In protest against the surprise vigilance inspection conducted on Saturday, Akshaya centers in the state remained shut on Tuesday. The protests were not any instantaneous outrage over the inspection alone but the Akshaya centres have requested a revision in service charges to be considered by the government. Akshaya centers now follow rates formed almost five years back. The centers now want an increase in service charges as they deem it difficult to find ends meet in today's times with increased expenses and a struggling economy.

Akshaya centers have been functioning across Kerala for the past two decades and have been of big help to people with different needs. It will be uncouth to belittle their commitment and service rendered to people for all this year. Thus, the current request from Akshaya centers warrants government attention.

Akshaya centers have been helping people evade the scrutinizing looks and the general distaste for everything shown by employees in government offices. These centers were a respite for people to get essential registration works done with ease, caring less about the hassles in government offices. Many certificates and documents can be obtained in no time on submission of the application and prescribed fee.

During its heydays, Akshaya centers carried religiously the basic nous of punctuality and worked in an organized way. Slight lethargy occurred at work only after an increasing rush of people to the centers. However, as a reliable service center, Akshaya centers have become a part of people's lives regardless of urban-rural distinction.

Every organization will have to bear the brunt of criticism much into their sunset years of functioning. The current vigilance inspection in Akshaya offices is part of the same storyline. Any organization will indeed go astray in the absence of proper monitoring by certain people in charge. However, it is not a great trend for any organization to take all blame and criticism while performing at its best for people.

As per reports, Vigilance was forced to inspect Akshaya centers after complaints poured in about employees indulging in corruption to proceed with people's requests. In the inspection conducted by vigilance, the claims got vindicated as officers found major links about workers indulging in corruption. Many irregularities were found in the inspection, such as charging more than the government fixed fee, not giving accurate receipts for the money received, and not keeping the registers properly.

The findings also revealed the complicities from coordinators who were supposed to monitor the working of Akshaya centers. The government should think about the measures to solve the irregularities found and improve the functioning of Akshaya centers in a way that is beneficial to the people. The inspection has brought out the shoddy deals of corruption turning rampant among workers of Akshaya. Not a great sign in cards for the government.