KARACHI: Majority not satisfied with public sector services: NRB-CIET survey
KARACHI, Dec 24: An overwhelming majority of citizens is dissatisfied with the state of public service provided by government, according to a baseline survey, titled: Social Audit of Governance and Delivery of Public Services.
The survey was conducted jointly by the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) and Community Information Empowerment Training (CIET) with financial support by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
It transpired in the survey that an average of 30 to 35 per cent people across country are satisfied with the public services.
The findings of the survey were circulated among newsmen during a workshop organized by the Sindh Local Government Board, Local Government Department, at a local hotel on Wednesday.
The baseline survey covered a representative sample of 57,000 households in all the 97 districts of the country. Some 14 per cent of the surveyed households were categorized as ‘very vulnerable’ based on the house construction, room occupancy and occupation of breadwinner.
The findings showed that availability and satisfaction ratings varied considerably in different areas of the country.
In each case, the ‘very vulnerable’ households appeared less satisfied or even deprived of services, as compared to the less vulnerable households.
The survey found just 23 per cent of households satisfied with overall health services while 32 per cent appeared having no access to the same.
It appeared that 31 per cent of households usually avail government health facilities whereas nearly half of 47 per cent refer to private qualified practitioner. Up to 21 per cent go to unqualified practitioners.
More than half the households (55 per cent) are satisfied with the public education services and only seven per cent have no such service available to them. Very vulnerable households are less likely to be satisfied.
At national level, gender gap in school enrolment in the age group of 5-9 years is 13 per cent in Sindh, 18 per cent in the NWFP (highest) and seven per cent in Punjab. Some 73 per cent of the parents of schoolchildren enrolled in public sector schools appeared satisfied while 89 per cent of parents are satisfied with private schools.
Only 18 per cent of households in the country are reported to be satisfied with water supply service and 62 per cent have no access to the public service.
The findings showed that 31 per cent households are satisfied with the roads while 18 per cent have no roads in their area. More than half (59 per cent) are satisfied with public transport and 11 per cent have no such facility.
With sewerage and sanitation services, only 13 per cent of households are satisfied and 51 per cent do not have any such services at all. Those satisfied with garbage disposal service amounted to six per cent whereas 71 per cent do not have the service available to them.
The survey puts the number of those households satisfied with gas supply service at 19 per cent. About 71 per cent households do not have the service.
Sixty-three per cent of the households appeared satisfied with electric supply service and 16 per cent do not have power supply in their area.
Less than half the households are satisfied with courts and think that court are helpful. Many people, especially women, appeared unable to give a definite response to this question.
Dr Anne Cockcroft, Country Manager of the CIET, spelled out different aspects of the survey and said that objectives of the baseline survey was to provide policy-makers with feedback and information on the ground reality. — PPI
