C'da,
>But I argue Assam has no business submitting to the dysfunctional Indian state machinery. They >ought to take it into their own hands, reform it, restructure it, and move ahead. The only little >hitches are that they are not free to do so. And the 'national' party members have no incentive >to do so.
>Assam's salvation therefore lies in wresting the powers of state from the center to its own >hands.
Excuse me, but methinks you are once again building those castles in the air.
The big question is, given the scenario today, Assam's state machinery is probably much more dysfunctional than that of India (GOI) - if you want to discuss dysfunctional systems. Are you selling us a bill of goods based on how great GOA etc are running the show, taking care of Assam? Given this, your salvation solution may actually be worse for Assam.
Do you think the babus/ministers etc in GOA are suddenly going to become paragons of virtue? Or will we have insurgent leaders as our newly crowned ministers? Or will an independent Assam suddenly have a population composed of only the lean and mean productive types?
Yes, India has problems, but that does not mean that Assam's problems will be suddenly solved by some independence. Assam is a microcosm of a larger India, and so is every other state. Some are better than others, but in the end all the states have very similar characterstics. They have more or less similar virtues, greed, corruption, etc. You may be able to take Assam out of India, but I doubt if you will be able to take the "Indian' out of the Assamese.
I am sorry C'da, this illogical solution to solve Assam's problem does not go away by being separate from India. In fact, I would venture, the situation in an independent Assam would be much worse. 'Cause then, this new Assam would not only inherit all the dsyfunctional isms from India, but would additionally be readily adopting all the garbage from B'deshi system of governance. But what do I know?, some of these pipe dreams may actually come to pass, just need to keep the faith. :-)
--Ram
>From: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: Dilip/Dil Deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED],
[email protected], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: [Assam] Re: Assam's salvation
>Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2005 14:46:20 -0600
>
>>The changes will take place gradually.
>
>
>*** Now that verdict has been projected based on what ? On the
>changes observed so far, on the basis of trends that have been
>observed so far? Or is it based on something some one pulled out of
>a hat? I am most curious about the basis for such soothe-saying?
>
>
>>What will be the changes in the much-criticized Indian system that
>>will >suddenly make Assam a Shangrila?
>
>*** Why is the expectation of a Shangrila, and that too suddenly? Is
>that the only acceptable alternative considering all the great
>things that have been happening at a 'normal' pace so far?
>
>
>>I am sure someone has all this written down, we the laymen just
>>haven't seen >them.
>
>
>*** Seen what? Shangri-la happening suddenly, or the current state
>of normally expectable progress?
>
>
>
>>Also, once Assam becomes a Shangrila, how is Assam going to be
>>insulated from >the rest of India (or the world) so that all evils
>>remain outside?
>
>
>*** OOOh, I didn't think of that at all. Damn! I gues it is therefr
>ore better to keep things as is. Because if it becomes Shangrila all
>of a sudden, Assam is liable to be overrun by the jealous!
>
>What is this sudden eruption of the vision thang? First of April
>flamboyancy?
>
>
>>Don't get me wrong. I am definitely for more power in the hands of
>>the Indian >states and for constitution amendment to make that
>>happen.
>
>*** Would we ever ? Yeah we know, the only complaint is about the
>unseemly hurry that Assam seems to be in to want it, isn't it? Tsk,
>tsk!
>
>>___and for constitution amendment to make that happen.
>
>*** Heh, heh :-).
>
>>But I do not believe that will bring salvation to Assam or any
>>other state.
>
>*** Would make a nice decorative element though, won't it?
>
>
>What can I say? It sure sounds like an eruption of extraordinary
>insights all right :-)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>At 11:48 AM -0800 4/1/05, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote:
>>"Assam's salvation therefore lies in wresting the powers of state
>>from the center to its own hands." --
>>Suppose Assam gets more power through autonomy or sovereignty. What
>>will be the changes in the much-criticized Indian system that will
>>suddenly make Assam a Shangrila? I am sure someone has all this
>>written down, we the laymen just haven't seen them. Could we have
>>the pleasure?
>>Also, once Assam becomes a Shangrila, how is Assam going to be
>>insulated from the rest of India (or the world) so that all evils
>>remain outside? Again I am sure the plans are there, I just don't
>>have access.
>>
>>Don't get me wrong. I am definitely for more power in the hands of
>>the Indian states and for constitution amendment to make that
>>happen. But I do not believe that will bring salvation to Assam or
>>any other state. The changes will take place gradually.
>>
>>Dilip
>>
>>
>>Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>
>>I agree with all you write BK.
>>
>>But we cannot merely look at the hapless mohori or kerani or the
>>sipahi. That well be dwelling on the " bengena swr" problem, while
>>we turn a deaf ear to the "hati swr" issue.
>>
>>Let us look at the big defaulters:
>>
>> ** How do the massive scams take place involving hundred's of
>> crores of rupees?
>>
>> ** Who are involved in massive bribery by national contractors,
>> involving crores of rupees?
>>
>> ** How do the children of military generals and ministers
>>committing
>> murders get away with it?
>>
>> ** How come we never hear about how all those notorious cases
>> taken up by none other than the incorruptible CBI turn
>>out?
>> How come no one ever gets convicted?
>>
>>
>>Are not ministers, MLAs, MPs, IAS /IPS tyopes involved? What is the
>>accountability of an IAS ? Can they be tried by a state? You know
>>that can't be--they are central govt. functionaries and cannot be
>>held responsible or tried by the states. Can armed forces personnel
>>serving as policemen in a state be held responsible for dereliction
>>of duty, for abduction and murder? Not in your life.
>>
>>When did you ever see a minister, or a an elected representative go
>>to prison, or even be dismissed ?
>>
>>Recently I posted a NY Times story of the Connecticut Governor, a
>>Republican,
>>being sent to prison for a year and a half, for graft involving $
>>150,000 or so.
>>I noticed how the defenders of desi-demokrasy did not notice.
>>
>>** You maybe right--it does not require drastic changes to the
>>system. Even little changes may work. But why have we not seen any.
>>All we see is a steady deterioration of the affairs of state. Where
>>is the attempt to reform what does not work? Where is the outrage
>>of the lawmakers? Has ANY Prime Minister made an issue of it? Has
>>any President? Why don't they? Surely the population has been
>>crying hoarse.
>>
>>** The fact is that those who are in power are themselves deeply
>>embroiled in
>>the sordid systemic debauchery. Those who would change things
>>cannot come together--they are too fractured.
>>
>>But I argue Assam has no business submitting to the dysfunctional
>>Indian state machinery. They ought to take it into their own hands,
>>reform it, restructure it, and move ahead. The only little hitches
>>are that they are not free to do so.
>>And the 'national' party members have no incentive to do so.
>>
>>Assam's salvation therefore lies in wresting the powers of state
>>from the center to its own hands.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>At 11:13 AM -0500 4/1/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>>
>>>Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8"
>>>Content-Language: en
>>>
>>There are various ways of maintaining the morale and discipline
>>amongst the employees. These find place in massive tomes of
>>personnel management dealing with minutiae of employer-employee
>>relations. Setting aside academe, I am citing examples from my own
>>experience.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>During the Raj if a mohurrer (mohori: clerk/babu)) was found to
>>defalcate company funds and caught red-handed while doing so, he
>>was sacked straightway. In a Government office if a cashier
>>defalcates money, he is suspended pending a departmental enquiry.
>>At times the Police may take over after receiving a report from the
>>employee's superiors. Usually what happens is like this: the
>>cashier concerned gambled the money the previous night or spent the
>>money for his personal use e.g. buying a property with office funds
>>in the hope of replenishing the same with a loan from some other
>>source etc.While he is in suspension, he goes to MLAs or Ministers
>>praying to take pity on him and agreeing to pay the money back.
>>Finally there is a reprieve after the money is found. This is also
>>what happens when a clerk or an officer is found to accept bribe
>>from someone and is caught red handed.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>A friend of mine who was working as a lecturer of Physics in a
>>government college in UP told me that he was transferred five times
>>by the college principal. Every time he was successful to get his
>>superior's orders countermanded with the help of influential
>>politicians. The principal at last gave in. In theory transfer
>>orders are made in public interest; in practice it primarily
>>serves the self interest of the incumbent officer, if not that of a
>>politician or the party in power.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>No drastic reform is called for as far as discipline is concerned
>>either in government or public sector establishments. What is
>>needed is adherence to rules of conduct. For example, a State
>>Secretariat assistant is required to attend office at 10 a m. I
>>think it was last year when the Chief Secretary of the Assam
>>Government wanted to enforce it, there was a revolution. How could
>>the assistants attend office at 10 a m as they don't have
>>accommodation nearby and the city transport being unreliable?
>>Moreover, the assistants are required to remain in office after 5 p
>>m when they are expected to call it a day.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>I like to quote Alexander Pope whenever things like systems of
>>government, the bureaucracy and similar issues are debated. I do
>>it again:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>For forms of government let fools contest:
>>
>>Whate'er is best administered is best!
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Bhuban
>>
>>
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