Fix the System, Not the People

A society is not built by a single profession, business, or occupation; it thrives on the participation of people from all walks of life. Individuals choose professions that sustain their livelihoods, while some are compelled by circumstances to take up certain work. Ultimately, one must support their family, sustain oneself, and contribute to society in some way. With the formation of the new government, a campaign has been launched to eliminate middlemen from public service delivery. This is a welcome step. There has long been a demand for making public services easily accessible to ordinary citizens. However, ambiguity remains over who qualifies as a “middleman.” For some, an individual may be a facilitator; for others, the same person may be perceived as an intermediary. Across the country, nearly 30,000 professionals provide documentation services through land service centres operating in 135 Land Revenue and Survey Offices. Recent crackdowns against them have sparked unrest. While the government may view them as middlemen, they are, in fact, court-authorised service providers. They assist citizens in navigating complex procedures, although this has sometimes involved additional costs for service seekers. While it is reasonable to charge for services, the government should fix standard fees. Under no circumstances should citizens be compelled to pay extra through intermediaries to access public services, nor should officials accept such payments.