Quick development would be tad difficult amidst unrest and chaos

The new Congress-led UDF Government appears to be embarking on a programme of development and care for the people, if the announcements already made are any reckoning.

The Oommen Chandy Government is running with a wafer-thin majority, which need not be a stumbling block if there is a will on the part of the partners of the front to go ahead and realize achievements.

Maybe, the government can utilize the opportunity to garner courage and mop up support among themselves and among others who are not unwilling to co-operate. An Opposition which does not want to allow developmental works simply for the sake of taking on the rivals cannot be dealt with on the same plane.

But one cannot assume that the V.S.Achuthanandan-led Opposition would oppose Kochi Smart City, Kochi Metro, Vizhinjam harbour and other projects. For they were keen on implementing these schemes during the last portion of its tenure in governance.

The Oommen Chandy-led dispensation should try to ensure as much co-operation as possible from the Opposition to implement various developmental projects.

People want peaceful life which would engender developments.

Govt should devise ways by which pricing of petroleum products can be streamlined

I always used to say it is easy to bridge the gap by going on increasing administered prices and taking away subsidies at the same time. Efficiency level is not at work in achieving targets like this.

The government must understand (it knows this, but keeps mum) that for ages we have been following the administered pricing system for petrol, diesel, cooking gas, kerosene and the like. That was the time when there was no regard for play of market forces at the international level. Perhaps during those times, it was advantageous for the government to increase prices and add various levies on such prices.

Lately, the in-thing has been allowing market forces to play and decontrol the sector. The consumers do not have an inkling of the management or mismanagement of petroleum companies which say they are always in the red because of the increasing prices of petroleum products at the international level.

And the government has at once decontrolled the pricing system and allowed the companies to take decisions.

But the government has not thought it fit to seriously study the situation and impress upon the consumers about what it did to the additional levies.
When you are decontrolling the pricing, you have to start it on a clean plate. At least you have to go in for a restructuring. That has not been done.

For a long time now, the easiest way to fetch money for the government has been to add some new levy to the petroleum products. No one knows exactly how much money is levied in addition to the basic prices.

And the government knows it for a fact that the common people in their plenty would absorb the hike in price. They have no other go.

The government should devise ways by which the additional levies can be halved.

Oommen Chandy Government should issue Right to Services ordinance

So far, the Oommen Chandy Government has been proceeding well, mostly trying to carry out many projects launched by the previous V.S.Achuthanandan Government.

Achuthanandan had wanted to execute many of the things, but in fact he was not getting the required amount of co-operation.

Take for example, the Moolampally rehabilitation package, Chengara land stir package and the like, the OC government deserves pats.

OC has made it clear that transparency would be the hallmark of the government. And he is trying his best to see that his is a doer government.

In this connection, he can take a leaf out of the measures taken by some other state governments. For example, the Punjab government has issued a Right to Services ordinance in which 67 services and departments have been brought under its purview.

Which means that the people who are denied of services within a few days could appeal and the erring officials will have to dole out a fine ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 5000.
If one wants a driving licence, a ration card, house number, tax receipt, and what not, the officials cannot dilly-dally on the request and send away the citizen empty-handed.

We have got the Right to information Act, but we should give ourselves a promotion by passing the Right to Services Act. Much of the corruption in government departments can be eliminated this way. Even the work of people’s representatives would be lessened if the services are promptly delivered by the officials.
Bihar government has already issued an ordinance like this and Nitish Kumar had got great credit for it.

Madhya Pradesh Government has also issued one. Mayawati Government of Uttar Pradesh was planning to issue the ordinance in this connection.

Anna, Baba et al tagging unconstitutional demands along with movement against corruption?

People are so fed up with the tentacles of corruption that anyone with a semblance of credibility can attract large audience against protest programmes against the malaise that eats into the very system.

He be a Gandhi-capped Anna Hazare, an ochre-robed Yoga business indulging Baba Ramdev, both of whom have no pan-India following, people are drawn to the slogan, once it is raised against corruption.

No doubt, some of the demands raised by the honourable leaders cannot be met outright. How can you have a Prime Minister elected directly under our present Constitution? A person who says only Hindi be there does not incorporate the wishes of those living outside the realm of Hindi.

And what about capital punishment? People the world over are arguing against capital punishment. And here a Baba is arguing for capital punishment. That is an irony.
But, let the Government be warned. People would not stand corruption like this any more. Let there be cogent action against black money stashed abroad, let there be credible action against those who indulge in corruption and take advantage of the common people.

Otherwise, people like Anna and the Baba and many more would use the occasion for demanding even ultra-constitutional demands tagging with the movement against corruption.

Everyone, even the Govt, is concerned about corruption and black money, but all are groping in the dark about what to do

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. This adage seems to fit in well with the inaction against corruption, black money, sleaze and under-hand deals.

Social activist Anna Hazare and his supporters have been pressing the government for a Lokpal bill which should constitute an ombudsman to deal with corruption. The government successfully dealt with him and deflected the initial snowballing attention on Anna Hazare by going through the rigmarole of the committee system, which otherwise can be called a delay tactic.

Now another popular figure, Baba Ramdev, is putting the government on tenterhooks. He would have nothing short of getting back all the black money parked abroad by individuals, institutions and entities and declaring them as national assets.
He has already announced a fast-unto-death from June 4 for realizing his objective. But it seems a difference has cropped up between Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev over the corruption issue. Anna wants the Prime Minister, legislators and the judiciary to be brought under the purview of the Lokpal.

But Baba Ramdev is against roping in the Prime Minister under the ambit of the Lokpal. It seems the government has got its first token of success in breaking the all-round support garnered by the civil society representatives.
But suppose Baba Ramdev goes ahead with his fast against black money. That would be a pain-in-the back for the government. No wonder Senior Ministers like Pranab Mukherjee, Kapil Sibal et al are tailing Baba Ramdev for an audience, to try to discourage the Baba from undertaking the fast.

It is a good sign that the government is aware of the fact that the people will gather around well-meaning leaders in society who would fight against corruption and black money.

But it seems to be a mystery why the government is not even thinking about consulting countries like the US which had extracted back the black money their people had parked abroad. Advice from US President Barack Obama in this connection may help.