BJP'S COLATERAL DAMAGE

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

BJP FAILED TO REFORM

Collateral Damage In Coalition Government

FIRST MAJOR DISCORD IN QUALITION GOVERNMENT

SARASIJ MAJUMDER

Background:

Britishers introduced INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE system to rule and govern the country for their EXPLOITATION. Initially, only BRITISHERS were inducted. However—even with good pay, and Luxurious Life Britishers were not very keen to take up this job. Brilliant Indians were getting inducted.

The Indian ICS used to consider themselves a different, and higher class than you and me. However, they were very loyal to their EMPLOYERS!

After independence, the ICS cover is replaced by IAS cover—but the officers retained their “HIGH NOSE” identity, and remain loyal to the new political masters! Britishers are replaced by Indian Ministers as MASTERS.

To my experience and knowledge—they seldom served ‘people’ like you or me or Country. And they consume very high amount of Tax payers’ money!

It is known as infamous “INDIAN BUREAUCRACY”, or “BABU CULTURE”—which takes one minute job one year to complete – if completed!

There are exceptions—as usual, but not many.

Many of them are Ordinary Graduates, selected through an OUT-LIVED process, and QUOTA, and post selection trained by ‘LBSNAA’ are not competent enough to do the Justice demanded by the JOB.

That is why, BJP, under the leadership of Mr. Modi- tried to stiffen the system by introducing EXPERTS & SPECIALLISTS through LATERAL ENTRY.

A half-hearted attempt to REFORM—but still a REFORMATION tried.

COLLATERAL DAMAGE:

The government had to advice UPSC to cancel its advertisement for lateral entry recruitments in bureaucracy is a demonstration of how good policies become collateral damage in political battles.
Pressure from vocal coalition partners and demands of competitive politics seem to have precipitated the U-turn.
Opposition parties have been up in arms since Saturday, calling lateral entries a ploy to deny disadvantaged groups reservation benefits.
On Monday, BJP allies LJP and JDU too came out against it. Significantly, the withdrawal order mentions the PM's commitment to principles of social justice. And it says absence of a provision for quotas in such appointments will be reviewed and reformed.

LS RESULTS CAST A SHADOW:

Pressure from coalition allies and attacks from Opposition parties are acceptable for the course in democratic politics.
What’s new here is BJP’s assessment that the Constitution/reservation issue cost it substantially in 2024 LS elections.
That Opposition campaign-time charges of a BJP plan to scrap quotas hit home is evident from numbers.
Of the 92 seats it lost from its 2019 tally of 303 seats, 29 were reserved constituencies. In UP, BJP lost 9 of 17 reserved seats.
All this suggests reservations have become an electorally ultra-sensitive issue for this BJP government. But, in policy-terms, this can mean an overemphasis on quotas impacting governance.

NO SUBSTITUTE FOR EXPERTISE, AND COMPETENCE:

For a total bureaucratic system employing thousands, recruitment of 45 specialists was all UPSC set out to do on Saturday.
This too was to be done for a limited period of three years.
A fast-growing economy requires domain expertise in newer, developing fields.
Bureaucrats, drawn from general streams, may not always be the best choice for such tasks. This is true even for developed countries like the US and UK that regularly hire experts from outside the government.
Lateral recruitment is recommended by Second Administrative Reforms Commission, Sixth Pay Commission and Niti Aayog. The first two bodies predate 2014.
If quotas become a factor in lateral entry jobs where merit is critical, the purpose is lost. The cause of social justice and QUOTA system are not same, and can surely survive 45 recruitments.