Government buildings and work

 The last couple of days I've visited a few government buildings.  Since the work was taking its own time, I had the leisure to walk around and take a close look at the buildings.  

Just one word that best describes the condition of the government buildings: pathetic!!! 

There's one that I've visited thrice already. And it was built in 1910. That it is still standing is one miracle.  The next miracle is that it is still being used.  Of course parts of it are already dilapidated and can very well be turned into a museum or a heritage building.  But the other parts, rooms are being used!!  In some places the files are all wet and in some places even plants growing on them. Some furniture rusted or so corroded.  The cupboards hardly able to support themselves, leave alone the files stored on them.  Trunks with documents left out in the sun and rain.  

Then there are the new buildings. That's another story!  They are either half done, and even if completed, they are all so dirty, with dust, debris, garbage and filth everywhere.  Broken furniture is strewn around. Stairs and corners are full of beetel nut spit.  Then there are the stray dogs - perfectly at home with the hundreds of people moving in and out of the buildings. The floors sinking. Ceiling peeling off.  Perhaps only the higher officials offices are a bit tidy.  The rest of the offices are most often messy with waste bins overflowing.  

Most walls and terraces have plants growing and pipes leaking.  Not one electrical line or cable is concealed or in proper place.  All exposed and precariously hanging. The stationery and office related items are bare minimum.  I'll not speak about the toilets, because I dared not go anywhere close to them - that is, if they did exist! 

All said and done, what struck me most, was the fact that work goes on!!! While we religious and priests feel that unlike every bit is in place and fully furnished, no work can be done, the government staff clearly show us how things move on - not just a few or once in a way, but in gallore and everyday - with nothing, or minimal but pathetic facilities!