Really a good analysis of the current scenario and a possible future scenario.
Indeed, marxism is the greatest threat to india, if reforms fail and india returns to marxism, its probably the end of the road for the next few generations.
I really pray indians dont vote for lefts next time around. the left,unfortunately, who make just
hats off to you MR. AIYER, you are very courageous man. Keep up the good work even if you are in a useless ministry,, i really wonder why the oil ministry was taken away from him,, he is a really able leader, Mr. manmohan dont ignore him, he will be one day Prime Minister
I THINK HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST MINISTERS IN THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT. THE OIL MINISTRY WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM, I DONT KNOW WHY, HE IS REALLY AN ABLE LEADER AND HE IS GIVEN SPORTS AND YOUTH.. PERSONS LIKE HIM SHOULD BE GIVEN BETTER MINISTRIES AND I AM SHURE HE IS ONE OF THE BEST. I THINK HE WAS OUT CAUSE OF HIS OUTSPOKENESS... HE IS SO COURAGE TO EXPRESS HIS FEELINGS WHEN HE IS A PART OF THE SAME GOVERNMETN...
This is how Indian politicians blame everything that is rotten in the country. If the benefits of reform is not percolating among the poor then the problem should be with the reform but not with the politicians!!! Well done Mr Aiyar, if ministers like you, who have overwhelming power, are frustrated then think about the common man like me. Mr Aiyar takes pride in socialism. India was social republic for the past 50 years and look where it took us. The problem is not with socialism fundamentals but as Venkatash tells us it is the bad governance that was the culprit. The true socialist nation like Sweden and Norway have one of the highest Human Development Indexes in the world. So if your politicians give priority to the country and its people then the country will prosper in the true sense. According to me the following three things will rid us of the bad governance and corruptions: 1. Administrative reforms which include making the bureaucracy free from the clutches of the evil politicians and making them accountable to the common people and bringing meritocracy among them. 2. Police reform 3. Judiciary reform. Lastly the best part that I liked about this article was "With the deformers of yesteryear becoming reformers now, it is but natural for reforms to fail.". This was an eye opener to me. Good job, Venkatesh. Keep it up.
RE:Spot On Venkatesh!!
by tar sha on May 10, 2007 03:30 AM Permalink
I agree with your analysis. Even US is one of the largest socialist country (if you look at medicare/medicaid/social security system). In India, problem is at implementation level rather than philosophy level. Along with reforms you have suggested, I think political reforms are also must. Unless and until politicians realise that their next five years in power depend on what they achieve during current five years, they will not perform.
It is absolutely clear that Iyer is unhappy.He has not been given a ministry of his choice. He is probably also angered further as he was shifted from the high profile Petoleum Ministry to Panchayat Raj. That is the root cause of his statements. He has been hyporcitical in the sense that he has been a part of the old system also as a buerocrat supporting the wrongs of the then govt.
But some of the points raised by him are very true. Solutions need to be thought about and return to Marxism/Socialism is not one. The main need of the Govt is its sincerity and when that is not there, there can be no possible solution.
Iyer is singing to please the family No.1, who he assumes wants the government to steer course more to left. What is needed most is to give good governance, and to root out corruption at various levels. Are these politicians up to it ? That is the real question. Business is doing a very good job of producing efficiently, which is their job. Is goverment doing their job of governance well? Are the lawmakers doing their job of making good laws which are effective, and which are implementable, equally for all citizens?
It is very easy to blame reforms. That is the only thing these politicians can do. Nobody acknowledges that reforms have created millions and millions of jobs which the govt could have never created. Also, reforms are generating more tax income for the govt. Morons like Iyer should concentrate on giving better education and healthcare to the people. Once people become educated, they get jobs and automatically move above poverty line.
The author like his main subject "Aiyar" plays around with words with disastrous consequences. The "nymph and whirpool" analogy fits in very well here. Taking cue from the author's attempts to convince the readers about sensitivities and governance, what is ideology emerge as a significant question.? Is it not sensitivities to the issues of deprivation and skewness in access to development efforts?
Look at Aiyar's diagnosis as a critique of the techno-managerial quick-fixes for governance ailments usually prescribed by the market-freindly international financial institutions in general and the World Bank in particular. The sensitivities of the two of our subjects come out clearly. What stops us from recognising the equally potent and sensitive operating systems in our socio-cultural milieu? That is perhaps ideological "scylla". Lets get this straightened out? The good governance model of the World Bank has been in practice in the country for a long time. Take the case of District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) the predecossor to the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). The good governance model of DPEP has left us with a number of legacies depending upon which state you are attempting to look at. However the most commonly applicable governance model is as follows: "Daily Pio English Pio". The bottom line is in the operating procedures. The same issues have emerged very strongly in those districts where the World Bank is operating one of the most opaque development programme called the "District Poverty Initiative Programme (DPIP)". Viva Good Governance.
