In view of the increasing misuse of the government’s pool vehicles by public servants, the finance ministry has issued a notification directing authorities to withdraw any inappropriately assigned vehicles with immediate effect. The notification, referencing the Pay Structure Reform Act of Bhutan 2022, highlights that some officials at the Specialist, P1, and lower levels have been inappropriately using pool vehicles as designated transport, violating government regulations.
Labelling the practice as a “gross misuse of government property”, the ministry has ordered all government agencies to strictly enforce Section 7 of the Property Management Rules, 2022 which outlines proper management and use of pool vehicles.
The notification calls for public servants to use pool vehicles strictly for the intended purpose and only with the necessary approvals adding that the vehicles must be parked within office premises during off-office hours, weekends, and holidays, except when required for official tours outside the workplace.
Although there are no official records maintained, the finance ministry said the office receives complaints concerning misuse of pool vehicles.
The ministry did not disclose the total number of the government’s pool vehicles stating that it is being worked out.
The finance ministry spends an average of Nu 15,000 monthly for fuel for one pool vehicle. This excludes additional maintenance costs borne by the government.
This means besides the driver’s salary, benefits, major repair and purchase cost of a vehicle, the average annual fuel cost of a pool vehicle is up to Nu 200,000.
There is also a growing public concern over the misuse of government vehicles. Some people, requesting anonymity, expressed their concerns.
One of the interviewees said, “If everyone drives pool vehicles on their whims, it will only incur a huge loss to the government in repairing the vehicles if something happens. Practically, it is very difficult to determine whether a vehicle was involved in an accident during official duty or personal work. The government cannot monitor the movements of every pool vehicle daily.”
Another interviewee said, “We have been seeing pool vehicles being used for personal purposes such as picking and dropping off children at schools. We also see pool vehicles used for the transportation of personal goods and for pilgrimages. If our public servants don’t uphold integrity, it raises concerns about the nation’s progress.”
“When it comes to Gewog Bolero, we see the officials working in the Gewogs using it to drop their patients and for personal shopping. However, the Gewog Administrative Officers and Gups are reluctant to provide similar support to the general public despite our multiple requests,” said an interviewee.
Many people have also taken to social media to highlight instances where government vehicles are being used for personal purposes, such as dropping off and picking up school children, shopping trips, temple visits, pilgrimages, holidays, and even late-night outings.
Many welcomed the government’s move to address the misuse. However, social media users questioned its implementation.
The notification from the finance ministry said that heads of agencies and concerned officials will be held accountable for any unauthorized use of pool vehicles under their jurisdiction.
The ministry will also take necessary actions against non-compliance, especially the immediate withdrawal of the misused vehicles and forward the case for further disciplinary action to the Royal Civil Service Commission.
Samten Dolkar/Pema Tshewang
Edited by Phub Gyem
