Several years ago, the Latika Roy Foundation was appointed to three Local Level Committees (LLC) in Uttarakhand. LLCs have been created by the National Trust and are meant to safeguard the interests and well-being of individuals with disability who have no family members to look after them.

Each Committee consists of three people:  the District Magistrate of the area, a local person with disability and a representative of a local voluntary organisation. Since Uttarakhand has very few voluntary orgs, the Foundation was named to three LLCs. We were not consulted before this occurred; we simply got a note from the National Trust informing us of our new responsibilities. And “Local” in these cases meant distances of six hours, nine hours and twelve hours by difficult, uncomfortable roads.

Typically, LLC meetings are announced without notice. Most of the time, we receive a letter by post the day of or two days after the meeting. No one ever thinks to pick up the phone and call us. Once, a staff member journeyed nine hours to attend, only to find on arrival that the meeting had been cancelled and no one had thought to let us know.

So for yesterday’s meeting, we were pleasantly surprised to receive a letter five whole days in advance. Prior commitments were scrapped and new plans were made. Two staff members set out before dawn in order to reach Tehri by 11 AM at a cost of approximately Rs 3500.

Imagine their surprise on arrival to find themselves the objects of scorn and contempt on the part of the District Magistrate and the Social Welfare Officer.

“The Foundation has done nothing for Tehri,” the DM complained. “Voluntary organisations should be organizing disability camps,” insisted the Social Welfare Officer. “Or should the DM do it and invite the Latika Roy Foundation as Chief Guest?” he asked sarcastically.

Forget that we are a Dehradun organisation with no mandate for working in Tehri. Forget that we were placed on the committees without being consulted. Forget that we learn of meetings only after they are over. Forget that no funds are provided for our travel or accommodation at all these “local” meetings (they are local! why would we need transport or a place to stay?).

We are still to blame. We are NGOs. Our job is to do the work the government can’t be bothered with, take the blame when things fail and step out of the limelight when things go right.

This dysfunctional government has just appointed a new Chief Minister because the last one was so mired in corruption he couldn’t move his feet without making squelching sounds. Government officials have spent the last few weeks running in place because they don’t know whether they will still be in the same office tomorrow. “Talk-talk-do-nothing” is the order of the day.

So sure! Use an NGO for target practice, Madame D. M. Take two hard-working, dedicated public servants who got up at the crack of dawn to travel six hours to attend a meeting in a district they have no reason to be in and haul them over the coals to deflect attention from your own inadequacies.

Feel better? I thought so.