Dear Mrs Gandhi,
I write as one of your shrinking circle of friends and hope you will take a minute or two to read this letter.
As a public figure you are no stranger to critical headlines. Sometimes bad headlines can desensitize. I am sure you have the humility to understand that letters from well-wishers in bad times can only be constructive.
Almost a decade ago when you started championing concepts like the Right to Information, Right to Education and Food, it was like a breath of fresh air. The number of our citizens who have received nothing from the state by way of governance, infrastructure or support is staggering. For many of us, the very idea of codifying the state’s responsibility towards its citizens was fascinating. Earlier governments had always stopped short of such proposals. It was good to have a government which had the courage to go all the way.
You first term worked really wel and you were reelected with a bigger mandate. It was a time of growth. The government showed some courage and the willingness to take tough decisions. No one really understood the benefits of the US deal but we all admired the fact that you had the courage to stake power on a matter of principle.
The Right to Information Act has been an unbridled success. Here was a government which was willing to open itself to scrutiny. It is too early to comment on the Right to Education except that it is a step in the right direction. The Food Security Bill is at least two years late. If it had happened earlier enough, it would certainly have been a political game-changer but I am not so sure now. As I am sure you know, despite all your advertising, state governments will hijack much of the credit.
With ideas such as these, what went wrong?
I do not wish to get side-tracked into the issue of corruption which can hijack any discussion. I believe it became a bigger issue because of a vacuum in the governance narrative. When you go to a hotel, if your overall experience is good, you do not mind having to wait at the foyer for your car but if the rest of the experience is bad, even a three minute wait can break the proverbial last straw on the camel’s back.
If we had been sitting on a 10% growth story year after year, corruption would never have become such a major issue; it became so when the rest of the story collapsed.
Even when the next government takes over, while they must appoint the Lokpal etc, their focus needs to be on growth. The country needs jobs.
As per my my understanding, there were five areas where you failed as MD of UPA 2
A. In the absence of work on the ground, UPA 2 has become a government of schemes
By design or default currently there are at least 20 major and scores of other social welfare programs from the central/state governments. The aam aadmi wants fewer but better administered programs. Even Rajiv Gandhi had realized that our last-mile infrastructure is corrupt, insensitive, inefficient and prone to leakages. With each additional scheme, the marginal effectiveness and utility of social welfare programs is decreasing, not increasing.
Welfare programs work well when blended with work on the ground. That is why MNREGA is a success. Personally, I feel the Food Security Program has been rushed in and will deliver little to the country or to the party by 2014. It is a good calling-card for your people when they go out canvassing but unlikely to be the 'game-changer' that it is assumed to be. Successful schemes have many owners. Despite the advertising, state governments will claim ownership and at the very minimum end up queering the pitch.
And the long-term will be predicated by how it is rolled out. Aadhar and the Direct Cash Payout is brilliant idea and in due course the country will thank you for it. But it should have happened earlier. The government now appears to be getting doling out cash that it doesn't really own.
B. While you were spending on social welfare, no one was earning
Contrary to what you may have been told, managing a country’s economy is not that tough; after all you have a reasonably smart set of people handling each responsibility.
An occasional glance at the earnings column would have told you that while the list of promised investments had stopped growing, the gap between promised and actual investments was increasing. And that project after project was getting stalled by overzealous ministers posturing on behalf of the aam aadmi but secretly hoping to ingratiate themselves to you. We needed those investments, ma’am. With over a crore youngsters entering the job market ever year, the country needed those jobs.
But though the earning had reduced to a trickle, the spending continued.
Even today while headlines shout deficit, the government screams extravagance. I am not commenting on the schemes as they seem integral to your conception of the welfare state. Provided we can afford them. And so many? Do we really need such a plethora of schemes? I am talking about the other signals that the government gives or could have given.
When companies find themselves in a financial mess they invariably tighten their belts. Expenses are cut. Travel is reduced. People including MDs reduce and downgrade travel from First and Business to Economy. Entertainment is brought down to a minimum. Fresh investments are curtailed. Sometimes they even move offices and sell assets.
Do these measures save enough money? Of course not. But they send out a signal.
Our reality is different. Money continues to flow like water as ministers and civil servants criss-cross the world on pointless, conferences, meetings and training programs. Thousands of crores are spent on completely avoidable programs like the Population Register, all-women banks and other initiatives which are not even populist but happen because no one appears to care.
C. MMS is Destiny’s child, so be it. But why so many grandparents?
While the median age of the country is 25, that of the cabinet is over 70. We may well be the world's youngest country with the oldest set of ministers. By the way, Japan has the highest age profile; the average age of their cabinet is 45 years. Is this acceptable?
I agree that in the final analysis, youth is not a demographic detail; it is a way of thinking. Some older people do have it in them to think young despite their age; MMS, Shinde and Antony certainly don’t.
By setting up a cabinet in which 60 years olds are considered young, you left the goal open. Hardly surprising that Modi has walked in to occupy a slot left vacant.
D. CEOs can lose interest, MDs can’t afford to
Women are very perceptive; you could not have failed to notice that for a while now, the body-language of the PM has lacked energy and confidence. He may have his reasons but is it fair that the country should be run by someone who appears to be disinterested?
Much of governance is invisible but powerful presence. People understand that no PM can be everywhere all the time. When they seem to hold him responsible, it is their frustration because no one knows who is responsible and for what.
E. The loneliness of the long-distance runner
I speak merely as an observer and could be wrong but somehow from the outside it appeared that the UPA (read the Congress) chose to be a loner. In an era of coalition and collaboration this stood out like a sore thumb. What had worked for youthis ended up being a mistake.
So much for the past.
It appears that the government will continue for at least six more months. Please bear in mind that even these six months can go both ways. You could, of course gain support because of the roll-out of new programs but equally, perceived mis-governance could lose you votes.
This is the time to show that you when necessary, you can be an iconoclast. Introduce a 2013 version of the Kamraj Plan. Bring in a Deputy PM. Kick all the oldies up or out. Show us your bench-strength; get your under-50 leaders as ministers particularly in the economic ministries. Reduce government expenditure not by 5 or 10% but a minimum of 25%.
Bring in Rahul GandhI would suggest that even now it is not too late to appoint a Deputy PM. And follow it up by asking some of the older ministers to quit and let their juniors take over. This may not change much but will help convince people at large that the UPA has in it to take a tough stand.
Lastly, there is the matter of nepotism and crony-capitalism at the very top including your family. I am reminded of your words when you gave up Prime Ministership in favor of MMS 9 years ago. You had referred to a ‘voice within’. Best that you should do as the voice suggests. But for that you must be prepared to listen.
Yours etc
Preet KS Bedi
As a public figure you are no stranger to critical headlines. Sometimes bad headlines can desensitize. I am sure you have the humility to understand that letters from well-wishers in bad times can only be constructive.
Almost a decade ago when you started championing concepts like the Right to Information, Right to Education and Food, it was like a breath of fresh air. The number of our citizens who have received nothing from the state by way of governance, infrastructure or support is staggering. For many of us, the very idea of codifying the state’s responsibility towards its citizens was fascinating. Earlier governments had always stopped short of such proposals. It was good to have a government which had the courage to go all the way.
You first term worked really wel and you were reelected with a bigger mandate. It was a time of growth. The government showed some courage and the willingness to take tough decisions. No one really understood the benefits of the US deal but we all admired the fact that you had the courage to stake power on a matter of principle.
The Right to Information Act has been an unbridled success. Here was a government which was willing to open itself to scrutiny. It is too early to comment on the Right to Education except that it is a step in the right direction. The Food Security Bill is at least two years late. If it had happened earlier enough, it would certainly have been a political game-changer but I am not so sure now. As I am sure you know, despite all your advertising, state governments will hijack much of the credit.
With ideas such as these, what went wrong?
I do not wish to get side-tracked into the issue of corruption which can hijack any discussion. I believe it became a bigger issue because of a vacuum in the governance narrative. When you go to a hotel, if your overall experience is good, you do not mind having to wait at the foyer for your car but if the rest of the experience is bad, even a three minute wait can break the proverbial last straw on the camel’s back.
If we had been sitting on a 10% growth story year after year, corruption would never have become such a major issue; it became so when the rest of the story collapsed.
Even when the next government takes over, while they must appoint the Lokpal etc, their focus needs to be on growth. The country needs jobs.
As per my my understanding, there were five areas where you failed as MD of UPA 2
A. In the absence of work on the ground, UPA 2 has become a government of schemes
By design or default currently there are at least 20 major and scores of other social welfare programs from the central/state governments. The aam aadmi wants fewer but better administered programs. Even Rajiv Gandhi had realized that our last-mile infrastructure is corrupt, insensitive, inefficient and prone to leakages. With each additional scheme, the marginal effectiveness and utility of social welfare programs is decreasing, not increasing.
Welfare programs work well when blended with work on the ground. That is why MNREGA is a success. Personally, I feel the Food Security Program has been rushed in and will deliver little to the country or to the party by 2014. It is a good calling-card for your people when they go out canvassing but unlikely to be the 'game-changer' that it is assumed to be. Successful schemes have many owners. Despite the advertising, state governments will claim ownership and at the very minimum end up queering the pitch.
And the long-term will be predicated by how it is rolled out. Aadhar and the Direct Cash Payout is brilliant idea and in due course the country will thank you for it. But it should have happened earlier. The government now appears to be getting doling out cash that it doesn't really own.
B. While you were spending on social welfare, no one was earning
Contrary to what you may have been told, managing a country’s economy is not that tough; after all you have a reasonably smart set of people handling each responsibility.
An occasional glance at the earnings column would have told you that while the list of promised investments had stopped growing, the gap between promised and actual investments was increasing. And that project after project was getting stalled by overzealous ministers posturing on behalf of the aam aadmi but secretly hoping to ingratiate themselves to you. We needed those investments, ma’am. With over a crore youngsters entering the job market ever year, the country needed those jobs.
But though the earning had reduced to a trickle, the spending continued.
Even today while headlines shout deficit, the government screams extravagance. I am not commenting on the schemes as they seem integral to your conception of the welfare state. Provided we can afford them. And so many? Do we really need such a plethora of schemes? I am talking about the other signals that the government gives or could have given.
When companies find themselves in a financial mess they invariably tighten their belts. Expenses are cut. Travel is reduced. People including MDs reduce and downgrade travel from First and Business to Economy. Entertainment is brought down to a minimum. Fresh investments are curtailed. Sometimes they even move offices and sell assets.
Do these measures save enough money? Of course not. But they send out a signal.
Our reality is different. Money continues to flow like water as ministers and civil servants criss-cross the world on pointless, conferences, meetings and training programs. Thousands of crores are spent on completely avoidable programs like the Population Register, all-women banks and other initiatives which are not even populist but happen because no one appears to care.
C. MMS is Destiny’s child, so be it. But why so many grandparents?
While the median age of the country is 25, that of the cabinet is over 70. We may well be the world's youngest country with the oldest set of ministers. By the way, Japan has the highest age profile; the average age of their cabinet is 45 years. Is this acceptable?
I agree that in the final analysis, youth is not a demographic detail; it is a way of thinking. Some older people do have it in them to think young despite their age; MMS, Shinde and Antony certainly don’t.
By setting up a cabinet in which 60 years olds are considered young, you left the goal open. Hardly surprising that Modi has walked in to occupy a slot left vacant.
D. CEOs can lose interest, MDs can’t afford to
Women are very perceptive; you could not have failed to notice that for a while now, the body-language of the PM has lacked energy and confidence. He may have his reasons but is it fair that the country should be run by someone who appears to be disinterested?
Much of governance is invisible but powerful presence. People understand that no PM can be everywhere all the time. When they seem to hold him responsible, it is their frustration because no one knows who is responsible and for what.
E. The loneliness of the long-distance runner
I speak merely as an observer and could be wrong but somehow from the outside it appeared that the UPA (read the Congress) chose to be a loner. In an era of coalition and collaboration this stood out like a sore thumb. What had worked for youthis ended up being a mistake.
So much for the past.
It appears that the government will continue for at least six more months. Please bear in mind that even these six months can go both ways. You could, of course gain support because of the roll-out of new programs but equally, perceived mis-governance could lose you votes.
This is the time to show that you when necessary, you can be an iconoclast. Introduce a 2013 version of the Kamraj Plan. Bring in a Deputy PM. Kick all the oldies up or out. Show us your bench-strength; get your under-50 leaders as ministers particularly in the economic ministries. Reduce government expenditure not by 5 or 10% but a minimum of 25%.
Bring in Rahul GandhI would suggest that even now it is not too late to appoint a Deputy PM. And follow it up by asking some of the older ministers to quit and let their juniors take over. This may not change much but will help convince people at large that the UPA has in it to take a tough stand.
Lastly, there is the matter of nepotism and crony-capitalism at the very top including your family. I am reminded of your words when you gave up Prime Ministership in favor of MMS 9 years ago. You had referred to a ‘voice within’. Best that you should do as the voice suggests. But for that you must be prepared to listen.
Yours etc
Preet KS Bedi
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