DNA Edit: Rajasthan shake-up - Transferring 27 collectors will cause disruptions

The massive administrative shake-up in Rajasthan in which 27 district collectors were transferred will have serious repercussions on the well-being of the people.

The state is subdivided into 33 districts, which means that an overwhelming majority of them will witness change at key posts. A collector is an important part of governance. He acts as the chief agent of the government and serves as a communication channel between the government and the public. But more importantly, he is the person who plays a crucial role in programmes of other departments like the PWD, irrigation, power, forest, agriculture, health and family welfare.

Apart from that, he is also entrusted with the supervision of the public distribution system. Given the collector’s responsibilities, the disruption caused by the reshuffle carried out by Ashok Gehlot’s government will impact the central government’s many schemes aimed at the rural populace.

Rajasthan has the highest percentage of households — 78.4 per cent — into agriculture and the second highest Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act cardholders. In a predominantly rural state, the departure of collectors who are intimately aware of the districts is most likely to be viewed as a setback.

Their replacements will take time to settle down, thus slowing down the system. A change of this magnitude should have been thought through, though, to be fair, every new government brings in a change in the administrative machinery.

The other issue is the demoralising impact it will have on the bureaucracy, which is the backbone for any government. The people of Rajasthan voted the Congress because they believed that the party would deliver. Gehlot should be careful about not squandering away the public mandate.