Who is the Government

WHO IS THE GOVERNMENT?
During the period 1985-86, the MP OILFED has assigned a study for preparing a DPR (Detailed Project Report) including a detailed Techno Economic Feasibility for a Soyabean oil extraction plant. During the discussions, I suggested to the Managing Director that not only that a study is not required, there is in fact no need for it as there is no case for adding one more industry when the existing ones financed by MPSFC, which infact is public money, are not running to their full capacities and the gross capacity utilization was very low. I quoted examples of similar ventures like the Mini Paper Plants, Mini Steel Plants, HDP Woven sacks units etc. This was of course a surprise to the MD, because no consultant would turn down a request for a consultancy assignment. Instead, I suggested that perhaps what the corporation can do is to undertake a statewide study of Soya bean production and to establish that there in fact is additional soya bean available warranting the commissioning of a new plant.
This idea was well received by the MD but he said that the soya bean production activity falls under the purview of the Agricultural Department and Agro Products development corporation. He however was convinced that something like that should only be done. The proposed study however would have been far more costly compared to the earlier one. This also involved another governmental organization called MP OILFED ( Oil federation). A meeting with the Secretary (Finance) was fixed up. In the meeting it was decided that as the case belongs to the state government organization and because more than one organization are involved and also that the financing is being done by the MPSFC (State Finance Corporation) , it is advised that the study will be undertaken jointly by a total of five organisations. These organizations were identified as Finance Secretariat, MPSFC, Agricultural Development Corporation, Industries Development Corporation and the OILFED.
The committee decided to share the total fee between five organizations, each sharing equally.
At this juncture, I expressed that it will not be possible for me to deal with five clients and hence the committee must identify one single agency who will be coordinating the whole study and the report will be discussed only with that agency and also that the payment will have to be made by this lead agency. MPSFC was identified as the front agency for the study. A formal agreement was signed by the author’s organization and five IAS officers representing the five state organizations.
As per the terms of reference, 50% of the fee was to be paid in advance for mobilizing the teams. The MD of MPSFC expressed his inability to immediately release the advance and requested the team leader (the author) to start the study pending the release of advance money.
The study was undertaken state wide and the final report was submitted sometime in the month of October 1985.
After waiting for the payment till the end of March 1986, when nothing was coming, the author decided to visit the office of the MPSFC in Indore to meet the MD.
After meeting the MD at about 10:30 a.m., the MD advised the author to meet the General Manager who would look in to the matter. Upon meeting the General Manager, the GM said that while the payment is definitely over due, however, as the MPSFC has not received the payments from the other four co participants, it can not be paid. I reminded him about the terms and conditions of the assignment, but the GM expressed his inability to do anything on it, stating that unless the government sanction is received, the amount can not be paid. He however suggested that perhaps I may like to meet the Sr. Manager in accounts who could help out.
The meeting with the Sr. Manager brought out the same response as earlier, quoting the non receipt of government sanction. He instead suggested that I should meet the Deputy Manager accounts. The meeting with the Dy. Manager also brought out the same response that unless the government sanction is received, nothing can be done.
All this continued till the evening about 16:30 hrs.
Frustrated with the whole episode, I decided to call on the MD. The MD also expressed his inability saying that unless the government sanction is received, the payment can not be effected.
I was frustrated and decided to leave the things to fate and left the MPSFC office. Hallf the way to the bus stand, I decided to take the bull by the horn and returned back to the SFC office and met the MD. The MD was seemingly irritated and told me that when they have already told that the payment can not be made, what is the point in again meeting him.
I requested and sought permission of the MD stating that I promise that I will not ask for the payment, but will feel happy if the MD at least gave me a patient hearing. The MD agreed to this, making sure the subject of payment will not be discussed.
I nerrated the whole episode during the day and asked the MD that when every one is insisting upon the government sanction for payment, WHO IS THIS GOVERNMENT. WHEN FIVE IAS OFFICERS OF THE RANKS OF PRINCIPAL SECRETARIES, AND ONE OF THEM BEING THE FINANCE SECRETARY HIMSELF, had in fact siogned the document, is the document not a government document and what more sanction is required. SIR, WHEN WE (ANY PUBLIC) ENTER THE OFFICE OF THE MD OF MPSFC, WE THINK WE ARE ENTERING A GOVERNMENT OFFICE, AND THINK THAT THE MD IS THE GOVERNMENT. IF THE MD, AN IAS OFFICER HIMSELF SAYS THAT GOVERNMENT SANCTION IS REQUIRED, WHOSE SANCTION IS REQUIRED, If the MD could please tell him as to who is that person in the government THE AUTHOR COULD TOUCH HIS FEET AND BEG FOR THE PAYMENT. IS IT ONE OF THOSE CLERKS IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, WHO IS THE GOVERNMENT, THAT UNLESS HE PUT UP HIS THUMB IMPRESSION, THE DOCUMENT DOESN’T BECOME A GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT. This did have the right impact on the MD and he asked the author to stop the talk and sit quiet. The time was 16:55 hrs. of the 31st March 1986, closing day of the financial year. Only five minutes were left for end of the working day. He called the GM and asked him to make a cheque for the total amount of and be handed over to me within the next five minutes. The GM tried to say something but the MD asked him to do just what he is asked to do. The cheque was prepared and was signed by the MD on the spot and was handed over to me, just a minutes before the closure of the financial year.
After this event, the MD thanked me for telling him that he was the government. He did agree that this was the general way of working in state government offices and he never, till that day, realized that public do have their expectations from senior officers and they think that they are in fact the government.