A grassroots leader isn't a super-bureaucrat. Career bureaucrats and IAS officers are literally trained to handle the technicalities of administrative policy. A Minister’s primary job is to provide political will and stay deeply connected to the ground.
An individual from a marginalised community, a personal assistant or a departmental secretary is just another wall of red tape. They travel all the way to Chennai because they know this specific minister understands their struggle. Shuttling them off to staff completely defeats the purpose of a Social Justice Dept.
Furthermore, listening to public grievances is the raw data required for good policy-making. You cannot fix a broken system from an isolated, air-conditioned cabin.
Let the leaders remain accessible to the people who put them there! ✊🏽
The chamber of Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu is often overflowing with visitors from various parts of the State. They come with requests and grievances relating not only to his department but also to several other departments. The Minister spends hours patiently listening to them, offering guidance and, when necessary, speaking directly to officials over the phone to explain their situation.
While his accessibility and commitment are commendable, dealing with such large crowds on a day-to-day basis is not sustainable. A more structured system may be needed. His personal assistants and staff can handle many of these representations, with the Minister stepping in only when his intervention is absolutely necessary. This would allow him to devote more time to policy matters and administrative responsibilities while continuing to remain accessible to the public.