Ring Ring Ring rrrrrrrrr..............................zzzzzzz

Neelam Mathews
Dec 7, 2012

Incase you're wondering what this picture is doing on a defense-related blog, here's what it is- this could well be me or the many many hundreds waiting (eternally)  to connect to the Defense Offsets Management Wing (DOFW) whose key objectives it says on its website , are to foster development of internationally competitive enterprises, encourgae development of synergistic sectors, etc etc.
All very good theoretically. But empty words. And by the looks of it, senior people at DOFW might soon be running out of excuses to avoid talking to people trying to do business. Ofcourse, insignificant journalists like me totally do not fit into their scheme of priorities, and that one can understand.

I have just one question. If it is laid out that it will take a maximum of 8 weeks to answer queries, what if it takes longer? Does that mean the department will take responsibility for delays in bids that vendors were not given the opportunity to clear? The jury is out on this.

What is worrying is that there seems to be a total lethargy and passiveness in wanting to move things further and fast. One has only to see the speed at which moth-infested commercial bids that have been opened are moving. "If we don't do anything, we can't do anything wrong," a senior bureaucrat had once jocularly told me.

The country is losing time and reputation. I know nobody will agree openly to this, but the fact is people are getting tired of doing business with us. 

The words of Edmond Burke come to mind;

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."  

So please, Mr Bureaucrats,unlock your phones and do the country a favor.