This is clearly emerging from the statements that the industry related associations have been releasing to the media. Earlier this month, the Goa State Industries Association had suggested that government corporations be headed by professionals, rather than by political appointees as this would bring in professionalism. The same association has now requested that the chief minister select on to his ministerial team persons with integrity, who are development oriented and sensitive to the needs of the people of Goa. Their contention is that departments must be allocated on merit and not on any other consideration. They further want that ministers who did not deliver in the past should not be entrusted with the same department and that the ministers must have some basic knowledge of the work they are to handle.
In an ideal system, merit should indeed be the factor that determines which MLA is invited to join the council of ministers and what portfolio he or she gets, but in a political system where there is demand for certain departments, this is unlikely to occur. But Herald fully endorses this view of ministerial berths and allocation of portfolios on merit. This is what Goa needs for the delivery of good governance and for the future.
Very pertinently, industry-related associations have come forward also demanding that there be a corruption-free environment for them in the State. Besides, Goa State Industries Association, there is also CREDAI – the real estate body – that has sought this. The industries association has gone further to recommend that an anti-corruption helpline be announced and that this be monitored by the chief minister. Again, Herald endorses this view and recommends that such an anti-corruption helpline should be started by the incoming government.
There is another issue here. When industry associations are publicly making statements of corruption-free governance, what can be inferred is that in the past they have been the victims of corruption. No industry body will speak so openly and call for a corruption-free administration unless they have suffered from this in the past. Going beyond this demand, they have also asked that strict action be initiated against persons ‘involved in corruption or adopting delaying tactics in movement of work files’, further seeking that this be made applicable to ministers. Delay of files has been one grouse that industry has had for a long time and this would be one of the reasons why Goa figures so low on the ease of doing business ranking.
There is no disagreeing on the fact that Goa requires to scale up its governance delivery and that corrupt practices should find no place in the system. But let this go further and the corruption-free environment has to be for all sectors and not just for industry and at all levels from the lowest government functionary to the highest. The common man who walks into a government office must do so with the clear conviction that no government servant will ask him or her for any consideration in return for doing the work. So too the business magnate should be able to deal at the highest levels of government with the same confidence.
Corruption in government is a talking point, but few cases actually reach the Vigilance Department or even to the Lokayukta to be redressed. Those that do go seldom reach a conclusion to the satisfaction of the complainant. In Goa’s experience, especially of the past few years, even cases where the Lokayukta has recommended action have been shelved by the government. One of the challenges that the incoming government will face is acting against corruption and cleaning the existing system. Can the government deliver on giving the State a corruption-free administration?
