Open governance

  APROPOS of Mr M.G. Devasahayam's article "Open governance: 4.P approach is required” (December 19), in a well-founded democracy, the area of secrecy is kept to the minimum, even though a number of issues have to be withheld from the public for what is known as “national interest". This varies in proportion to the degree of self-confidence that a government commands. The less secure a government feels, the more is its tendency to be secretive; the more confident it feels about carrying the public with it, the more open it becomes.

During the early years of our Republic both accountability and transparency was quite conspicuous, and more important, there was the government's readiness to abide by such a mandate. One has only to recall how Nehru frankly conceded not having immediately placed before Parliament the information about the Chinese having constructed a road through Aksai Chin. The severe drubbing that he faced in Parliament over this issue and his honest admission of this lapse brought out the efforts at ensuring transparency in government functioning both by a vigilant opposition and a candid Prime Minister and his colleagues.

“Compare the swiftness with which an open enquiry was launched when the Mundhra scandal was unearthed and the then Finance Minister promptly resigned, with sickening tardiness with which the successive governments moved decades later over the Bofors kickbacks and a plethora of other scams and scandals, while transparency was abandoned throughout.

What seems to be missed by those in power is that in the new period not only has technological advance made phenomenal strides, but the consciousness of the common people has also awakened equally phenomenally. This was precisely the essence of Nehru's basic approach which sought to advance development with social justice through democratic means. This by itself demands rigorous adherence to the principle of "open governance" in manning the levers of power in a society such as ours. From this standpoint the learned author's proposed "4-P approach" is well-conceived.

K. M. VASHISHT
Mansa

Strange ethos: Mr Devasahayam has rightly stated that the term "governance" is highly acclaimed but lopsidedly understood. It is very comprehensive and includes not only the administrative apparatus of the state but also all public institutions and organisations that affect the life of citizens.

The interaction among multiple ingredients of governance based upon the "4-P approach" has been vividly discussed. He has called for "new managerialism" adopting ideas and practices of private management in the government. This is already happening in the UK and the USA.

The behavioural dimensions of "Bureaupathologies" exhibit Parkinson's Law and the Peter Principles — in hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his maximum level of incompetency. Corruption, inefficiency, obstinacy, xenophobia and so on are some endless vices and sicknesses of the bureaucracy.

The Fifth Pay Commission has made some good recommendations to remove the extra flab of the bureaucracy and improve the work culture. We all know that the big army of employees is treated as a vote bank. The government did not want to raise their hackles. So the recommendations were selectively implemented with an increased burden on the state exchequer in the absence of productivity and the corresponding benefits to the public. The internecine war among segments of the bureaucracy over benefits of the commission's findings showed the ethos of public servants.

RAJKUMAR SIWACH
Karnal

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Eye-opener for IMA

In the letter “Decline of a profession” (Dec 23) Dr Gurinderjit Singh’s observations are correct only to some extent. Only a handful of medical professionals are indulging in such practices as mentioned by the writer. To paint the whole profession in the dark because of the activities of these few people may not be correct.

Values are falling everywhere, and the medical profession is no exception. But still a majority of medical professionals are working in right earnest for the benefit of human kind. At the same time his views should act as an eye-opener for our professional bodies like the Indian Medical Association. Remedial measures should be taken soon in this regard before the disease becomes generalised.

Dr K.L. GARG
Kurukshetra

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Udham Singh

This refers to the news item “Film on Udham Singh” (December 24). Michael O’Dwyer, who was assassinated by Udham Singh in London’s Caxton Hall, was not a General. He was the Lieut-Governor of Punjab at the time of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The whiteman who had ordered the firing was Brig-General Dyer.

R. S. DUTTA
Chandigarh

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Tailpiece

Where does Mr Bill Clinton stand now?

Answer: Facing the axe because of sex.

SURENDRA MIGLANI
Kaithal