Sunday, November 6, 2011

WHAT NEXT IN THE FIGHT FOR INDIA? TO KEEP PEOPLES PRESSURE ALIVE WE MUST SET THE AGENDA NOW.

WHAT NEXT IN THE FIGHT FOR INDIA?

TO KEEP PEOPLES PRESSURE ALIVE WE MUST SET THE AGENDA NOW.

From: A.Trivedi <trivedianant@gmail.com>

All across the country people have woken up to not just demand Good Governance BUT TO ACT TO SECURE IT. For this we owe a debt of gratitude to a single Indian: Anna Hazare.

He, along with a core group, travelled across the country for almost a year to bring to the people the Issue of Corruption, as the key factor destroying the lives of people from all castes, creed and economic strata. The destructive influence Corruption has on the institutions of governance spares no one.

What happened is history. But what is now happening is a conspiracy to blunt and destroy people's initiatives to secure a better and just life for Indians. The danger is very real. For those steeped in Corruption fearing the force of the People of India have panicked and are actively fighting to hold on to power, to continue to amass more and more wealth. People's joint action to defeat these forces is very urgently needed.

One of the lessons from the Indians Against Corruption (IAC) movement is the importance of focussing on a specific Goal: Contain Corruption, which is possibly the root cause of almost all our ills.

At the same time we need to learn and adopt Mahatma Gandhi's multi-level strategy to strengthen and multiply the impact of the Quit India movement: the Dhandi March, the Salt Satyagraha, the Spinning Wheel, the Bonfires of Foreign Goods, et al, helped not just spread the message but also secure the involvement and participation of so many. So let us try and list some of the sub-set Goals that together will strengthen the cause of containing Corruption and securing Good, Clean and Just Governance.

But before we list some of the Fundamental Changes that must happen to secure our goals and objective, we should consider WHY and HOW the Political & Administrative Sectors of Society have been so widely infected by the Cancer of Corruption. For only by identifying the WHY and understanding the HOW can we confront, contain and hopefully conquer the malaise that has set in so deeply and widely.

1. We Need to Reinvent Our Politics

WHY has Corruption flourished and grown: the answer is simple, while the cure is challenging and complex. Our Politicians & Government servants no longer function to provide governance that will serve the good of the People; they are now almost wholly focussed on ruling us in a manner that the few in control get Richer by the day, by the hour. The very fact that politicians publicly state that they are elected to Rule reinforces this oppressive and exploitative job description.

The rot started soon after we secured Independence when good Indians fought for our freedom and were motivated to deliver good governance. But then something went very wrong.

Those elected to office, first at the Centre, then at the States, and later spreading across all governmental institutions and related organisations, including the bureaucracy, discovered the vast opportunities to supplement their earnings through a maze of governmental controls and contracts. Being grossly underpaid they responded rapidly to make the most of any opportunity to generate funds for themselves. This perhaps is the 'rationale' for the enormous monies they spend to get elected or to secure 'malai' postings. For the ROI is very, very high!

Today our politicians and government officials are recognised both nationally and internationally as THE MOST CORRUPT IN THE WORLD. Those who try to perform honestly and deliver to and for the people are either converted or rejected by the all-pervasive network of the corrupt.

HOW does one combat this disease? By deep and extensive 'surgery', shutting down all opportunities for imposing facilitating payments (forcing people to pay for what is rightly due to them) and bribery (permitting people to derive illegitimate benefits). Thus all of us end up as guilty.

To 'compensate' for such 'losses' elected representatives of the people (and the bureaucracy) should be paid very well, without any added perks and freebies, such as housing, travel, and the myriad benefits and 'spending money' through MPLADS, etc. Hopefully such a drastic change in their 'remuneration package' will result in a new motivated breed of people entering politics to serve their country…to create a truly just and functional democracy.

This we believe is the only way to ensure that those who stand for election are worthy of being elected. The idea that State Funding, None of the Above Voting Options or the Right to Recall will ensure that the Right Persons are elected will possibly fail for both logistical and operational reasons.

THE JOB OF THE GOVERNMENT MUST NO LONGER BE TO RULE, GRANTING FAVOURS OR SETTING UP CONTROLS THAT INHIBIT DEVELOPMENT & PROGRESS. IT MUST BE TO GOVERN FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE.

In this endeavour there are other related challenges that need to be tackled. For let us remember the wise saying: "The Fish Rots from the Head."

2. Tackling The Top

The titular Head of the State is the Office of the President of India. An office envisaged by Our Founding Fathers as being occupied by persons of high probity, wisdom and a deep sense of the responsibility of the Chair. Over time Corruption, in the broadest sense of the term, has entered what should be a hallowed domain: it is now very often occupied by those of dubious reputation; of highly political backgrounds and affiliation; of individuals indebted to political authorities. Thus resulting in their inability to take considered and independent decisions with the National Interest being paramount. Instead they tend to carry out orders with distinctly biased intentions.

Surely now is the time to revisit the criteria laid down by our own leaders at the start of the journey to make India a land of the just and the free!

3. Eliminating a Costly Remnant of the Raj

Why do we maintain the institution of Governors? Do they really serve any purpose; do they add value to the Governance of the States; or rather have they become agents of those who appointed them, bound to "Do as they are told". Recent appointments of politicians 'put out to graze' and of retired government servants, including from security services such as the Armed Forces and the Police, not only make them subservient but also corrupt those who seek such sinecures while in service. Sycophancy starts early!

Surly it would not be the 'end of our democracy' if we abolished this 'hangover of the Raj?' Just think how much we taxpayers would save; how many 'Government Houses' could be converted to libraries, museums and other public assets. Let's root out this archaic institution and take one more step to cleansing our discredited governing system.

4. Discarding & Eliminating Duplicating Central Ministries

Why do need to endure the spiralling costs of so very many Ministries and Commissions that in practice have no direct role to play in implementation at the ground level. Millions of politicians and bureaucrats toil away: spending loads of our money in what it appears to be of no purpose other than to set up Barriers of Delaying Red Tape, or to second guess the State Apparatus of Governance. Often these decisions are designed to frustrate the efforts of State Governments led by Opposition Political parties. Some examples of such redundant Ministries are: Education, Agriculture, Police, Health…

Just imagine how much money would be saved and perhaps more importantly how much more effective local governance would become.

5. Improve Governance through the Formation of Smaller More Manageable States

In this context one could go further and propose the creation of smaller State units. Such an initiative would have so many benefits: elected representatives would be more accessible to their constituents; the need to show grassroots progress in governance would become a key factor to secure re-election. Contrast this with the Central Government whose only remote and sporadic contacts with people are channelled through lobbyists, journalists and others who have their own vested interests and whose 'contribution' to elections often flow through currency notes!

Who Can & Will Make the Change

While all these ideas would require breaking away from ingrained habits of the past there are some signs, in performing States, that a core group of politicians and bureaucrats would welcome such a quiet revolution - a revolution that could take India and Indians to a New & Glorious Future. We have the Potential, now all we need is to dedicate ourselves to secure the Change. The People of India Aroused to set things right are the only ones who can make this happen.

Time Has Come.

Jai Hind.

 

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