Tokenism not a remedy for embedded malady

The Mussorie Syndrome

In what can be construed as a rather ridiculous if not comical interlude to the tragedy of errors committed by the Centre in the form of draconian demonetisation, the sacking of the two IPS officers and an IAS officer on the grounds of non-performance reeks of sheer tokenism.

While the action against the officers is justified, the moot point to be considered here is that if the same parameters are applied, a majority of bureaucrats deserve the same punishment, going by their inept performance and malfeasance. Can there be a more substantive evidence of their incompetence than the rock bottom position that India occupies in ease of doing business.

The Indian bureaucracy continues to dwell in antediluvian world assiduously following British era rules contained in yellowed and tattered pages. The bureaucrats have refused to budge from this comfort zone and get attuned to the evolving ethos and trends in the development process. Most of the bureaucrats in fact use the obsolete rule book to stall and obstruct passage of developmental projects, causing colossal loss to the economy.

For instance, none of the infrastructure projects is completed on schedule, which means a financial loss of hundreds and thousands of crore to the exchequer resulting from inevitable cost escalation. There is of course an alternative to bypass this inherent obstructionist tendency. In such cases money is the lubricant that ensured smooth passage for even substandard projects. So, who is to paying for this corruption, gross inefficiency and bureaucratic insouciance? The answer is obvious.

Bureaucrats have made themselves immune to accountability and escaping with impunity despite being instrumental in keeping the country in a state of stagnancy and economic distress. Why are they not being made accountable and sacked for their inefficiency and non-performance? In fact, if accountability is genuinely applied there should most of should have since long faced the same fate as the three officers who had been axed.

And, the possibility of this happening now or anytime in the future is remote considering the prevalent nexus between the bureaucracy and those holding the reins in the ruling political establishments. The corridors of power have become a breeding ground for mediocrity with omnipresent sycophancy towards political bosses affecting the very functioning of the administration.

For instance, when a new political dispensation assumes power, bureaucrats who are close to the prime minister or ministers or those who are in tune with their political agenda are planted in crucial positions, irrespective of their non-performance or poor track record.

Ruling political establishments prefer loyalty and subservience over administrative capability and the going would be good for the bureaucrats as long they kowtow to the diktats of political bosses. Instead of performing a proactive and advisory role, our babus for obvious reasons prefer abiding by the commands of ministers who are totally ignorant about their portfolios.

With instinct for survival and security dominating the mindset of the bureaucrats which also explains the alacrity with which they subjugate to their political bosses, incompetence and inefficiency will continue to plague administrative system. Just selectively dismissing three officers, when a majority of them are guilty of cramping the growth and development of the country are like treating the symptoms while promoting the disease.

Does the government have the gumption to carry out such ‘perform or perish’ actions against all bureaucrats who have been responsible for the laggard functioning of the administration? The answer is no. The reason- the ruling political establishment would not want to break its mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship with bureaucrats.

By Satyapal Menon