Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
Dinesh Kamath's Editorial (End of corruption can make India super power) that was published in Newsband
End of corruption can make India super power
'Anna' Hazare is taking on politicians and bureaucrats who have corrupted Indian governance. That's a good sign.
Corruption in India, whose absence was among the hallmarks of Indian political virtue in the 1950s, has broken out like plague But if it is to be attacked effectively, we need to distinguish between two forms of corruption.
First, corruption is rampant at the level of politicians selling licences and top bureaucrats using their discretion to get perks in kind. This is corruption where the authorities are rewarded for doing what they are supposed not to do: i.e. giving licences to those who bribe rather than to those more deserving. This may be called high-level corruption
We find that huge firms are able to bribe governments into creating monopolies that create rents which they capture and share with the obliging politicians and bureaucrats
On the other hand, we have now a far more pervasive second type of corruption: the low-level corruption where one has to bribe clerks to get them to do what they are supposed to do. The middle class, in both urban and rural areas, has long been fed up with having to grease every palm that handles documents such as birth certificates and driving licences. The Anna-centred agitation is trying to put an end to this particular malaise. People are fed up of bribe-taking petty bureaucrats and officials.
The Anna-led campaign is focusing on tackling high-level corruptions as well as corruptions at central and state levels. That's a good thing to happen.
The next question that arises is how competent is our judiciary? There is a need to train judges better. We also need to open them to vigorous criticism when they err. Our judges should not resort to issuing a contempt of court order against any critic. That should be the policy of our judiciary: judges cannot be beyond criticism but must earn their respect like the politicians.
In a democracy the corruption requires radical solutions. Politicians have become used to raising money for elections through corruption because the system does not have a way of raising money for political campaigns legally. There was a time when the Congress party was alleged to have taken Bofors money to give Olaf Palme the contract. If a huge amount of money could be collected from such a single corrupt deal, it would reduce the need to raise it through a multitude of smaller corrupt deals that would cause far more damage.
It is high time we devised a perfect strategy to end corruptions at all levels. We need to do this first and foremost only after which we can chalk out ways and means to make our country progress rapidly and acquire the position of a super power.
'Anna' Hazare is taking on politicians and bureaucrats who have corrupted Indian governance. That's a good sign.
Corruption in India, whose absence was among the hallmarks of Indian political virtue in the 1950s, has broken out like plague But if it is to be attacked effectively, we need to distinguish between two forms of corruption.
First, corruption is rampant at the level of politicians selling licences and top bureaucrats using their discretion to get perks in kind. This is corruption where the authorities are rewarded for doing what they are supposed not to do: i.e. giving licences to those who bribe rather than to those more deserving. This may be called high-level corruption
We find that huge firms are able to bribe governments into creating monopolies that create rents which they capture and share with the obliging politicians and bureaucrats
On the other hand, we have now a far more pervasive second type of corruption: the low-level corruption where one has to bribe clerks to get them to do what they are supposed to do. The middle class, in both urban and rural areas, has long been fed up with having to grease every palm that handles documents such as birth certificates and driving licences. The Anna-centred agitation is trying to put an end to this particular malaise. People are fed up of bribe-taking petty bureaucrats and officials.
The Anna-led campaign is focusing on tackling high-level corruptions as well as corruptions at central and state levels. That's a good thing to happen.
The next question that arises is how competent is our judiciary? There is a need to train judges better. We also need to open them to vigorous criticism when they err. Our judges should not resort to issuing a contempt of court order against any critic. That should be the policy of our judiciary: judges cannot be beyond criticism but must earn their respect like the politicians.
In a democracy the corruption requires radical solutions. Politicians have become used to raising money for elections through corruption because the system does not have a way of raising money for political campaigns legally. There was a time when the Congress party was alleged to have taken Bofors money to give Olaf Palme the contract. If a huge amount of money could be collected from such a single corrupt deal, it would reduce the need to raise it through a multitude of smaller corrupt deals that would cause far more damage.
It is high time we devised a perfect strategy to end corruptions at all levels. We need to do this first and foremost only after which we can chalk out ways and means to make our country progress rapidly and acquire the position of a super power.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
Dinesh Kamath's Editorial (Indian sports badly need a boost) that was published in Newsband
Indian sports badly need a boostWhy do Indian sportsmen often perform badly at international level? Is it because of lack of proper infrastructure and inefficiency of national sports bodies?
Some of our athletes did perform brilliantly because of their individual determination and despite an unhelpful system. China has emerged as a sporting powerhouse but India still struggles when it comes to International sports. Indian sport needs to be spruced up. Can performances of our sportsmen improve by just passing in the parliament bills like the National Sports (Development) Bill? Ideas on paper can't translate into improved sporting standards and accountability just by government playing big brother over sporting bodies.
The state-monitored national sports federations (NSF) is in a pathetic condition. Mired in nepotism and corruption, they've little time for genuine talent spotting or developing sports at the grassroots. On the other hand, small clubs have thrown up some of India's best boxers, including Vijender Singh and Paramjeet Samota. These sports personalities have won laurels for the country.
Politics should be kept away from sports. We find politicians heading sports bodies for more than a decade. We need to limit the age and tenure of sports administrators. The sporting establishment should be depoliticized.
Sports federations should have greater autonomy rather than be under government pressures. There should be transparency. Political interference should be minimized.
There is an attempt to bring Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) within the government's umbrella. BCCI is the most successful sports body and has helped make India a cricketing powerhouse. But some politicians are unnecessarily trying to interfere with BCCI's functioning. This will only harm the game.
Autonomy of sports bodies will give birth to transparency and there will be greater accountability. Sports should be nurtured at grassroot level. Right sporting culture should be created across India. The focus should be on popularizing other neglected forms of sports also. More sports scholarships should be provided and focus should be on building basic infrastructure. Only these steps if taken will give birth to a perfect environment for sportspersons who can then be expected to perform brilliantly at international level.
Some of our athletes did perform brilliantly because of their individual determination and despite an unhelpful system. China has emerged as a sporting powerhouse but India still struggles when it comes to International sports. Indian sport needs to be spruced up. Can performances of our sportsmen improve by just passing in the parliament bills like the National Sports (Development) Bill? Ideas on paper can't translate into improved sporting standards and accountability just by government playing big brother over sporting bodies.
The state-monitored national sports federations (NSF) is in a pathetic condition. Mired in nepotism and corruption, they've little time for genuine talent spotting or developing sports at the grassroots. On the other hand, small clubs have thrown up some of India's best boxers, including Vijender Singh and Paramjeet Samota. These sports personalities have won laurels for the country.
Politics should be kept away from sports. We find politicians heading sports bodies for more than a decade. We need to limit the age and tenure of sports administrators. The sporting establishment should be depoliticized.
Sports federations should have greater autonomy rather than be under government pressures. There should be transparency. Political interference should be minimized.
There is an attempt to bring Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) within the government's umbrella. BCCI is the most successful sports body and has helped make India a cricketing powerhouse. But some politicians are unnecessarily trying to interfere with BCCI's functioning. This will only harm the game.
Autonomy of sports bodies will give birth to transparency and there will be greater accountability. Sports should be nurtured at grassroot level. Right sporting culture should be created across India. The focus should be on popularizing other neglected forms of sports also. More sports scholarships should be provided and focus should be on building basic infrastructure. Only these steps if taken will give birth to a perfect environment for sportspersons who can then be expected to perform brilliantly at international level.
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