Political Diary
New Delhi, 26 April 2022
DNA
OF Babudom
IAS: I
AM SORRY SERVICE
By Poonam I Kaushish
A 10-year old
schoolboy feeling nauseas sticks his head out of moving bus hits an electric
pole and dies in Modinagar. His inconsolable parents who demand action against
the school are stunned by the SDM’s insensitivity who screams at them
menacingly wagging her finger, “Bas Chup!
Samajhte nahin ho?” Succinctly, shut up, I am the law. Welcome, the DNA of
India’s bureaucracy!
Questionably, is this
young IAS officer an isolated case or representative of a growing breed of
bureaucrats who are a hindrance in modern-day governance? Is India’s
administrative system going horribly wrong?
Prime Minister Modi
too has time and again put the bureaucracy on the mat. He acerbically remarked
in Parliament last year, “Sab kuch babu
hi karenge. IAS ban gaye matlab who fertilizer ka karkhana bhi chalayega,
chemical karkhana bhi chalayega, hawai jahaj bhi chalayega. Yeh kaun si badi
takat bana kar rakh di hamne? Babuon ke haath mein desh de karke hum kya karne
wale hain?
What is this
all-conquering force that (read Frankenstein) our rulers have created? Babus who lack the drive to ‘just do it,’
a decision pusher not a taker, champion of the ‘middle route , one who stays
clear of anything remotely controversial or bold and hedges his bets to the
point of inaction. “Consensus and consultation” are his stock-in-trade to
protect his backside. “Government decisions are process and policy related not
instant result oriented. Pliable, malleable, obsequious, servile, pusillanimous
etc.
Over the years our bureaucracy has been seriously
compromised. Thanks to arbitrary and questionable methods of appointments,
promotions, transfers by leaders which has resulted in corrosion of morale.
Consequently, strengthening the temptation to collusive practices with rulers
to avoid inconvenient transfers and gain advantages by ingratiating themselves
to their political mai-baaps. Pithily
doing their undaata’s bidding than
adhering to rules.
The neta-babu nexus
is so wide and perfected to the T that both work in tandem to mutual advantage.
Wherein, with every change of political guard bureaucracy goes through an
upheaval of transfers. Powerful and lucrative slots are given to chamchas who kow-tow their mai-baaps, get promoted speedily without
regard to seniority or merit and join the politician in looting the country.
Rooted, in the firm belief that like their masters, they are
law unto themselves. Used to dispensing patronage many like the colour of money,
resulting in no accountability, no fear of removal arrogantly earning big pay
packets for non-productive work. Consequently, most officials have little
interest in taking initiatives or have commitment to serve people.
Worse, instead of putting the right man in the right job, the
neta invariably ends up in choosing a
wrong man for the right job for the wrong reasons. Brining matters to such a
pass that caste, corruption, pliability and political connections alone count
when it comes to promotions. Thus, administration become increasingly weak and
arbitrary since there is no time to acquire even minimum knowledge necessary
for discharge of functions.
Shockingly, 17
Ministries have each had minimum 6-7 secretaries during the past 7 years. Not
all, necessitated by superannuation. Rural Development 8 secretaries, ditto
health and education. Some were shifted before completing their two year
tenure. Who will be held responsible?
Alongside, States are notorious for “committed bureaucracy”
read aligned to Parties. The political identification of officials is becoming
so marked that babus are able to
predict as to who will occupy which top post, if ‘X’, ‘Y’ or ‘Z’ Party or
individual comes to power!
Asserted a former Cabinet Secretary, “the problem is endemic
in States like UP, Bihar, Telangana and Tamil Nadu where Chief
Ministers have failed to draw a distinction between "political direction
and political interference.” Corruption becomes unavoidable both to avoid
transfers and secure remunerative positions by corrupt.”
There is also large diversion of funds from intended purposes
at various levels of administrative hierarchy. This has chained the economy
caged in archaic socialist anti-competitive policies that have spurred
unbridled crony capitalism. A majority of who work on the dictum, show me the face I
will show you the rule. Which translates into grease my palms else I will read
you the riot act and how!
Said a Minister, “The
most dangerous animal is our bureaucracy. One needs immense strength to deal
with it. It was meant to check the system but the check has turned to cheques and
the balance is out of the window! Babudom
has become an elite self perpetuating club which protects its perks, turf
and corners all top jobs.” Adeptly they have created jobs like regulators and
committees, cornered by retired bureaucrats.
Despite
various high-powered committees experts view is that reform of the system is
not feasible. Not because the country does not know what to do but because of
political resistance to reform. With politics becoming most lucrative business
with few checks and controls there is compulsion for a mantri to attempt to coerce civil servants with him for mutual
benefit.
Primarily, as
bureaucrats’ crib-to-grave security ring-fences them from being decisive due to
their pay packets being totally unhinged from merit or achievement. Whether one
is competent or laggard one moves in the same slow lane which creates aversion
to risk taking. Hence the urge to micro
manage and ‘crate provisos’.
Can babudom be re-shaped to fulfill its role
as key deliverer of correct policy and innovative decision-making? Yes.
Provided both neta-babu work together.
There have been various attempts at reform but none were successful. See how
Sixth Pay Commission's recommendation of performance-linked pay was ignored by
most Ministries. A senior former bureaucrat defended, “such a system would lead
to “reward hunting.”
Clearly, bureaucratic
bane can be curbed only when leaders realize inaction is not indivisible. Bluntly,
to curb inertia measures have to be taken to restore civil services’ professionalism
based on absolute, not obsolete principles. Officers must give serious thought
to determining what action needs to be taken collectively to overhaul, remove
administrative deficiencies, expose political malfunctioning and restore the
system
One, internalize zero
tolerance and "sunset principle" as in US. Under this justification
for any Governmental activity is all the time under scrutiny so that no acts of
misdemeanour take place. Two, see how recruitment
takes place, in-service training, officers assessment, incentives and
disincentives for selection to critical posts.
The Government must
downsize from Secretary to chaprasi.
Non-performing officers should be forcibly retired at the end of 20 years
service, alternatively, ruthlessly dumped. An exit policy of hire and fire is
paramount if we desire an accountable, trustworthy and honest bureaucracy.
A young India, with
50% citizens aged below 35 years, can ill-afford to ignore the suppressed
restlessness and aspirations of its youth. The writing is on the wall. It is
time bureaucracy shrugs off its apathy. Civil servants must give serious
thought to determining what action needs to be taken collectively to remove
administrative deficiencies, expose political malfunctioning and restore the
system. Or else it would debase itself to an I Am Sorry (IAS) service! --- INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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