Re: Dismantle IAS, IPS etc..

[venugopal <gvvs@nird.ap.nic.in>]

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Krishnan Kandaswamy has raised an interesting issue, which needs more
debate.
1. What would we do after abolition or dismantling of IAS, IPS etc? Do
we plan to hand over the jobs to the ruling party? Which party? How do
we ensure that the party gives less bureaucratic services than the
present bureaucracy?
2. After the services are abolished, how does government run? Is it
through private people on contract service? Is it a short-term contract
for one year or three years, Or, is it long term contract for 20 years?
If it is short-term, it simply cannot work because the chap wont
understand the work. If it is long term, how would it be different from
the present ones we have anyway?
3. Did we make enough efforts to 'tame' the bureaucracy within broad
framework of rules and regulations? There are conduct rules, there are
rules governing anti-corruption. Are we using system of incentives and
disncentives which are permitted within the rules, in order to recognize
and encourage good ones and punish bad ones?
4. Who is the boss? In a democracy, people are supreme. Democracy does
not mean just having elections every five years. It is essentially
enabling citizens to participate more in governance. How many of the
citizens feel like participating? Why do educated citizens feel that it
is not their job to take the trouble of filling in a
complaints/suggestion form, wherever it is available? Of course some
citizens' forums are coming up, taking up issues like transparency,
right to information and anti-corruption. There is definitely need for
more such organizations and more meaningful participation by people at
large in matters of governance, whether it is civic facilities,
development projects, or even basic law enforcement. After the IAS and
IPS are abolished, what exactly will change? Will there be education for
everybody and health facilities and drinking water for all? Who will do
it? Will private sector come forward to do this type of 'non-profit'
work? Yes, there is a great deal of scope for NGOs to play. But, is
anybody stopping them now?
5. There are many countries like New Zealand that have attempted basic
civil service reforms. The model there is broadly, something like having
a Memorandum of Understanding between the Head of the Department and the
Minister before beginning of every year. Once the MOU is finalized with
clear statement of targets, the Minister will not 'interfere' in the
work of the bureacrats. The Head of the Department in turn, engages
people selected on his own/ her own to undertake the work. Broad
contours of the work on what kind of services to be provided, in what
manner they are to be provided etc are all decided in the MOU. The
remuneration, service conditions etc  of all the people down the line
are l decided by the Head of the Department.At the end of the year, if
the concerned Head of the Department fails to deliver, he/she is chucked
out.  For those interested in knowing more about civil service reforms
in different countries, read book "civil service reform" by S.K.Das, who
happens to be an IAS officer. Of course, the questions which need to be
addressed are: How can this model be cost-effective, considering our
backward level of economic development? There are always some honest and
efficient civil servants of all ranks and all categories. They are
making tremendous efforts to uphold the rule of law, to ensure proper
procedures in the larger interests of justice and fairplay, taking
enormous personal risks.. Would the new system protect such civil
servants who may be saying 'no' to the boss too often? How do we know
that the remedy is not worse than the disease? Even if it is good and
desirable, how does one convince the elected government about the need
to undertake such reforms?
I end here by saying that a well-thought out and practical action plan
to reform the civil service is welcome. But, merely saying 'dismantle
services' will not take us anywhere.


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