Manoj 
A government plan to depute joint secretaries, directors and deputy directors as district “rath prabharis” in a campaign to highlight the achievements of the National Democratic Alliance government is a reflection of a disquieting trend of creeping politicisation of structures that must remain by the caprices of political compulsions to remain effective. It upsets the delicate but crucial balance between the political executive and the bureaucracy, whose work it is supposed to oversee, turning the latter into mere vessels of propaganda for electoral expediency. The bureaucracy provides the scaffolding of India’s democratic structure, one that is critical to the nation’s governance. Its independence can only be undermined at the nation’s peril.
Publicising the achievements of flagship schemes and programmes is central to the re-election agenda of any government. Governments have a dedicated public relations arm, with a significant budget, to highlight their achievements. If these need to be painted in political colours, that can be done by party cadres. Electioneering is not the job of the bureaucracy. Predictably, the Opposition has demanded the withdrawal of the circular dated October 18 which spoke about the “nomination of officers of the rank of joint secretary/ director/ deputy secretary pertaining to various services for deployment as district rath prabharis (special officers) at each 765 districts covering 269 lakh gram panchayats in the country”. Its concern is valid.
The Opposition has also cited an October 9 order of the defence ministry, directing soldiers on annual leave to spend time promoting government schemes, making them “soldier ambassadors”. This decision can have even more dire consequences, introducing an element of politics into what is famously an apolitical institution. Experiences from around the world show that politicising the military has never had a happy ending. India has been a proud exception to this trend in the Subcontinent. This cannot be allowed to be diluted. Leaves are when soldiers recuperate from the harshness of the frontlines, and rejuvenate their physical and mental selves to get battle-ready. Shoehorning government publicity into these precious few days will be counterproductive. The government should reconsider these moves.
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Ashish Pandey 
