against teachers working in different NGOs as his own arguments contradict with each other.

He pays tribute to Mohammad Siddiq for his vast experience in rural development which he has gained through his involvement with different NGOs. Many people including the reporter himself know that Mr. Siddiq has been an activist working for NGOs during the time when he was a government school teacher. Following him suite present government and many private school teachers are working for the social development of their people. Praising someone and condemning others for doing exactly the same thing is a fuzzy logic which is difficult to understand. Perhaps the reporter himself can explain it. -- Riaz Hussein, Madaklasht 26 July 2011
 

(If you wish to comment on the above write up, you can send your comments at chitralnews@yahoo.com. Please go through the House Rules  before sending comments)

..........................................................................