Pandit Jawaharla Nehru, our Prime Minister, was quite correct in saying that the status of an 0fficer in the Government, is judged by the number of chaprasis at his command. A careful visit to any Government office or Derpartment would substantiate his words. Scores of chaprasis. idling at the doors of the 0fficers, awaiting the ring of the bell or the roar of the boss, is a common sight there. The existence of the institution of chaprasis has no doubt delayed work, as the files and papers will not move, unless the chaprasis carry them. They act as the carriers of the records and registers between the 0fficers and their staff, In fact, often they misplace papers due to ignorance or indifference and cause delay and confusion in work.
Moreover, it is untrue that chaprasis have been strictly used for official work. Indeed they do more personal work than official. They can be certainly seen in the queue of post offices during the first weeks of every month, sending the money orders of their officers and the staff. Some of them are found more at home than in offices and many of them are very good in domestic work than in official.
Personally I have found the chaprasi system neither efficient nor essential. The abolition of the chaprasi system will bring the office and staff closer together and engender an ideal and efficient working system. I know an officer who used to sit with his staff to discuss and dispose of all papers then and there. It not only dispensed with the services of the chaprasi but created an ideal atmosphere in the office with quick and efficient turnover of work.
The arguments advanced by ‘citizen’ in your newspaper may well apply to a very few eminent people whose services are of immense value to the nation. But what our Prime Minister meant was the virtual dependence of the chair-tied 0fficers on chaprasis even for light manual exertion. It is high time our officers learned to drive their cars themselves and cooperate with their staff in doing and undoing the services of the chaprasis.
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1 comment:
very interesting reading .. this letter published in the newspapers back in 1960 makes me wonder how little has changed in the social structure at the workplace .. while the chaprasi system may have slowly begun its decline (thanks to email and office automation) at least in the private sector, the public sector will probably continue its fine tradition .. What has also changed is that nowadays you will probably meet educated chaprasis .. I remember in one of my jobs in mumbai, all the 'office boys' were graduates (BA at least) .. brings up a whole set of issues ..
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