Defaulting public sector deserves no sympathy
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Shamim Ahmed
Proper functioning of the public sector as a whole suffers setbacks due to non-payment of dues by other public sector organisations. Many private sector defaulters also contribute to the problem. The difficulties, that many public sector bodies face in clearing off their dues are often of their own making. Therefore, they should expect no sympathies.
There can be no sympathy for inefficiency-breeding default culture. The economy can afford no inefficiency. Usually, the private sector defaulters are scorned by the media. For non-performing loans, the private sector remains under pressure to improve performance. The opposite is the case for the public sector, where even the resourceful organisations deliberately withhold payment of their dues to other public sector bodies, pushing them into serious financial problems or even crisis.
Public utility services also face staggering financial burden for non-payment of the dues by public and private sector clients. The practice has been creating enormous problem for related organisations to take up routine maintenance and development works and meeting other obligations. The utility services nowadays improve their collections from private clients. But the behaviour of public sector consumers remains unchanged.
There is a very pressing need for all public organisations to be more responsible in settling their due to follow public sector companies.
Proper functioning of the public sector as a whole suffers setbacks due to non-payment of dues by other public sector organisations. Many private sector defaulters also contribute to the problem. The difficulties, that many public sector bodies face in clearing off their dues are often of their own making. Therefore, they should expect no sympathies.
There can be no sympathy for inefficiency-breeding default culture. The economy can afford no inefficiency. Usually, the private sector defaulters are scorned by the media. For non-performing loans, the private sector remains under pressure to improve performance. The opposite is the case for the public sector, where even the resourceful organisations deliberately withhold payment of their dues to other public sector bodies, pushing them into serious financial problems or even crisis.
Public utility services also face staggering financial burden for non-payment of the dues by public and private sector clients. The practice has been creating enormous problem for related organisations to take up routine maintenance and development works and meeting other obligations. The utility services nowadays improve their collections from private clients. But the behaviour of public sector consumers remains unchanged.
There is a very pressing need for all public organisations to be more responsible in settling their due to follow public sector companies.