The actions of the minister of Women’s rights, Child Development, Family Welfare and Consumer Protection are undoubtedly paved with good intentions. Since her appointment, Indira Seebun has not stopped showing how humane she is. She seems ready to do anything possible to help people in distress… But she has gone beyond the frontiers that her status as minister demands.

Soon after the horrible crime perpetrated on little Marie Anita Jolita, the minister, who had just been elected, paid a visit to her mother. As she left, Marie Anita’s mother knew she would have a job and would be taken in charge by the ministry until she could make it on her own. This was at the beginning of her mandate and we were then led to believe that she was not yet used to her job and that she would soon realise that she was no longer a social worker.

But time has proved us wrong. A few weeks ago, the minister’s office called the press for a special event there. A young boy, who had allegedly been battered by the police, had come to her office and was ready to relate his story. Once again, the lady could only be congratulated for having the courage to denounce such an injustice… But she is a minister of the Republic and her status would request that she considers the situation with detachment.

But the worst was yet to come… Last week, her picture was published in the press as she was signing a cheque to help three-year old Prisni Kamatchi, affected with a congenital malformation. The little girl needs Rs 1,3 million to go to France for appropriate treatment.

Such a move from a person from the civil society is laudable. But a minister should not organise a fund-raising within her ministry. As a citizen, she is free to do whatever she wants – not as a minister.

Such moves from the ministry will certainly help the families concerned in the short-term. But what will happen in the long run? Is the minister not taking the risk of seeing every single woman, who has problems, come and knock on the ministry’s door to ask for a bit of help? I am afraid she is…

You must believe that it is extremely saddening for me to say, “Don’t help this person!” But that’s not my point. “Don’t help people that way. You’ve been elected by people to do a job at a certain level and you should respect this!” That’s my point.

The role of a social worker is to help each person as much as he/she can if this person is in a tough situation. The role of a minister is to give the means to social workers to help people – and allow them to get out of their precarious situation by themselves.

As a minister, Indira Seebun should not deal with specific cases as she is doing but should create the framework that would allow all people affected by problems to have solutions within their reach. Minister, do not go above your last!