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Letters
Written by Mahesh Prasad   

Expectations from new regime

Now, with the new government in power, it is high time that it works in a way that tangible changes are visible in the decaying Indian administrative system. If the GOI fails to realise this or work towards it, it might also be uprooted the way earlier non-functional governments were.

Election 2009 has thrown all calculations wrong. Congress has emerged with 205/543 seats as the largest party; with allies 267/543. The other National party BJP, Communists along with regional and casteist parties have licked dust. Under the cloud of fear that their leaders were facing investigation by CBI or court cases, finding no rescue, almost in a panic such parties have extended uncalled for support, the first such time in India. Thus, the new Government of India (GOI) has come into power.

There has started introspection, as well as analysis by the political pundits, about the debacle? The coterie, both inside and outside, is describing it as the result of charisma of Rahul Gandhi as much as the negative and communal fireworks of Varun Gandhi on the BJP’s part. Regarding the regional parties, they say that people were fed up with the casteist policies of some and lack of governance by others.

It will, however, be mere sycophancy to assign the victory flag to Rahul. If that was so, then why his ‘halo’ failed in Bihar, Orissa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Himachal? In fact, flags rose or fell in each state due to certain singular factors peculiar to each one. In 121 minority (Muslim) majority districts, minority vote slided towards Congress due to, of course, scare and uncertainty created by BJP’s attitude, especially the statements of Varun Gandhi and this returned 50 solid seats to Congress. In UP also, same factor counted most. The claim that people have become wise and voted for stability and economic reforms is just naive considering the realities of poverty, illiteracy and their immediate concerns of roti, kapra aur makan which are more important to them than the high politics which they even hardly comprehend.

Above all, it was the role of media, print and electronic both (latter the most) that played up, day in and day out, the charm of Rahul, the achievements of the previous GOI and the intelligence, integrity and gentleman appeal of Manmohan Singh while, on the other hand, picking up even the simplest errors of BJP and displaying it in the worst and condemnable light from dawn to dusk. To an impartial observer, the media really played to the gallery of Congress and unabashedly acted as its mouthpiece rather than as an umpire which was expected of it in a democracy.

However, this goes to the credit of UPA Chairperson and the PM that they have constituted their cabinet with great care. Top positions like home, finance, foreign affairs and defence, undoubtedly, have been given to men of merit and credibility. People, naturally, under the present set-up have been fed on high expectations from the new GOI regarding their security, eradication of poverty, good and effective governance, checking corruption, social welfare – education and health, especially. On their part, GOI is also conscious of these expectations.

It is heartening that the opposition has also assured to change and give constructive support to national policies and engage in healthy debates and criticism.

But, all that glitters is not gold. With the highly egoistic while largely unaccountable, conservative, loath to change and deliver, the bureaucracy and police, impervious to public suffering, the promises and agenda put forth by the President before the Parliament appears to be beyond reach and achievement of the GOI.

After all, it is bureaucracy, at higher, middle and lower levels, that is entrusted with materialising various programmes, schemes and projects. If their state of health is questionable, then these aspirations will be fulfilled on paper only as hitherto fore.

Police reforms ordered even by the Supreme Court have yet to see the light of the day. The ‘steel frame’ civil services, framed to achieve limited objectives by the British remains, as it were, during their times. Only a few days before TOI (6-6-09) came out with an editorial which paints a dismal picture of executives in India. ‘As per survey conducted by the Hong Kong- based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, babus in India have landed at the bottom in bureaucratic efficiency amongst 12 key Asian economies’. Further, ‘the survey also found India’s babus to be a power centre, in their own right, extremely resistant to change’.

Under the above circumstances, it is anybody’s guess that with such a steel frame resistant to change and grossly wanting in work culture how can the well intentioned, nicely-framed, adequately-financed schemes can be satisfactorily materialised?

Another important factor is corruption. Rajive Gandhi came out with the figure of 15 paisa only out of a rupee reaching the poor or being utilised. Now, his son Rahul has further degraded its utility to 10 paisa! Nothing has been spelled out in the 100 days agenda as to how this loot of public money is going to be checked by the new GOI.

In this context, the black money stashed in Swiss banks alone is over 70 lakh crores. Adding the black stashed in other 12 tax havens, the black money may cross 100 lakh crores. BJP had raised this as a leading issue in the recent elections. The then Finance Minister Sri P. Chidambaram came out with a statement that efforts were being made to obtain the details. Contradicting it, the Swiss Ambassador to India openly denied, on behalf of his Govt., having received any communication in this regard. Yet, in all the fanfare of 100 days agenda, there is nothing to suggest that this important issue has been addressed to with the sincerity and seriousness, it deserves.

If we go by the internet reports, then, it becomes evident that greedy industrialists, dishonest politicians and corrupt IAS/IPS/IRS and other high officials constitute the conglomerate of beneficiaries! As such, one need not dive deep to understand the stoic silence or the apathy of the GOI and the fate of future expenditure on plans and programmes. In this light, it can also be understood as to how and why only 10 paisa reaches the poor or is utilised.

Education has become an ugly industry. One leading medical college in Tamil Nadu which has chief of the MCI (Medical Council of India) on its Board of Directors is reported to be demanding 2 crores as capitation amount from PG aspirants! This evil is rampant all over the country in private sphere. Even in nursery classes of good schools extra amount is charged. All black. It is beyond comprehension that all vigilant and affirmative HRD ministry has not been aware of the menace. Has the new regime any scheme to check this malpractice?

Health is similarly grossly neglected. Government hospitals are in dismal state. Either sufficient budget is not allotted or the hospital staff usurps it with the result that they have no medicine for poor. At places, patients are asked to bring even the bandage. Doctors in rural primary health centres simply do not attend to their duties. This all has resulted in the growth of private nursing homes, where the poor and even the lower middle class cannot think to go.

State has great responsibility towards those who are ailing, especially, for those who have limited time to live. GOI will do a lot if only this one aspect of welfare is taken care of with sincerity and dedication.

Election 2009 has also thrown one strange phenomenon. Voting at many places was just 48%. In J&K, it was even less. The media of all shades tried its best to motivate people to vote. For one full month, leading papers were extolling the value of vote. Even the youth did not turn up in good numbers as was expected. Why? Because, the people are not interested in who occupies seats at the Centre. They are more interested in local problems and their immediate needs. They feel frustrated when police misbehaves with them, babus at lower and middle levels do not listen to them, ration shops do not deliver, instead, sell the stock in black, courts harass them for decades even in ordinary matters, lekhpal does not record their holdings correctly, doctors posted in primary health centres just remain absent, and so on. With no redress in sight during the past 67 years of election drills, no wonder, the voter has lost faith in voting.

As far as security is concerned, the apparatus as contemplated after 26/11, or even the CBI or other intelligence agencies would employ the same high profile IPS or PPS promoted to IPS through selection, which is mainly based on their achievements in the academic field. Like their counterparts in civil services, they also have acquired, rather more with vengeance as they consider it necessary requirement of the job, traits of arrogance, little accountability, resistance to change, lack of commitment and , unfortunately, the characteristics of chamchagiri to please the immediate government as cultivated for long while serving at the district level.

Prime Minister has, therefore, the onerous duty to reform, rather, change the very system of recruitment and promotions. Moily’s report (ARC’s report) only deals with cosmetic changes and not the basic ones, as aforesaid (detailed criticism of the Report has already been made through these columns earlier).

On the other hand, there is a dire necessity to insulate high officers in administration as well as in police from the vagaries of unscrupulous and unpredictable politicians. Indiscriminate transfers by Mayawati Government in UP (1000 in her new term from 2007 till date) is already in question before the Supreme Court. This all does go a long way to demoralise the services. In fact, the trend started right from Nehru’s time in provinces. No serious view was taken, which has now taken the shape of the menace.

No doubt, the new regime has woken up to this menace and proposes to bring a bill in Parliament, which is likely to fix a certain term in districts for high officers and to play some sort of a supervisory role. But, this is not enough. Even promotions and disciplinary actions should come under its purview. Looking into the broader viewpoints in this regard, the apprehension that since law & order is State’s subject, the states discretion and control will be loosened is what has been termed as “resistance to change”. Any move or provision that is conducive to the good of the people must be given credence and the vested interest should not be allowed to harp upon old pretences.

It is, therefore, proposed that a high-powered Authority at the national level be constituted to look after all problems relating to service conditions of IAS/IPS officers whether in states or at the central level.

These are the basic areas where GOI has to act, speedily and strongly. Only when proper work culture is imbibed at all levels in administration and police and welfare services are given seriousness, then only the massive mandate given to one party after 20 years will be rewarding to the ‘aam aadmi’.