Gujarat : Rs.110 Crore AC Plan for Secretariat Sparks Outrage

Gandhinagar, Gujarat —A storm of controversy is brewing in Gujarat as the state government prepares to funnel a colossal ₹110 crore into installing central air conditioning across all 14 blocks of the Gandhinagar Secretariat. This lavish expenditure, touted by officials as a measure to boost employee efficiency amidst rising temperatures, is facing fierce backlash from critics who highlight the grim reality of over one crore Gujaratis still living below the poverty line.

The decision, officially spurred by recommendations from the Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission (GARC), cites “climate change” and its impact on staff health and productivity as justification. “Extreme heat is adversely affecting the performance of officials,” claims the GARC report, advocating for climate-controlled environments. Officials echo this, arguing the upgrade will foster a “more conducive working environment.”

However, this substantial investment in bureaucratic comfort strikes a jarring chord with the daily struggles of ordinary citizens. The state’s administrative machinery is already under fire for its notoriously slow processing times and burgeoning backlogs. Despite previous attempts at reform, departments remain choked with pending files, and citizens routinely report frustrating delays and procedural hurdles at the very Secretariat now slated for a luxurious cool-down.

“It’s an insult to the millions struggling to put food on their tables,” declared a prominent social activist, who wished to remain anonymous due to fear of reprisal. “While our government employees bask in ₹110 crore worth of air conditioning, countless families in rural Gujarat subsist on less than ₹26 per day. Many still rely on government food grains, and youth unemployment, coupled with homelessness, remains a stark reality. Where is the government’s conscience?”

Adding to the debate, the Gujarat State Employees Union has also pushed for a five-day workweek with weekend holidays, citing employee welfare. Yet, the question looms large: will a chilled office truly translate into a more responsive and efficient government for the common man?

While the government defends the Secretariat overhaul as a step towards “modernising governance,” the prioritisation of such a massive sum for comfort over pressing social needs is under intense scrutiny. The lack of a clear timeline for the project’s completion, despite reported budgetary allocations, only fuels public skepticism. As the mercury rises, so too does the public’s demand for accountability and a re-evaluation of where public funds are truly needed.