I think that good behaviour is a basic characteristic of an employee and he should respond to the requests of the people respectfully and try to help the applicants.
But imagine, you go to a governmental department where you were told ‘take your paper and get lost’.
Believe me or not, it is a true story and this happened to me. I cannot say how much I suffered due to this employee and his boss. Do you believe that it might happen with you in Qatar, the sate of law and justice where citizens and expatriates are enjoying equal human rights?
Do you know that the person who misbehaved with me was a public employee who is supposed to work for the people and is not supposed to insult them.
When I heard the words ‘take your paper and get lost’, I lost my temper. I know very well that this was a government office and not his personal property. He was recruited in this office to serve the people and not to misbehave with them.
The most strange thing happened when I tried to see his boss to lodge a complaint against his subordinate. I was surprised to see that people cannot meet with the boss without taking an appointment from his secretary at least a week in advance.
This is a common problem, when we go on the date of appointment to meet with the boss, the secretary will say that the boss is not available. This used to happen as the official concerned wanted to shirk responsibility.
Meanwhile, H E the Minister of Education and Higher Education announced an open meeting with the public to listen to their grievances and solve their problems.
This is a unique move taken by the Minister to strengthen the partnership of the community for the development of the education sector. However, in many cases responsible people sit in big towers and do not let the needy approach them with their problems.
It is very strange that the employee who misbehaved with me is working with the Ministry of Education whose minister has opened his door wide for people who need him.
I am pretty sure that the Minister will never accept this behaviour and he must take necessary legal action against the employee.
I repeat my question: Whether a public employee recruited to serve the country has the right to behave with any citizen in the manner he did?
Is it allowed for the employee to use double standards in dealing with the people and act according to his whims and fancies?
The issue that I have taken up may not be a phenomenon in the country but I would like to say that citizens deserve good conduct and behaviour.
The incident happened with me and I can approach the authority concerned through writing, but what about those citizens who do not have the resources to lodge their complaints with higher authorities.
What is a citizen supposed to do when he has been insulted by a public employee? I want a clear response for my satisfaction because I am very upset since the day of the incident.
I urge every employee to do his or her job sincerely and respect the dignity of the citizens.
