Have a heart, you lazy Babus!

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Fed up with the lack of cooperation from his subordinates, an NCP Minister of the Democratic Front government has resorted to appealing to their finer sentiments, instead of their sense of duty.



NCP Minister Hasan Mushrif heads the Special Assistance department, which is in charge of controlling the disbursal of funds to the aged or those below the poverty line under a plethora of government schemes, such as the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana, Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme and Shravan Bal Pension Scheme.

Once his department sanctions the cash relief, government officers working under the District Collector distribute them to needy candidates.

At the monsoon session of the state legislature that was held recently, the minister received flak for his department's failure to distribute allocated funds to the impoverished at timely intervals.

In response to the censure, an exasperated Mushrif decided to shoot off angst-ridden letters to all the Collectors in the 35 districts of the state, carrying his fervent appeal for them to distribute the allocated money punctually to the needy. A copy of this letter has been obtained by MiD DAY.

In the letter, Mushrif complained that in spite of the fact that the government allocated necessary funds to all the districts, meeting all its financial obligations till December 2011, grievances have been pouring in regarding non-disbursal or untimely disbursal of the same.

'It's my earnest request to you to ensure the timely implementation of the government schemes. You will receive the gratitude and blessings of the poor in return. You are accustomed to receiving your salaries on a fixed day every month. Then why not grant the same courtesy to the poor?' says the letter.

In the letter, an incensed Mushrif appeals to the conscience of the apathetic government officials, asking them why they felt no compunction or remorse while denying the impoverished members of the society what is due to them.
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"This is not just your job, but a service you extend to your fellow human beings," he exhorted. "I have written to you on a number of occasions, demanding details of the disbursals made in your districts every month. But you have never complied."

The exasperated minister has even offered to resign from his post, unable to stomach the allegations of inaction that were levelled against him in the State Assembly a few days back.
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The minister's angst-ridden pleas have deeply impressed senior BJP member and party state unit chief Sudhir Mungantiwar, who praised the sensitivity displayed by the minister.

"I am moved by the sentiments you have expressed in the letter," said Mungantiwar, in a letter addressed to Mushrif.