ANSWER KEY

The post on 15th Aug highlighted the problems plaguing our country. How do we crack the code?

(1) Breaking down implementation programme of each policy initiative into monitorable and measurable clusters of activities to be carried out by public servants in a time-bound manner. The objectives must be clearly laid down for teams of employees responsible for each cluster. Accountability for failure or suboptimal performance should be fixed at all levels of the executive as well as legislature. (MPs/MLAs should be made equally accountable for shoddy implementation of development work). A comprehensive system of incentives, rewards and punishments can be built into every implementation programme. Names of performers and underperformers should be widely publicized to generate informed public opinion. If MPs/MLAs fail to implement a government scheme/development programme in accordance with the pre-determined standards, they should be recalled before the end of their terms.

(2) Thrust on basic science research is the need of the hour. We need to understand the simple fact that we are still not good at basic research in science and technology and the physical and social infrastructure available in the country cannot help us excel in these areas. Encourage the youth to opt careers in basic science and technology. Take the glamour off the professions which are going to get us nowhere. Extol science. Laud our scientists. Creat a climate for private initiative and innovation. Debureacratize the scientific organizations. Universities cannot remain content with only churning out graduates/PhDs. They need to connect with the larger world outside which crave for new research relevant to society and industry.

(3) Why the government departments only should implement government schemes ? Let NGOs/civil society organizations take on the actual task of execution of development work (say, activities under each cluster) in their areas of specialization. Monitor such NGOs and subject them to social/performance/financial audit. This would impart private sector-like dynamism and transperancy to the corruption-prone and slothful development machinery. You can also progressively shrink the bureaucracy this way. Keep the critical mass of public servants which can oversee performance of NGOs.

We can at least start off with these three steps..The journey is long and arduous

Dipan Anjaria

THE 'INDEPENDENCE DAY' Puzzle

Celebrations on Indian independence day eclipse the areas that still concern all of us. Let us show the guts to look into such issues. It is time for introspection. It is time to assess how far we have progressed since Nehru's 'tryst with destiny' speech at the dawn of political freedom in 1947.

(1) About four million children still remain outside the ambit of formal primary education in the country which does not hesitate nowadays to broach the topic of economic superpowerdom at every international high table and forum.

(2) Poverty has only been managed in terms of statistics which a common man hardly understands. To a common citizen like me, poverty alleviation still remains the single largest challenge to our governance.

(3) We are an IT-superpower. But we are a laggard when it comes to basic research in science and technology. And this is in spite of IITs and a host of premier universities and research labs.

(4) We have nearly dumped our model of democratic socialism. We have never ceased talking 'money' since our economy was opened up in early 90s. We are embracing values of Western civilization and taking to the path which was shunned by the likes of Gandhi and Tagore. We have started identifying development with swanky glass-and-steel commercial buildings and titanic fly overs criss- crossing one another.

(5) Our sensitivity to moral and social problems of the day is abysmally low. We are now mere 'consumers' catering to the market-seeking brands of foreign corporations. A mode of transport as simple and primaeval as railways (local trains, to be specific) claim about 9 lives every day in the modern megalopolis of Mumbai. Buildings collapse in every monsoon with a nauseating regularity in this ambitious city that dreams to become world-class and equal those in the league of Dubai, Singapore or Shanghai.

(6) We are content as our economy has grown at 9 per cent rate lately. Barring economy, almost everything appears to be in a mess.

(7) Our democray is functioning well apparently. On closer examination, it looks no better than a spoils system. An educated youth hailing from a humble socio-economic background still does not dare to enter politics. Debates and discussions are still confined to air conditioned studios of NDTV or IBN-CNN.

-DIPAN ANJARIA