Govt to get rid of state-owned vehicles

Radhika D Srivastava / TNN / Jan 17, 2007, 02:08 IST

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The obiquitous white ambassador car with a uniformed driver may go missing from the government health establishments in Bihar.

PATNA: Very soon the obiquitous white ambassador car with a uniformed driver may go missing from the government health establishments in Bihar. The government has begun a serious effort to rid itself of state-owned vehicles used in its health department. The move is aimed at reducing government liability, step up accountability and eventually cut cost.
Already private vehicles have been hired on contract to operate as ambulances.Since most government ambulances were defunct and good enough only to be sold off as junk, a decision was taken not to purchase any vehicle, but hire private ones.
Even in district headquarters, the government cars assigned to civil surgeons would be withdrawn. They have been advised to use hired taxis instead. Government cars at district and sub-divisional hospitals would also go.
An official said, "Even when the government had its own vehicles, its services were barely available to the masses. The drivers would either be missing or the vehicle poorly maintained. Accountability was at rock bottom."

"But the government has to spend on salaries and even maintenance. So both ways, we lost out," he said. Now that the services are being privatised, the owners have to maintain their vehicles and keep it in perfect running condition. Besides, there are extra costs other than the fixed monthly rate.
"For each ambulance, the government is paying Rs 15,000 per month. This is lesser than the average Rs 20,000 the government spent for keeping one vehicle and a driver in place," he said.

"Having a private vehicle also allows us to keep a strict eye on it. We have defined very clear and concise terms with the private party. Even a single deviation or flouting will result in the termination of the contract. So the private partner is very vigilant," he said.
State health secretary Deepak Kumar confirmed the department's move to bring down its fleet of government cars to
zilch. He said, "It makes better economic sense for us to use hired vehicles." He said with about Rs 1.8 lakh one functional ambulance would be available at a primary health centre all 365 days of the year. "Now if we were to buy our own vehicles and maintain them, it would be many times this cost," he said.
Asked what would happen to the 100-odd government drivers posted at various health institutions, Kumar said, "They could function as ward attendents."
Kumar said, "As and when the drivers retire and their posts fall vacant, we will not fill them up. As a policy we will not hire any driver for the government."

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