By Shri Samiulla, Working President, All India Federation of Electricity Employees (AIFEE)
Dear Employee Brothers and Sisters,
“Government Employees Are Lazy… They Do Not Work Properly!” — Is This Really the Truth?
Truth and Reality
Whenever a particular goal is to be achieved in society, a narrative, discourse, and method of presentation is continuously created and promoted to influence public opinion in favour of that goal.
In our country, private capital interests seeking to gain control over public service institutions have successfully created a similar narrative about employees working in government and public-sector organisations:
“Government employees are lazy, they do not work properly, and they are irresponsible.”
By repeatedly promoting this message, an impression has been created in the minds of the public that employees are responsible for the problems faced by public services.
But we need to examine the facts behind this narrative.
Why Has the Number of Employees Declined?
In the name of reducing expenditure on human resources in public institutions, fresh recruitment was gradually reduced. Adequate importance was also not given to training and skill-development programmes required to improve the efficiency and professional capabilities of employees.
Instead of permanent employees, there was an increasing dependence on contract and outsourced workers who are paid comparatively lower wages.
The population increased. The number of consumers increased. The demand for public services increased. But the number of employees did not increase proportionately.
As a result, many public-service institutions are now facing a shortage of manpower.
However, instead of addressing this fundamental problem, there has been an increasing tendency to blame employees directly for delays and deficiencies in service.
Are Employees Really Responsible for Every Problem?
When trains or buses do not arrive at stations on time, passengers blame the employees of the concerned department.
When proper treatment is not provided on time in a government hospital, doctors and nurses are blamed.
When children do not perform well in their studies, teachers are blamed.
When customers have to stand in long queues to deposit or withdraw money from nationalised banks, the bank employees are blamed.
When the Water Board delays supplying water, or when electricity employees are delayed in providing a new connection, the employees of the concerned department are immediately criticised.
Words such as “they have become lazy,” “they are irresponsible,” “they are overpaid,” “they have become complacent” and many other derogatory expressions are used against employees.
Sadly, on some occasions, even departmental heads and administrative authorities tend to blame the entire workforce as a whole, without examining the real reasons behind the problems.
But, What Is the Real Question?
If the number of employees in a public-service institution is continuously declining, while the number of consumers and the demand for services are increasing—
Can we honestly say that only the employees are responsible for the deterioration in service quality?
What is the responsibility of the Government?
To recruit sufficient employees according to actual requirements
To provide adequate manpower
To provide proper training and skill development
To introduce modern technology and equipment
To provide adequate financial resources and infrastructure
To increase manpower in proportion to the growing number of consumers
All these are important factors that determine the quality of public services.
Yet, instead of discussing these fundamental issues, the single narrative that “government employees do not work properly” has been repeatedly promoted among the public.
This Is Not Merely an Attack on Employees — It Is Part of a Larger Policy Narrative
Weakening public-sector institutions and then using the decline in their service quality to argue that “private companies can provide better services” has become an important narrative in support of privatisation.
On the one hand, public institutions created with taxpayers’ money are gradually weakened.
On the other hand, the problems arising from shortage of employees, inadequate finances, lack of infrastructure and administrative deficiencies are attributed to the employees themselves.
Is this fair?
Let Us Understand the Truth Before Blaming Employees
As consumers, whenever we face difficulties in receiving a service, it is natural to question the person responsible for delivering that service.
But we must also examine the factors behind the problem:
What is the actual strength of the workforce?
Is there a shortage of employees?
Why have fresh recruitments been reduced?
Why is outsourcing increasing?
Why is manpower not being increased in proportion to the growing demand for services?
What government policies are weakening public institutions?
Who ultimately benefits from this process?
These are the questions that need to be asked.
Getting angry with an individual employee will not solve the problem.
Identifying the root cause of the problem and correcting it is the real solution.
Dear Employee Brothers and Sisters — This Is the Reality of Our Working Lives.
For decades, we have been providing essential public services. We have contributed to the development of the country, the progress of society and the daily lives of millions of people.
But today, a situation has developed where we ourselves are being portrayed as the reason for the problems in our own institutions.
Therefore, instead of reacting emotionally, we must place the facts before the people.
We must make the public understand the reality.
We must ask:
Why has the number of employees declined?
Why are adequate fresh recruitments not taking place?
Why is outsourcing increasing?
Why is manpower not being increased when the demand for services is growing?
What policies are weakening public institutions?
Who benefits from the weakening and privatisation of these institutions?
It is time to find answers to these questions.
Let us not become victims of a narrative that blames employees. Let us understand the facts and place the truth before the people.
This is not only about protecting the rights and dignity of employees.
It is also about protecting public services, safeguarding public assets created with taxpayers’ money, and ensuring that essential services remain accessible to the people.
Let us raise our voice for truth, justice and public service.
This is the real story of our working lives.
Samiulla
Working President
AIFEE