A Cry of Agony
K S VENKATARAMAN
For running the administration of a State, the Chief Ministers are compelled these days to opt for jumbo cabinets! This is a criminal waste of public money. During the periods of emergency in States, we see that two or three administrators run the state administration better.
In these days of highly improved transport and communication, the whole world is becoming a global village. There is enormous scope for improving the standard of administration. Much speed and efficiency could be infused into the administration. The procedures in all the departments could be revamped and made easier and quicker.
Lowbrow Politics at the Cost of Efficiency
But usually, the States are burdened with jumbo cabinets, as the Chief Ministers are under pressure by their party-men and high command. They become slaves of the hypocritical policies of Indian politics in general, and their parties in particular.
For example, all the parties and politicians would speak that the caste system is bad and that it should be eliminated. What prevents them from doing so? It is enough if the government does not recognize the caste system; it would die on its own in the context of highly developed modern mobility and interaction. But in practice, all the politicians have vested interests in the caste system. They have already perpetuated it by reservations based on caste system. They intend not to give up this golden goose, as revealed by their decision to go for caste census. In the formation of cabinets, more importance is given to the person's caste, rather than the individual’s ability.
In some states, the politicians would like to expand their business-political organizations, which are already mushrooming beyond limits, and build empires for themselves. So they are asking for the formation of new states, and would mislead the credulous people to act as though they are asking for freedom from foreign rule! The impact of this is the Chief Ministers should think of including the persons from the point of view of regions or districts!
Where the honesty and efficiency should be the criteria, the caste, region etc., mostly replace them. Within the unwieldy cabinet, the Chief Minister would have to look for one or two really efficient persons and run the administration with their assistance. The rest, the majority of the ministers, are there because of extraneous considerations, enjoying the power and position; and very often misusing them and causing embarrassments and difficulties to the officials.
Just as a case of illustration, let us take the ministry of Andhra Pradesh formed on December 1, 2010. Obviously, the Chief Minister wanted to be guided by the need for good governance, as he said earlier, “Good Governance is my mantra”. He had to settle for a jumbo cabinet, thrust upon him for ‘political’ considerations. He had to accommodate a disgruntled leader within the party; he had to provide for the cravings of various castes; he had to appease those on a war-path for Telangana, making it look like a freedom struggle. (Some wonderful ‘leader’ likened it to Kashmir struggle!
The net result, the new Cabinet drew 15 persons from Andhra (excluding the Chief Minister), 8 persons from Rayalaseema and 16 persons from Telangana regions. It had to accommodate people from different castes. It had to take into consideration, not the individuals’ patriotism and ability, but the views of various loyalists, viz. Jagan loyalists, Rahul loyalists, Sonia loyalists and so on! There has been no question of identifying India-loyalists.
In this tight rope-walking, where is the scope for evaluating the qualification, experience, and talent of the prospective ministers?
Initially, the Chief Minister wanted to go for a smaller cabinet, leaving out the former ministers against whom there were corruption charges. Finally, he had to bow and settle for a ‘political cabinet’ of 39 ministers.
Even after having compromised so much, the Chief Minister did not get a contented lot. Two ministers have already resigned within 24 hours in protest, not on any national policy, but because they did not get the portfolio they demanded! They are aghast because they did not get as much as they wanted! What a national spirit! What a mentality of public service! What a graceful behavior of politicians, who have reached the level of a cabinet minister of a State!
To say something about the scholarliness of the chosen few, the majority of them were not even able to read the oath of office and secrecy, though it was all in their mother tongue, Telugu! Two ministers took oaths as ‘Chief Minister’! This mistake elicited a mild smile from the Chief Minister and the Governor; a derisive laughter from the rivals; a cry of agony from those who are sad about the deteriorating standard of politicians in India.
------------K S Venkataraman was the Associate Editor, Dynamic Youth Online Magazine. He is a freelance writer and editor. He may be reached through e-mail: venkataramanks7dynamicyouth_development@yahoo.com
