Man with a Mission

Brigadier Rajendra Singh is clearly a man with a mission. This God-fearing, straight-forward, strict-by-the rules yet helpful till the last moment ex-armyman took up job as the Deputy Commissioner – Shahdara South Zone of Delhi’s Municipal Corporation after great deliberations because, as he says “whenever I was going to the MCD, I felt very harrased and I said what I can do is that I can put things right, try to set the house in order, at least, I can put the public at ease.” Life Watch, with its penchant to highlight the officers of merits and distinction in the power corridors of Government, interviewed Brigadier Singh face-to-face. Read the excerpts from this exclusive interview:
Life Watch: After a successful career with the army, what made you take this thankless job?
Brigadier Singh: This is a million dollar question! When I got the letter, I sat on it for a long time. I had left the Government organization and I was not sure whether I wanted to go to a Government organization once again. If I candidly give the reason for my decision, as a public citizen, whenever I was going to MCD, I felt very harassed and I said what I can do is that I can put things right, try to set the house in order, at least I can put the public at ease. If I make a slight improvement, I think I have done a lot because to change a system is a long drawn process and single-handedly one person cannot do it. That is why whoever comes from the public, I give them full hearing. I get the nice feeling that the public has come to me, they have faith in me and I can help them.
Life Watch: How difficult it is to sort you problems here in MCD?
Brigadier Singh: It is very difficult to sort out problems because the problems are manifold. There are a lot of constraints from all directions. There is lot of unauthorized construction going on. We are trying our best to curtail it with limited staff. There is tendency of the staff too at some places to execute as they feel. The public shows ignorance of rules but at the same time they are smart enough to build big houses. Some of them come to say they didn’t know they have to get the plan sanctioned. It is poor people who suffer the most. Bigger and powerful fishes tend to get away. Personally speaking, if justice is done it has to be done equally for all. Why should a weaker person suffer? I will not allow this as long as I am here.
Life Watch: How will you rate this experience?
Brigadier Singh: To me this has been a new experience after the army. I really got to know what the true country is now. In army, you get a good exposure but it is not at the lowest levels. Now I am seeing at the root ground levels. It is a great eLife Watch: How will you rate this experience?
Brigadier Singh: To me this has been a new experience after the army. I really got to know what the true country is now. In army, you get a good exposure but it is not at the lowest levels. Now I am seeing at the root ground levels. It is a great experience!
Life Watch: And do you feel you have succeeded in your mission?
Brigadier Singh: If I look from larger perspective I have been successful. I have been able to make my staff do a fair amount of work. I have been able to get that confidence in my staff that I am there to help them provided they do their job. And I assure them that their work will not be hampered. Staff is under fair amount of pressure but I have assured them that nothing will happen to them till I am there.
Life Watch: If you have to change one thing, what it will be?
Brigadier Singh: Our rules need to be amended. There are people who are staying in Shahdara proper. With time, the road level has gone up by a feet or two. There is no provision for the person to break down the house and rebuild it. Plan cannot be sanctioned in such a area. So what do you expect the poor person to do? He pays the field staff, breaks the house and rebuilds.
Secondly, there is no provision for bifurcation or subdivision of the house. Families have grown big. Divisions have taken place between children. What does he do? We need to amend the laws.
Life Watch: We are witness to it that you have a very helpful nature. Other side of your character is the strict adherence to rules and regulations. We just saw you suspending an officer for dereliction of duty. What is your comment?
Brigadier Singh: Really speaking, this is because of my army background. Working in rural areas, we learn to help out the poor people but when it comes to dealing with bad elements, one has to be firm. We make sure that the weaker person is not suppressed.
Everybody must understand that we are here to do a job. My job is to guide the public also. I am not just here to go around on rampage demolishing. People with problems come to me. If I do not attend to their problem, I have no right to take my salary. But this does not mean I will not take steps against people with vested interests.
Life Watch: How do you deal with such diverse problems?
Brigadier Singh: I think I want to share candidly. One has to be adabtable. Adabtabiliyt and flexibility are two important things you learn in army. At times you are harsh and at times you give sops to your children. There is line beyond which I would not like the things to happen. Helpful nature is important but if somebody is trying to be bossy or somebody tries to take law in his hand, then I am not for that person.
Life Watch: Do you have backing from your seniors?
Brigadier Singh: Orders from top is clear. There will be no unauthorized constructions. All encroachments must be removed. I have full backing of my seniors as long as I am delivering.
I have backing from the top and more than that I have the backing of Creator. I am firm believer in that!