The Focus Issues- where Incumbent leaders need to show noticeable improvements
By: Amit Bhushan Date: 21 May 2014
With the change in government, media has initiated its loud gossip on who is likely to adorn what positions. This gives ‘intelligentsia’ a chance to storm into ‘debates (concocted for the purpose)’ and initiate their ‘old game’ in the name of stability through the stabilizing proven hands receiving their due for ‘support’ to the party with no questions being asked about the relevance of the provided support. As far as media is concerned, they devise such programs that ‘push envelop’ to maintain some continuity and keep the old guard happy and continue to receive direct or indirect remuneration for the services through understandably fixed deal.
The issues on which people voted and where they need to be shown a change is least of the priorities of the media as well as the participants; who are more concerned with maintaining or preserving their power-positions vis-à-vis the new government and its bureaucracy.
Other than jobs and inflation, most of the relevant issues for ordinary people are more under the control of the ‘state’ than center. Even jobs as an issue has dual control i.e. state as well as center, since increasing investments (domestic savings or FDI/FII) and some central policies are under center; while getting projects off ground in areas where people with the right skills are easily available is controlled by the state. Similarly, inflation or more specifically food inflation is a result of money supply as well as supply side constraints. The supply bottlenecks for food are largely under control of the state.
Therefore to get going, it is imperative that people identify the states where these issues are better managed and understand the eco-system developed by the state to manage the issues including the scalability and adaptation of such system in other states/region. The centre including all those who are clamoring to lead the incumbent government should be concerned with the ‘carrot and stick’ model that is likely to work with different states with their politico-economic-cultural situation. The skills for purpose including people who may have greater chance to succeed and why is never debated. The area was certainly one of the weakest link of the previous government credited with ‘weak leadership’ by media, but the only thing highlighted is relative independence of central minister vis-à-vis the leader while the fact that the central ministers were deemed as in-effective to useless by state leaders has received little attention in media.
Greater cohesion between center and state which is required, and should result in better delivery of budgeted benefits to people and clearer metrics of a comparison of states should be devised and highlighted for distribution of ration (commodity-wise), healthcare such as doctor’s attention as well medicine and surgical/medical treatment, education standards such as teacher availability, attendance and student results, and availability/distribution of fertilizer (subsidized). Mechanism of continuous monitoring and publication of the scorecard on weekly/monthly basis including complaints and there resolution should be the order of the day with special mechanism to register complaint of a group by say a member of village panchayat on behalf of a group. Unless focus as well as de-politicization of such reports and underlying action fails to be undertaken by the new powers that be take place, little merit will accrue towards the goodwill on the incumbent government/party. However putting an effective monitoring metrics trusted by people should be a priority for own good of the new incumbent.
Further, reforms in judiciary to fasten the processing of dispute resolution and effectiveness of orders, needs to be taken up without delay to restore order and improve governance, however this could be initiated with a view to achieve by the end of the term. Also, is the old Achilles heal of woes like improving Public Works outcome for people both at center and state level as well as center and state procurements in defense, irrigation, projects etc. An effective regime for Public Private Partnership to balance the interest of public vis-à-vis the entrepreneur is another area marred in corruption, doubts and ineffectiveness. Other areas, which could have significant impact in short, medium and long term should be identified along with human resources with tangible ideas and delivery credentials since the goodwill of the victory of present incumbent will only last till the loss of their first elections of which numerous are due. The whole discussion in media seems to be veering around new projects designed to preserve the existing projects including those which are ineffective with potential contenders singing alongside so that not to ruffle feathers and upset people to attract vocal criticism and counterattacks. The game goes on with cola-money usage at its best…..
By: Amit Bhushan Date: 21 May 2014
With the change in government, media has initiated its loud gossip on who is likely to adorn what positions. This gives ‘intelligentsia’ a chance to storm into ‘debates (concocted for the purpose)’ and initiate their ‘old game’ in the name of stability through the stabilizing proven hands receiving their due for ‘support’ to the party with no questions being asked about the relevance of the provided support. As far as media is concerned, they devise such programs that ‘push envelop’ to maintain some continuity and keep the old guard happy and continue to receive direct or indirect remuneration for the services through understandably fixed deal.
The issues on which people voted and where they need to be shown a change is least of the priorities of the media as well as the participants; who are more concerned with maintaining or preserving their power-positions vis-à-vis the new government and its bureaucracy.
Other than jobs and inflation, most of the relevant issues for ordinary people are more under the control of the ‘state’ than center. Even jobs as an issue has dual control i.e. state as well as center, since increasing investments (domestic savings or FDI/FII) and some central policies are under center; while getting projects off ground in areas where people with the right skills are easily available is controlled by the state. Similarly, inflation or more specifically food inflation is a result of money supply as well as supply side constraints. The supply bottlenecks for food are largely under control of the state.
Therefore to get going, it is imperative that people identify the states where these issues are better managed and understand the eco-system developed by the state to manage the issues including the scalability and adaptation of such system in other states/region. The centre including all those who are clamoring to lead the incumbent government should be concerned with the ‘carrot and stick’ model that is likely to work with different states with their politico-economic-cultural situation. The skills for purpose including people who may have greater chance to succeed and why is never debated. The area was certainly one of the weakest link of the previous government credited with ‘weak leadership’ by media, but the only thing highlighted is relative independence of central minister vis-à-vis the leader while the fact that the central ministers were deemed as in-effective to useless by state leaders has received little attention in media.
Greater cohesion between center and state which is required, and should result in better delivery of budgeted benefits to people and clearer metrics of a comparison of states should be devised and highlighted for distribution of ration (commodity-wise), healthcare such as doctor’s attention as well medicine and surgical/medical treatment, education standards such as teacher availability, attendance and student results, and availability/distribution of fertilizer (subsidized). Mechanism of continuous monitoring and publication of the scorecard on weekly/monthly basis including complaints and there resolution should be the order of the day with special mechanism to register complaint of a group by say a member of village panchayat on behalf of a group. Unless focus as well as de-politicization of such reports and underlying action fails to be undertaken by the new powers that be take place, little merit will accrue towards the goodwill on the incumbent government/party. However putting an effective monitoring metrics trusted by people should be a priority for own good of the new incumbent.
Further, reforms in judiciary to fasten the processing of dispute resolution and effectiveness of orders, needs to be taken up without delay to restore order and improve governance, however this could be initiated with a view to achieve by the end of the term. Also, is the old Achilles heal of woes like improving Public Works outcome for people both at center and state level as well as center and state procurements in defense, irrigation, projects etc. An effective regime for Public Private Partnership to balance the interest of public vis-à-vis the entrepreneur is another area marred in corruption, doubts and ineffectiveness. Other areas, which could have significant impact in short, medium and long term should be identified along with human resources with tangible ideas and delivery credentials since the goodwill of the victory of present incumbent will only last till the loss of their first elections of which numerous are due. The whole discussion in media seems to be veering around new projects designed to preserve the existing projects including those which are ineffective with potential contenders singing alongside so that not to ruffle feathers and upset people to attract vocal criticism and counterattacks. The game goes on with cola-money usage at its best…..