Modi sarkar economic reforms/governance performance thread

[jalebi_bhai]

Smirti Irani alone has created more controversies than many of the other ministers put together. That is what happens when you allow a super educated Yale graduate to run poor indian institutes,

Exactly what is it that you find wrong about the whole issue..........can you be specific please?

[G_B_]

yeah i dont see countries such as the UK stopping for Hindus..... christians should be given a choice. If you want to attend by all means attend if you want to celebrate christmas then its your choice. I personally dont mind for example if in the UK the rest of the people get on with their lives during Diwali. I take 2 days off and my boss is more than ok with it. I choose to work boxing day and he is ok with it. India needs to get out of this mentality that christmas needs to be a holiday. Most countries in the west dont have hindu holidays (neither should they). Just have 2-3 days of Diwali as a holiday and allocate the remaining 6-7 days to people as they deem fit to use.

[hhunaeh]

We are not uk or most countries in the world. We are India and are quite happy with what we are. Thank you. Rest of the countries can learn from us and not us from them.

[G_B_]

We are not uk or most countries in the world. We are India and are quite happy with what we are. Thank you. Rest of the countries can learn from us and not us from them.

we in India also are a country who democratically elects the government. Provided the constitution/law has not been broken the government has no case to answer. HRD ministry should push through with plans on the 25th and keep it optional to those who want to attend. You dont like it? Dont vote the NDA government.

[Yoda-esque]

we in India also are a country who democratically elects the government. Provided the constitution/law has not been broken the government has no case to answer. HRD ministry should push through with plans on the 25th and keep it optional to those who want to attend. You dont like it? Dont vote the NDA government.

Much ado over nothing, mischief by TOI

[Khalpat]

We are not uk or most countries in the world. We are India and are quite happy with what we are. Thank you. Rest of the countries can learn from us and not us from them.

No sir, you cannot be more wrong. India is a country were disagreement on any issue takes the shape of hatred. Their is no place of diference of opinion here, people are judgemental by birth. UK and others should never learn these things from us.

[adi B]

No sir' date=' you cannot be more wrong. India is a country were disagreement on any issue takes the shape of hatred. Their is no place of diference of opinion here, people are judgemental by birth. UK and others should never learn these things from us.[/quote'] absolutely

[scorpio90]

Christians not in favour of anti-conversion law: Archbishop Anil Couto http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/christians-not-in-favour-of-anti-conversion-law-archbishop-anil-couto/

Delhi Archbishop on Thursday said the Christian community was not in favour of any anti-conversion legislation and called the ‘Ghar Wapsi’ campaign of certain RSS-linked outfits a “threat” to peace and harmony. “Conversion is a matter of choice and is guaranteed by the Constitution. Why do we need a separate bill for ensuring ‘Freedom of religion’ or banning conversions? Christians are not in favour of any such law,” Archbishop Anil Couto said in New Delhi. “The fact that people are being offered Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards and other privileges within the domain of government adds to our fear that these elements enjoy patronage from certain quarters,” he said. Under fire from Opposition parties for allowing RSS and its affiliates to push ahead with their conversion and “ghar wapsi” campaigns, the government had last week told Lok Sabha that it was in favour of anti-conversion laws in all states and at the Centre too. Five states including Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha — currently have anti-conversion laws. John Dayal (the former NAC supremo), former National President, All India Catholic Union alleged that the proposal for a law against conversions was targeted at minorities. He also said that the Christians are disappointed on the government’s move to ‘enforce’ Good Governance Day celebrations on December 25, when Christmas is celebrated. The Delhi Archbishop said that they had submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Rajanath Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “listing the discriminations” being faced by the Christian community across the country.

So they want conversion to be a one way street.

[G_B_]

no surprises there. how will they increase their numbers?

[Yoda-esque]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Narendra-Modi-second-in-list-of-30-top-performing-world-leaders/articleshow/45569585.cms

[surajmal]

e-SamikSha: A new digital monitor for bureaucracy to rein in slackers

NEW DELHI: Modi Sarkar has launched a frontal attack on Indian bureaucracy's greatest power — the power not to do anything. And it has done this via a brand new digital platform — called e-SamikSha — that allows sarkar's top bosses a real-time clear view of intra and inter-departmental file movements and gives them the power to intervene when a babu is taking it too easy.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/e-samiksha-a-new-digital-monitor-for-bureaucracy-to-rein-in-slackers/articleshow/45567785.cms Intent is clearly there with respect to Infra development. 2015 will be an inflection point, I bet. Either things will finally start to move or...

[randomGuy]

WPI down to 0%. How long before CPI gets below 4%?

CPI will move up again in next 2 months I hear. (Base effect) Longer term - it looks good.

[Khalpat]

Bringing an end to the practice of rehabilitating 'out-of-job' politicians in National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the government on Sunday approved the appointment of a BARC scientist, a UN disaster mitigation expert and a retired army man as members of the central body. Giving a professional look to the underutilized authority, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday approved the names of Kamal Kishore, a disaster reduction expert at the United Nations Development Programme, Lt Gen N C Marwah (retired), and D N Sharma, Director of Health, Safety and Environment Group at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). TOI was the first to report (on September 28, 2014) that NDMA was up for revamp in which 'out-of-job' politicians and retired bureaucrats would not find a place. TOI had written that the home ministry has prepared a blueprint for reconstitution of the authority where it would have just four members of secretary rank with Prime Minister as chairman. None of these members would be politicians, but people, retired or otherwise, with technical know-how that is likely to help in disaster mitigation and rescue efforts. Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/45599655.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Good Move. Why cannot media discuss on these things rather than every evening after 6.30 PM same gheesa peeta raag of Ghar Waapsi etc.

[bulbul]

Good Move. Why cannot media discuss on these things rather than every evening after 6.30 PM same gheesa peeta raag of Ghar Waapsi etc.

Don't you know media is bought by BJP?.

[Khalpat]

Don't you know media is bought by BJP?.

Government:Economy Opposition: No that is no issue. governemnt: Foreign Affairs Oppostion: No that is also a very minor issue. Government: Inflation Opposition: Nopes nothing to discuss Government: Corruption: Opposition:Comeon! this was never a topic to be discussed this was a topic only to form a party Government: Internal Security Opposition: thik hai no issues there also. Government: to bhai problem kya hai. Why are you not allowing parliament to function. Oppostion: Religious conversion is taking place in Agra. Government: Is it forceful? Oppostion: Yes government: Lets bring a law to stop any forceful conversion Opposition: no no we don't want any such law. Government: To bhai chahte kya ho Opposition: Why did it happened? Government: Agra is in UP, governed by most secular party ask to him. Why asking us? Opposition: Ye sarkar nikkami hai. hai Government: :facepalm: And as if this was not enough, Lalu Yadav is demanding Black Money back. Matlab hadd hai, I mean Lalu Yadav.

[asterix]

NDA/BJP didnt acted like a responsible opposition during UPA rule... its payback time now... Current Opposition learned these tactics from BJP only... They don't have any options... if they allow BJP to go ahead with development agenda, they risk their own survival... That's because BJP is targetting the states ruled by these regional parties... BJP cant have both i.e, trying to eliminate these regional parties at their home and also expect support from them in Parliament... It's now a fight for survival... These Opposition parties have very less time now as their majority will reduce in Rajya Sabha in coming years...

[Malcolm Merlyn]

Wait till 2016 when Modi govt will have majority in RS as well.Opposition is literally acting out of desperation.

[diga]

burn seculars burn... stock up Mg(OH)₂.

[scorpio90]

The theatre of Kashmir and India’s new strategic thinking

A retired General from the Indian Army celebrates the wedding of his son by inviting as many of his ex-colleagues as he possibly can, creating an impromptu reunion of men from different divisions and different parts of the country. As the festivities wind down in the chilly November evening, the ex-army men gather around with their glasses of amber-coloured ambrosia, with youngsters crowding around to hear their stories, and talk turns as it inevitably does to Kashmir. Fallen comrades are remembered with affection and regret as their ghosts seem to swell the gathering with their presence. As one gentleman reminisces, “I was a young 2nd Lieutenant in Kashmir in the 1970’s. I remember we met an SHO there for some official work and he genially informed us that he had just visited “India” the previous month with his whole family and absolutely enjoyed the experience”. ‘To say I was shocked is an understatement. I was left speechless as I looked at this man earning his pay packet from the Government of India and living in a house provided by them in, according to him, a foreign land.’ There is a moment of silence as a young woman tentatively asks, “So, the Indian Army had a visible presence in Kashmir before 1990?” There are several very ungentlemanly snorts as the erstwhile army men shake their heads at the younger generation. “The army could never leave Kashmir since 1947”, says a gentleman with a venerable shock of white hair on his head, “Hari Singh and then Nehru took care of that by hedging to take concrete decisions. The constant threat of invasion by the Pakistani forces and the tribal guerillas they were apt to release across the borders made army a necessity in that region”. The conflict in Jammu and Kashmir is not therefore a situation that arose in the 1990’s, it has been a constant companion for us since independence. Army personnel, however, agree that the situation with the locals was much calmer and friendlier prior to the 1987 elections when the faults of our political leaders led to a sudden and vicious spew of distrust towards India in the local population, which in turn made it easier for Pakistan-funded terrorists to infiltrate, influence and create strongholds in Kashmir. The threat of terror attacks since 1990 sounded a death knell for the most thriving industry of Kashmir – its lucrative trade in tourism. This in turn led to a sharp increase in unemployment, which increased the feeling of frustration and anger towards the ruling government – a situation that played itself beautifully into the hands of recruiters from across the border. More than two decades later, the unemployment rates in J&K remain high compared with its neighbouring states. More importantly, out of the 240000 unemployed educated youth in the state, 155000 are from the Kashmir valley, despite Jammu having the higher population. Also, the state holds the dubious distinction of having the highest unemployment ratio for women in India at 20%, whereas the all India average is a mere 3.7%. Unemplyment Rates Constant security checks while travelling, in markets and even in their homes, the danger of walking into a crowded area where a bomb may go off and lack of stability in the area led to anger that, since it could never be directed at the militants for fear of swift and brutal reprisal, found its release on the heads of the army who were deemed outsiders, incapable of sympathizing with the local people and their problems, and with the power of the AFSPA behind them seen as symbols of persecution. All these factors formed a vicious cycle in which Kashmir has been entangled for decades now. The Indian Army and other security forces deployed in the area have been waging a constant war against terrorism in this hostile environment since militancy reared its ugly head in the valley. Their major successes occurred in the years of the Vajpayee government between 1998-2004, when emboldened by the unequivocal support of their Chief of Staff, the Indian army notched up 45% of all terrorist fatalities to date – that is, out of 22745 insurgents killed in the 25 years between 1987 and 2013, 10147 deaths occurred in those 6 years. The upper hand that the army gained in these years was the primary reason for a decline in militancy in the area. In recent years, Pakistan’s growing internal problems and brushes with the deadly Taliban have forced them to concentrate on their other borders and have led to a sliding of fervor for the Kashmir cause. The resources that were formerly dedicated to encouraging dissent and militancy in India have now had to be diverted to actual protection of their local population. Also, the rising economic status of the average Indian in the past decade and a half gave the Kashmiri people hopes of achieving similar increases in their fortunes if only the shadow of militancy were to be removed from their state. Thus, by the time the 2014 LS elections drew up, Kashmir was primed to take a leap into a new future for itself. When PM Modi took office in May this year, he, following inputs from one of the greatest spymasters in the country, gave a green signal to a visionary policy for this embattled state. One that is based on the age-old ‘carrot, stick and confusion’ maxim, or formally dubbed as ‘appeasement, attack and prevarication’. This new approach combined with the will of the new voter has led to the huge turnout seen in the 2014 state elections taking place in the valley. In order to curb the inevitable disruption to the poll process caused by mob violence or the threats of retribution after polls on those who dared to cast votes, prior to these elections, the armed forces carried out the systematic targeting of separatist and incendiary elements, even at the village level. For example, members of the Jamaat-e-Islaami, which has pockets of influence in some districts of South and North Kashmir, were systematically put under virtual house arrest during the run up to these elections effectively chopping their wings. Baramulla district, which has been a key stronghold of the Jamaat saw almost 50% higher turnout this time because of these elementary steps taken by the security establishment with great accuracy. Baramulla Turnout As another retired army Major quoted in a Kashmiri daily, “For the first time the GOI is not placing a premium on Muslim centric politics and has given a free hand to security forces”. This has allowed the army to take an offensive stance against perpetrators of violence in an extremely non-violent manner, instead of remaining hunkered into defensive positions as they were forced to do previously and risking the loss of civilian lives caught in the crossfire. However, a free hand does not imply a free-for-all for the forces. The verdict in the Machil encounter case, which for the first time saw the army taking such decisive action against its own men, was the preliminary step towards creating a favourable atmosphere in the valley. When Prime Minister Modi addressed a political rally in Srinagar this month, a major point of contention were his words on the army. Unlike his predecessor politicians who either roundly blamed the army for every failure in a bid to garner popular support and then refused to do more once they moved away from a microphone or simply ignored the problem, PM Modi acknowledged the sacrifices that the army makes both on and off the field in protecting the citizens of this country along with the fact that some mistakes had been made on their part while carrying out their duties in a conflict zone. This was a very important acknowledgement by the PM, for we must realize that the Army is also made up of mere mortals who are capable of making mistakes and could be held responsible under the law of the land. Backing up this statement was the prompt ruling on the men involved in the Budgam case where two young men lost their lives, which sends the message of a government willing to play fair on both sides – (1) by asking the army to clean up its house publicly in order to foster trust with those who live under the shadow of the guns, instead of sweeping things under the carpet and (2) by not trying to look for ways to milk the public anger for a few votes by inciting the local populace and causing more strife. It was not just all brazen “security forces only approach” in Kashmir, but for the first time India had a comprehensive plan with multiple layers to it. Prevarication is a difficult game to play at the best of times, and in a conflict-ridden state the stakes are that much higher. For instance, some 150 Imams from different parts of India (mainly UP) were sent to Kashmir under the aegis of Jamaat Ulema-e-Hind (which sounded exactly like the famous organization Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind of Mehmood Madani and confused many Kashmiri Imams into accepting their dictats). These Imams spread the message of “vote for a better life” among ordinary Kashmiris and religious clergy alike. In a state where religion plays a major role in everyday life, an endorsement by religious heads went a long way in swaying the local Kashmiri’s towards voting for a change in their circumstances rather than be swayed by separatism. The high turnout in the 2014 elections is a nod not only to the efforts of the security forces deployed in the region and the government policies that have deviated sharply from the run-of-the-mill political agendas being followed in the valley for the last decade, but also to the indomitable spirit of the Kashmiri people. What really is heartening to see is that India’s strategic thinking has found a creative edge in this very complex state of Jammu & Kashmir. In fact, the common refrain among people in the security establishment and retired army officers who have served in the Kashmir theatre is, “For the first time in decades, the combination of a no-nonsense former spy master like Ajit Doval as the NSA with that of an equally no-nonsense PM at this crucial juncture of history may finally spell the doom of separatism and militancy in the valley.”

[Sachin=GOD]

PM Narendra Modi must turn from ‘ruler’ to ‘server’

After working for 40 years on issues concerning forests and wildlife right from the district to the state to the capital of India and with 20 years of association with the central and state governments, I am convinced that for any radical change to positively impact the country’s future we first need to implement enormous reforms concerning the nearly two million people who are regarded as government employees of the Centre, the states, the public sector undertakings and the autonomous institutions, including our universities, aided by the government. I believe that these two million or just under half a per cent of our population rule India with their tentacles buried deep into the very basic soul of this country. Politicians come and go but few have an impact on this core group that over the decades has become more and more powerful. At one level or another, right from village to city, they deal in endless ways with the lives of 1.25 billion citizens. Only powerful politicians like Indira Gandhi before and Narendra Modi now could shake them up by being decisive and firm. Yes, you must repeal hundreds of 19th century laws that plague our legal system — yes, you must simplify procedures for the citizen — yes, you need radical reform of many mechanisms of governance but even before this you need to deal with reforming the mindset of the government servant. Only then will he change from ruler to server or ‘people’s servant’. Only then will you get the proper implementation of new and innovative policy. This is the only logical way to create a new India. How do we do this? Lateral entry into the services was suggested in the report of the 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission in 2009. It has been suggested that all posts from additional secretary upwards need to be advertised in order to attract people from the private sector so as to infuse fresh blood and bring in creativity and dynamics in reform. The Commission’s report states: “there is almost universal acknowledgement of the need to induct outstanding skills and talent from outside the government to staff some positions in government departments”. I believe the Commission wanted to suggest this for joint secretaries also but later decided to stick to positions above that. Such lateral entry should be at all strategic levels of government service from village to city in order to attract the very best talent in our country for better governance. Dozens of secretaries to the government and several ambassadors have been appointed without them being from the services, but this process has largely been ad-hoc. It now needs to be institutionalised and expanded to every sphere of leadership even in the districts. It has to encompass education, health, forests, environmental action, archeological sites, culture, land use, water and every essential sphere of life. It is this movement of talent into the mechanism of governance in order to recharge what already exists that will usher in genuine change. Then there is the important area of public private partnerships (PPPs) and outsourcing. There is a small office in North Block within the ministry of finance and in the department of economic affairs (DEA) that is responsible for PPPs and supervised by a joint secretary. They look at many different areas where partnerships could be viable like major airports, highways, railways, ports, and even in agriculture, chemicals, fertilisers and, of course, civil aviation. Ten thousand senior and middle level government officers are supposed to have been trained in promoting PPPs and in critical parts of this country’s infrastructure. The mission statement of the DEA is very clear: “PPPs present the most suitable options of meeting targets, not only in attracting private capital in creation of infrastructure but also in enhancing the standards of delivery of services through greater efficiency”. It is such partnerships and outsourcing that can show results. In Delhi’s passport office a combination of the Tata Consultancy Services and the ministry of external affairs can get you a passport in the post in 48 hours! Let’s enhance the reach and strength of the PPP office in the ministry of finance a hundred fold. Let the best of the ‘outside of government sector’ get engaged in governance. It has to be a meeting of minds in and out of government and in this process the rotten within will get weeded out. Between enlarging the scope of lateral entry, strengthening PPPs, and outsourcing and doing this on a war footing the Modi government will see results. Ridiculous and rigid rules will change and a new way of working could result as attitudes and mindsets change. This process could lead to better answerability and accountability and best practices could then be linked to promotions and wage scales. It could also determine job security and lead to hire and fire policies. It is also the best way to break the powerful stranglehold of India’s bureaucracy on the mass of India’s citizens and convert the concept of ‘ruler’ to ‘server’. The best politicians and the best of reforms will only work when the ‘government servant’ gets his or her wake up call and is so shaken that all their tentacles in the system are forced to retract and deal with the reality of competition and fresh blood. Only then will a healing process start that results in efficiency and creativity in governance. The scams that we wake up to and go to sleep with and the corruption we breathe in the air will get minimised. Then and only then can we create a new Bharat.