Description
With a political party on steroids in the post national election scenario, the politics at the level of States is bound for change as well as a result of power struggle. Different parties in power in different state would take a re-look at the repercussions of the vote-share in the state that led to their debacle and supported rise of the current governing party at center. Efforts to align with voters may be kick-started including opportunities to stoke passions to hide mal-governance issues including cases of omissions and commissions. The changes taking place in the polity itself is being tackled in sporadic manner with state level politicians still trying to come to terms with the colossal change at the state level and unsure if it means any likely change in politics of the states. The top leadership at the state levels are generally occupying the administrative/executive positions in state ministries and are not keen to encourage changes in a hurry since that is likely to lead to dilution of authority due to intense intervention by legislators concerned with administrative machinery of the states. It is incumbent upon state rulers to initiate and enhance development of state level institutional mechanisms rather than adhocism mix with chauvinism that has been the hallmark governance at state level in India, inspite of t being a vibrant democracy. This is an urgent imperative if the current sets of rulers want to have any chance in state elections because any development is likely to take a few years to fructify while creation of institution and top level hierarchy is rather easier to conceive and develop over a short run.
The State Level Administration and Policy Making- Challenges and
Change
By: Amit Bhushan Date: 1
th
!une
"#1$
%ith a &olitical &arty on steroids in the &ost national election scenario' the &olitics at
the level o( States is )ound (or change as *ell as a result o( &o*er struggle+ Di((erent
&arties in &o*er in di((erent state *ould take a re-look at the re&ercussions o( the
vote-share in the state that led to their de)acle and su&&orted rise o( the current
governing &arty at center+ ,((orts to align *ith voters may )e kick-started including
o&&ortunities to stoke &assions to hide mal-governance issues including cases o(
omissions and commissions+ The changes taking &lace in the &olity itsel( is )eing
tackled in s&oradic manner *ith state level &oliticians still trying to come to terms
*ith the colossal change at the state level and unsure i( it means any likely change in
&olitics o( the states+ The to& leadershi& at the state levels are generally occu&ying
the administrative-e.ecutive &ositions in state ministries and are not keen to
encourage changes in a hurry since that is likely to lead to dilution o( authority due to
intense intervention )y legislators concerned *ith administrative machinery o( the
states+ /t is incum)ent u&on state rulers to initiate and enhance develo&ment o( state
level institutional mechanisms rather than adhocism mi. *ith chauvinism that has
)een the hallmark governance at state level in /ndia' ins&ite o( )eing a vi)rant
democracy+ This is an urgent im&erative i( the current sets o( rulers *ant to have any
chance in state elections )ecause any develo&ment is likely to take a (e* years to
(ructi(y *hile creation o( institution and to& level hierarchy is rather easier to conceive
and develo& over a short run+
The &arty at centre' is still making all out e((ort to continue to *ith the ne* success
(ormula o( e.&osing corru&tion )laming state inaction and the &olicies along *ith the
&ast government (or in(lation+ The changes like state controlla)le (actors like
im&roving trans&arency o( &ro0ect &lanning and im&lementation in the state )y
)ringing in e-governance at all stages including its constant u&dation and availa)ility
on net1 receives little attention+ This could have hel&ed track changes in Plan 2scale'
3uality and including costs and user charges4' changes in Schedule 2Timelines (or
each stage' )ene(its delivery status4' Com&laints 2(rom Stakeholders4+ The
Administrators o( such &ro0ects i+e+ the Ministers have remain o)livious to the
concerns o( the &eo&le and as a result' the &olicy making legislators o( the ruling
&arty as *ell as sundry su&&orting legislators and those in o&&osition (ail to meet
u&to &eo&le5s e.&ectation (rom them+ Such legislators *ho are &erceived to en0oy
lo* clout are una)le to res&ond to the voters or (ace 3uestions (rom kno*ledgea)le
voters *ho may )e having some u&dates on &ro0ects )asis some human contacts
amongst &ro0ect *orkers or at the &lanning or im&lementation level+ Their &ro0ection
(or &hoto o&&ortunity *ith Ministers (or inaugurals and &u)lic sho*s' no* ru)s little
*ith &u)lic to have any vote &otential+ Such &ro0ects in Pu)lic *orks' irrigation' state
o*ned-&romoted S&ecial Pur&ose 6ehicles-undertakings remain in la)yrinth leading
mostly to negative &erce&tions than &ositive *hich they should have' mainly o*ing to
)ad management+ The legislator5s &re-occu&ation *ith very limited or s&eci(ic
&ro0ects related i+e+ either related to them or to their s&onsors grou& only as *as the
case hitherto is unlikely to gel *ith &u)lics-voters anymore+
7&erational issues like changes in land use licensing &olicies have )een misused
*ith adhocism ruling most o( the state SP6 like district-city develo&ment authorities
or industrial &romotion authorities rather than a systematic &olicy driven a&&roach+
Most legislators in their &art have )een concerned only *ith s&eci(ic &ro0ects rather
than a collective and *holesome a&&roach to develo&ment o( localities *hich has
much greater vote &otential *hile &ro0ects are only (or s&eci(ic )ene(its+ 6ery (e*
states-cities or authorities can )oast o( clear &olicies related to &romotion o( Schools'
8os&itals' &u)lic gathering s&aces like clu)s' s&orts com&le. etc+ and land allotment
to such al*ays mired in corru&tion-ne&otism+ Similarly industrial authorities lack
vision (or develo&ment o( industrial cluster ecosystem *ith &rovision (or 2common4
su&&orting (acilities and service units+
Bulk Purchases )y states on )ehal( o( customer like &o*er' land (or use )y state (or
roads' o((ices etc+ or state &olicy driven sourcing and distri)ution (or &roducts like
Pu)lic Distri)ution System' li3uor sourcing-distri)ution remain an area o( massive
disenchantment+ So is distri)ution o( state service likes vehicle registration' driving
licenses' mass-&u)lic trans&ortation services like city-inter-city )us service etc+
State &rovided services like ,ducation' 8ealthcare' 9orest and ,nvironment
Administration and *ater )odies-rivers' tourism and s&orts leave much s&ace (or
monitoring as *ell as im&rovement+ The state legislators could do *ith some
e((ective standing committee *hich has &o*ers to consult *ith e.&erts as *ell as
3uestion ministers and state )ureaucrats on regular )asis including
((icial5
monitoring rights that includes rights to lodge direct com&laints against o((iciating
sta(( can go a long *ay+ Leaders (rom such standing committee may also )e allo*ed
to interact *ith national &olicy makers along *ith or in a)sence o( minister in-charge
(or smoother (unctioning o( systems-administration in state and &ercolation o( )est
&ractices+
Similar set u& including trans&arency is re3uired around mining rights in states+
%here)y all mining resources-area and &otential e.&loration areas are listed on
*e)site including status-o&erators and his licensing details and associated terms etc+
The minister makes his e.amination *ith )ureaucrats )ut a standing committee o(
)i&artisan legislators gathers data )y interacting *ith various stakeholders including
suggest changes' re&orts violations among other things+ Such committee leaders
may also )e allo*ed to interact *ith national &olicy makers along *ith or in a)sence
o( minister in-charge (or smoother (unctioning o( systems-administration in state and
&ercolation o( )est &ractices to &ush u& state revenues and em&loyment+
%e also have continued lack o( governance o( (inancial institutions es&ecially those
collecting de&osits (rom ordinary &eo&le and their ans*era)ility to meet underlying
o)ligations on time+ This has resulted in *ides&read &u)lic grievances *hich remain
a*ay (rom media gla;e+ The state can have a Bi&artisan standing committee to look
into such (inancial institutions and their (unctioning )esides minister and state
agencies' so that there is greater em&o*erment o( state legislators to regulate the
a((airs o( such com&anies in the state+
doc_252369508.doc
With a political party on steroids in the post national election scenario, the politics at the level of States is bound for change as well as a result of power struggle. Different parties in power in different state would take a re-look at the repercussions of the vote-share in the state that led to their debacle and supported rise of the current governing party at center. Efforts to align with voters may be kick-started including opportunities to stoke passions to hide mal-governance issues including cases of omissions and commissions. The changes taking place in the polity itself is being tackled in sporadic manner with state level politicians still trying to come to terms with the colossal change at the state level and unsure if it means any likely change in politics of the states. The top leadership at the state levels are generally occupying the administrative/executive positions in state ministries and are not keen to encourage changes in a hurry since that is likely to lead to dilution of authority due to intense intervention by legislators concerned with administrative machinery of the states. It is incumbent upon state rulers to initiate and enhance development of state level institutional mechanisms rather than adhocism mix with chauvinism that has been the hallmark governance at state level in India, inspite of t being a vibrant democracy. This is an urgent imperative if the current sets of rulers want to have any chance in state elections because any development is likely to take a few years to fructify while creation of institution and top level hierarchy is rather easier to conceive and develop over a short run.
The State Level Administration and Policy Making- Challenges and
Change
By: Amit Bhushan Date: 1
th
!une
"#1$
%ith a &olitical &arty on steroids in the &ost national election scenario' the &olitics at
the level o( States is )ound (or change as *ell as a result o( &o*er struggle+ Di((erent
&arties in &o*er in di((erent state *ould take a re-look at the re&ercussions o( the
vote-share in the state that led to their de)acle and su&&orted rise o( the current
governing &arty at center+ ,((orts to align *ith voters may )e kick-started including
o&&ortunities to stoke &assions to hide mal-governance issues including cases o(
omissions and commissions+ The changes taking &lace in the &olity itsel( is )eing
tackled in s&oradic manner *ith state level &oliticians still trying to come to terms
*ith the colossal change at the state level and unsure i( it means any likely change in
&olitics o( the states+ The to& leadershi& at the state levels are generally occu&ying
the administrative-e.ecutive &ositions in state ministries and are not keen to
encourage changes in a hurry since that is likely to lead to dilution o( authority due to
intense intervention )y legislators concerned *ith administrative machinery o( the
states+ /t is incum)ent u&on state rulers to initiate and enhance develo&ment o( state
level institutional mechanisms rather than adhocism mi. *ith chauvinism that has
)een the hallmark governance at state level in /ndia' ins&ite o( )eing a vi)rant
democracy+ This is an urgent im&erative i( the current sets o( rulers *ant to have any
chance in state elections )ecause any develo&ment is likely to take a (e* years to
(ructi(y *hile creation o( institution and to& level hierarchy is rather easier to conceive
and develo& over a short run+
The &arty at centre' is still making all out e((ort to continue to *ith the ne* success
(ormula o( e.&osing corru&tion )laming state inaction and the &olicies along *ith the
&ast government (or in(lation+ The changes like state controlla)le (actors like
im&roving trans&arency o( &ro0ect &lanning and im&lementation in the state )y
)ringing in e-governance at all stages including its constant u&dation and availa)ility
on net1 receives little attention+ This could have hel&ed track changes in Plan 2scale'
3uality and including costs and user charges4' changes in Schedule 2Timelines (or
each stage' )ene(its delivery status4' Com&laints 2(rom Stakeholders4+ The
Administrators o( such &ro0ects i+e+ the Ministers have remain o)livious to the
concerns o( the &eo&le and as a result' the &olicy making legislators o( the ruling
&arty as *ell as sundry su&&orting legislators and those in o&&osition (ail to meet
u&to &eo&le5s e.&ectation (rom them+ Such legislators *ho are &erceived to en0oy
lo* clout are una)le to res&ond to the voters or (ace 3uestions (rom kno*ledgea)le
voters *ho may )e having some u&dates on &ro0ects )asis some human contacts
amongst &ro0ect *orkers or at the &lanning or im&lementation level+ Their &ro0ection
(or &hoto o&&ortunity *ith Ministers (or inaugurals and &u)lic sho*s' no* ru)s little
*ith &u)lic to have any vote &otential+ Such &ro0ects in Pu)lic *orks' irrigation' state
o*ned-&romoted S&ecial Pur&ose 6ehicles-undertakings remain in la)yrinth leading
mostly to negative &erce&tions than &ositive *hich they should have' mainly o*ing to
)ad management+ The legislator5s &re-occu&ation *ith very limited or s&eci(ic
&ro0ects related i+e+ either related to them or to their s&onsors grou& only as *as the
case hitherto is unlikely to gel *ith &u)lics-voters anymore+
7&erational issues like changes in land use licensing &olicies have )een misused
*ith adhocism ruling most o( the state SP6 like district-city develo&ment authorities
or industrial &romotion authorities rather than a systematic &olicy driven a&&roach+
Most legislators in their &art have )een concerned only *ith s&eci(ic &ro0ects rather
than a collective and *holesome a&&roach to develo&ment o( localities *hich has
much greater vote &otential *hile &ro0ects are only (or s&eci(ic )ene(its+ 6ery (e*
states-cities or authorities can )oast o( clear &olicies related to &romotion o( Schools'
8os&itals' &u)lic gathering s&aces like clu)s' s&orts com&le. etc+ and land allotment
to such al*ays mired in corru&tion-ne&otism+ Similarly industrial authorities lack
vision (or develo&ment o( industrial cluster ecosystem *ith &rovision (or 2common4
su&&orting (acilities and service units+
Bulk Purchases )y states on )ehal( o( customer like &o*er' land (or use )y state (or
roads' o((ices etc+ or state &olicy driven sourcing and distri)ution (or &roducts like
Pu)lic Distri)ution System' li3uor sourcing-distri)ution remain an area o( massive
disenchantment+ So is distri)ution o( state service likes vehicle registration' driving
licenses' mass-&u)lic trans&ortation services like city-inter-city )us service etc+
State &rovided services like ,ducation' 8ealthcare' 9orest and ,nvironment
Administration and *ater )odies-rivers' tourism and s&orts leave much s&ace (or
monitoring as *ell as im&rovement+ The state legislators could do *ith some
e((ective standing committee *hich has &o*ers to consult *ith e.&erts as *ell as
3uestion ministers and state )ureaucrats on regular )asis including
((icial5monitoring rights that includes rights to lodge direct com&laints against o((iciating
sta(( can go a long *ay+ Leaders (rom such standing committee may also )e allo*ed
to interact *ith national &olicy makers along *ith or in a)sence o( minister in-charge
(or smoother (unctioning o( systems-administration in state and &ercolation o( )est
&ractices+
Similar set u& including trans&arency is re3uired around mining rights in states+
%here)y all mining resources-area and &otential e.&loration areas are listed on
*e)site including status-o&erators and his licensing details and associated terms etc+
The minister makes his e.amination *ith )ureaucrats )ut a standing committee o(
)i&artisan legislators gathers data )y interacting *ith various stakeholders including
suggest changes' re&orts violations among other things+ Such committee leaders
may also )e allo*ed to interact *ith national &olicy makers along *ith or in a)sence
o( minister in-charge (or smoother (unctioning o( systems-administration in state and
&ercolation o( )est &ractices to &ush u& state revenues and em&loyment+
%e also have continued lack o( governance o( (inancial institutions es&ecially those
collecting de&osits (rom ordinary &eo&le and their ans*era)ility to meet underlying
o)ligations on time+ This has resulted in *ides&read &u)lic grievances *hich remain
a*ay (rom media gla;e+ The state can have a Bi&artisan standing committee to look
into such (inancial institutions and their (unctioning )esides minister and state
agencies' so that there is greater em&o*erment o( state legislators to regulate the
a((airs o( such com&anies in the state+
doc_252369508.doc