C'da,
>That the govt. is inefficient, the people are corrupt. Only thing you did not repeat is that the >Assamese are lazy too
I am surprised. I have never said people are LAZY. You may have drawn some implications or confused me with someone else. But thats OK - I have had words put in my mouth before :)
>About Govt. corruption.
C'da - it is NOT just Govt. corruption. Corruption is all too pervasive, at least in the major cities and towns of Assam. It is come to such a pass, that nothing works till palms are greased. People take it in their stride and for granted. Cost of doing business?
As for insurgents - who initially came out like Robin Hoods, turned out to be mostly hoods.
Lastly, and the sad part is that Assam is often cited as a great example of inefficiency and corruption. While there is also corruption in other states, the levels are much, much lower, the govts. far more responsive to citizenry needs, and law & order is maintained pretty well in a number of states.
>How do you see the citizenry deal with it?
I have written before - my guess would be a drastic change in attitudes, viewing responsibilities, froming citizen groups (there are some already in Guwahati to deal with some problems, and they are having success), making sure politicains and the corrupt, and the inept are given full coverage in the media (like a Tehelka) and expose corrupt ministers and bureaucrats, and even elections - they work sometimes and a fresh set of ministers will be more careful in corrupt practices.
But saying that its all the GOI's fault and the only salvation is some sort of severance is really not a solution .
Once our house is in order, I am with you all the way to hold the GOI/Center to keep their end of the bargain and also teach them a thing or two about able governance.
--Ram
And how will the good citizens deal with such a menace
On 1/2/06, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Ram:
I am perfectly willing to go right along with you, and hold GoA's feet to the fire. But I don't know how. Just like all the other people in Assam that would like to do just that. That is why I asked you, I asked Rajen to show all these people complaining and rebelling and seeking to re-orient Assam governance and other such unpatriotic stuff.
And so I was hoping for a no-nonsense action plan from you about how to go hold GoA's feet to the fire.
All you gave us the same old same old. That the govt. is inefficient, the people are corrupt. Only thing you did not repeat is that the Assamese are lazy too and so deserve what they get. But that must have been a slip :-).
Let me give you a little help here. Take the one subject no-one disgrees with here: About Govt. corruption.
How do you see the citizenry deal with it?
Surely they go to the polls, vote in great numbers, eliciting desi-demokrasy-devotees' cries of --see how democracy is working -- accolades.They even vote some them out, leading the political class ( not to mention NRA political observers) to declare -- SEE there is accountability, they get voted out. Was Indira Gandhi not voted out too?
But what good has that done about abating corruption?
So tell us how an intelligent, well informed person like yourself, who has seen one of the best managed democracies in the world at work for decades, will go about holding GoA's feet to the fire, and take corruption on, USING the tools that desi-demokrasy gives you.We shall be all ears! And if you cannot tell us, then face the fact that your protestations do not hold any water .
c-da
At 10:15 AM -0600 1/2/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote:C'da,>So, your gripe is with pointing fingers at GoI.Not at all. But when we do so, it might be fair to point some of those fingers inward - toward Assam as well. We do need to have some sense of introspection.>But GoA derives its existence and its powers from Goi's doings and in its imageThat is one fine way of avoiding responsibilties and giving Assam a pass. Yes, in the present system, Assam, like every other state, depends on Central funds or laws for continuing its governance. You may not like the system, and that is OK, but given that all states go thru the same thing, why is it that states like Assam & Bihar are clubbed togther and often cited as inefficient states?But we have seen - time and again, funds to Assam are grossly mis-appropriated, and the left over funds that could not be, are returned to the Central pool. There is probably little accounting for the Centrally allocated funds, but probably no accounting for state collected funds like sales tax or duties.Politicians and the powerful in Assam (for all the drumbeatings) have little or no integrity left. The state is one of the most corrupt. One person, I talked to said proudly, defending the 'State of the State' this way " nohoi, aaji kali kisu kaam hoi - aagote, 80% poisa khai diya, kintu, aaji kali, 60% man khai".As I said earlier, it is pretty common to hear people say that NO ONE that is anyone is Assam is really interested in solving her problems. If problems are solved, the revenue sources dry up. Thats not good!The Center too is NOT interested, because - heck the state representatives don't really care, so why should they. They can go pay attention to some whining state like Bihar. Whatever is said in public is usually for the birds.There are very, very few powerful people left who are actually thinking about the state and her people (and not themselves). And even if some of them may see independence as a solution, at least one can attest to their integrity and selflessness.So, it really doesn't matter WHAT type of Govt. there is at the Center. The %age of poisa khua may reduce a little, but khobo kintu thik! Just a matter of degrees!That is the express reason, why the GOA's feet must be held to the fire. Going around Guwahati, one finds dilapidated roads, buildings and amenities. Most of the places resemble big slums. Even institutions like the Gauhati University, which we were so proud of, show signs of continual neglect and decay.The GU professors don't get paid on time (they get paid around the 10th or 15th). On pay days -there is huge rush at the bank - its like first come first serve (if you come last, you may not get paid).School teachers are not paid sometimes for months or even years. College teachers and government employees get paid every so often. So, why would we expect govt. employees tecahers etc to work, when the chances of them getting paid are slim. Their only pickings are 'bhaira poisa' - and why NOT? And for teachers, it is 'tuition'. Bhaira tuition is big business these days. Talking to some teachers, one told me, that the big thing is to somehow get a teacher sakori, (preferably 'subject teacher' even if it pays low (RS. 1500 or so) at the begining. But once in, the teacher can make big money by tuition only. Once entrenched, all they have to do is show up for a couple of hours.Bottomline is we can paint a GENERAL picture that the system of govenance needs to be changed (more power to states etc). That may actually be very good for some states, who are performing wonderfully even though they have the same handicap - the central governance.But for a state like Assam, such a change may actaully push it into some deep chasm.IMHO, Assam first needs to show that IT CAN manage its own affairs efficiently. She should be able to show that corruption and inefficiency is eradicated. Our people should be able to demand more from their representatives, and not sit by taking whatever is dished out. Yes, everyone can play a positive role and make the state a much better place.And then, we can all hold our heads high and tell the GOI and the Center to take a hike and ask them to follow the example we have set. Until then, I don't we have much of a leg to stand on.--Ram
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