Recently, the BJP celebrated PM Modi’s, 70th birthday with an online rally. The Chief Minister, in his address, recalled the achievements and goals of our beloved PM. The Swach Bharat initiative, the introduction of GST, Atamanirbhar Bharat and of-course the very powerful program to address the root of all evil in India, “Na Khauga Na Khane Dunga”. What was surprising by its absence was the fact that no speaker mentioned, DeMo. It was as if it did not happen. Till date we do not know how much cash was returned or what was the cost of a badly executed operation. What we do know is that it dealt a crippling blow to the economy which today one can easily blame COVID-19 or God.
There is a video on social media, where Kishore Madhubani, (71) Distinguished Fellow at the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, talks about seeing Singapore go from a, third world to first world economy. He is a, Singaporean civil servant, a career diplomat and an academic. He was born when Singapore had a per capita equal to Ghana, was riddled with crime and riots. He saw the transformation in Singapore in his life time.
He attributes this phenomenal transformation to three key factors, Meritocracy, you choose the best people for the job in government. In India, a 4th pass can become an education minister, clearly shows we have work to do here. Pragmatic, where it does not matter if a cat is black or white, importantly it has to catch mice, i.e do its job. So, Singapore used policies either capitalistic or socialistic or mix of both as long as the policy worked. In India, being a big country with different expectations, managing will always be a challenge. Currently, on the fiscal side, many big business borrowers are feeling the heat as their loans and defaults become public with the banking sector in reform mode. The last is Honesty. This is the most difficult and especially so in a third world environment. Singapore addressed this by going after big fish, he mentions a deputy minister being jailed for going on a paid holiday with a businessman. Once that happened everyone sat up and pulled their socks up. Today, Singapore’s public policy is generally renowned for being corruption free.
In India, PM Modi hit the nail on the head with his focus on corruption, he gave a clarion call “Na Khauga, Na Khane Dunga”. However, this has to be implemented at two levels, centrally and as we have a federal system, by State Chief Ministers. The push at the Centre, for Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), one way of trying to make it easier, read corruption free to do business, which in turn generates jobs.
At the State level, the responsibility to follow the clarion call of the Prime Minister is with the State Head. That it is a priority appears to be reflected by the Chief Minister, in his speech at the virtual rally. Unfortunately the action is missing on the ground. The fact that Goa, has fared poorly in the EoDB rankings while UP, has moved to the top of the charts.
The recent orders passed by the Lokayukta and how the Government responds will be a test in its seriousness to the support the PM’s clarion call. The first case is related to disproportionate assets of a sitting MLA. Everyone knows that MLA’s go from rags to riches in a jiffy, yet nothing is done and it is considered normal or part of the development of the MLA for giving his valuable time to the running of the State.
The second, there is the recommendation to file an FIR against fake beneficiaries of the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare fund. We all are aware that fake beneficiaries is always an issue and the Adhaar card and direct bank transfer were mechanisms implemented by the centre to stem this rot. It appears that there are ways around this system too and thus further investigation would help.
Then there is the case of dustbins being purchased by Drishti and reimbursed by the Tourism Department, this apparently by passed the tender requirements and also there was no agreement for the same. In addition, no bills were provided except one, from a non-existent firm and the money is released. This is another common modus operandi, buying from fake companies, which the GST system addresses, as one needs KYC to be done before a company gets registered. Also using the PM’s pet project, ‘SWACH BHARAT” to make dirty money is surely not what he wishes.
However, while it cannot be said the Government will not act, or has not acted based on the experience of an earlier recommendation on the issue of renewal of mining leases, which according to the Lokayukata was super efficient, given that 31 leases were renewed in a day. He must have felt something fishy if a government employee works the whole day without a tea break, on a lighter note.
On a serious note, taking prompt action in the above cases recommended by the Lokayukta and appointing the new Lokayukta quickly, will actually show how serious the State government is in terms of making PM Modi’s clarion call “Na Khauga Na Khane Dunga” a success. There is an opportunity for Goa, as there was for Singapore, to catch the big fish. COVID cannot be an excuse for any delay, the Government worked through COVID to ensure conversions of land.
Time will tell if, Goa and India are on the path to becoming a FIRST WORLD ECONOMY or we will continue to languish because we cannot rise about our corrupt ways.
(The author prefers to write rather than chat
in a balcao)
