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TheIndian EXPRESS
www.indianexpress.com

NEW DELHI l MONDAY l JULY 2 l 2012

The Indian EXPRESS

BECAUSE THE TRUTH INVOLVES US ALL

Listening to Kalam
ORMER president A.P.J. Abdul Kalams fascinating book of memoirs, Turning Points, has undercut some partisan talking points of the recent past. In the process, he has also demonstrated exactly how much a president matters, how his actions in office and the later interpretation of those actions, are a crucially political affair. These memoirs also point out the error in the popular myth-making of Kalam as an apolitical president. One of the most charged takeaways from the book is that of Sonia Gandhis decision to not bid for prime-ministership in 2004, and to nominate Manmohan Singh instead. Kalam deflates the theory that she declined the office because of a signal from the president. Instead, Kalam clarifies, to accept the claim of the leader of the majority party would simply have been a constitutional imperative. Kalam also dwells on another uncomfortable subject for the NDA his decision to visit Gujarat in the immediate aftermath of the 2002 communal violence, despite the clear reluctance of then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his officials. Kalams visit may not have been politic in

His memoirs confirm that the presidents job is vitally political

the BJPs scheme of things, but it was a reaching out and a response he deemed necessary to a tragedy. He also makes note of several other points in his presidency where he was challenged by events, and forced to consider the most judicious and correct way forward over death penalties, or over the right formulation of the Office of Profit Bill. This book highlights something that may well get lost in the point-scoring between the Congress and the NDA over Kalams version of events that the presidents job is far from the ceremonial, ritualised affair some assume it to be, virtuously floating above the fray. It demands delicate judgment calls, intelligent discrimination, and a sense of public purpose. Kalams memoirs are a welcome addition to the meagre collection of first-hand accounts of public life in this country. Lead actors in Indias political life do not often tell their stories in their own words, or record their impressions of the times they lived through or shaped. This book, as it sets some contested facts straight and lays out Kalams formidable presidential legacy, provides a valuable insight into the nations past.

BJPs troubles with Yeddyurappa highlight the crisis of a party lacking a centre of gravity
state unit. Most recently, Gowda has been at the receiving end for his alleged proximity to the JD(S) leadership in particular and his ostensible favouring of Vokkaliga interests in general. The personality clash has been reframed as a conflict between Karnatakas two dominant castes the Lingayats and the Vokkaligas, the former making up a large chunk of the traditional BJP votebank and the latter crucially contributing to the partys attempts to enlarge its footprint in the state. With neither side backing off, and given BSYs acknowledged ability to unsettle the BJPs expectations in the state, there seems to be no solution in sight to the frozen stalemate till elections come next in 2013. As the BJPs central leadership agonises over how best to shuffle its pack in Karnataka, its limited room for manoeuvre highlights a larger predicament. Over the last several months, it has been clear that the partys central authority does not command respect from, and is being openly challenged by, powerful leaders in the states. A centre of gravity has been missing in the party for some time now. It remains to be seen if Karnataka continues as a painful reminder of the larger syndrome or becomes a turning point.

Karnataka syndrome

ESPITE all exertions by the BJPs central leadership to put a lid on inner party troubles till the presidential elections are over, the crisis in Karnataka refuses to be tamped down. Hostilities have broken out again between the rival camps led by former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and current CM D.V. Sadananda Gowda, with the former setting a new July 5 deadline for replacing Gowda with BSY nominee Jagadish Shettar. The partys central leadership has once again been pushed into firefighting mode, as it considers a compromise that could balance its competing compulsions in the state that had at one time appeared to be its gateway to a southern expansion. After the initial conquest, the BJP has had a particularly stormy stint in power in Karnataka. The brinkmanship by the Reddy brothers gave way to Yeddyurappas public tantrums and political blackmail ever since he was forced to step down as chief minister after allegations of corruption in mining deals were made by a report of the state Lokayukta. Though Gowda was installed as BSYs candidate, he soon fell out with his mentor, inaugurating a fresh tug of war within the partys

N HIS address on Civil Services Day, the prime minister advised civil servants to fight the tendency of not taking decisions because of the fear that things might go wrong and they might be penalised for that. He went on to say that the bureaucracy should not be 100 per cent risk averse and concluded, rightly, that a civil servant who does not take decisions might always be safe, but at the end of the day he or she would have contributed nothing to our society. These views cannot be faulted. Indeed, over the past several months, while we have debated many issues, we have forgotten that, at the grassroots level, service delivery is in the hands of civil servants. If they fail to take decisions in time, governance will be seriously damaged. We need to ask why civil servants are risk-averse and what needs to be done to give them confidence. The root of the problem lies in the administrative system that we have inherited and which we have sustained through the years. Any system based on distrust will tend to build safeguards and hurdles that inhibit, rather than promote, decision-making. The tendency of a middle-class, god-fearing bureaucrat who wants to survive without getting into serious controversy would be to avoid decisions. Exhortations are unlikely to yield results. The only option is systemic change. Unfortunately, as most civil servants are lost in the routine of administration, very little time is devoted to reforms, as important in governance as in the economic sphere. This is not to say that fear paralyses all functionaries. In my various incarnations in government, I have come across young officers who have significantly contributed to streamlining administration, starting innovative projects and reaching out to the people. I do not subscribe to the view that young officers today are less capable and more susceptible to temptation than civil servants of my generation, or even earlier, were. Of course, times have

The diffident bureaucrat

Only systemic changes can enable civil servants to be decisive, take risks
K.M. CHANDRASEKHAR
changed. What could be swept under the carpet a few years ago is now open to public scrutiny. This could create an illusion of lower ethical standards but it is not my view that there has been a deterioration in the quality of administrative leadership. What has changed is that decision-making has become more complex and difficult. In most cases, when a civil servant takes a decision, he works in a zone of uncertainty. He does not have all the facts. He does not know all the possible outcomes. Yet he has to take a decision because he has no time. He has to respond to a situation. His decision, taken in good faith, may well prove wrong when judged in the future. Indeed, it could even look like an act of corducive to decision-making. The problem is compounded by political action, which can sometimes be arbitrary, capricious and manifestly unfair. In a state I had visited as cabinet secretary, DMs and SPs complained that the average tenure of officers in each district was incredibly short sometimes even a month. Occasionally, when an officer reached a district, he would find someone else occupying the chair and transfer orders awaiting him. Punishment need not necessarily be through a disciplinary proceeding or in response to a mistake, intended or otherwise. Punishment through transfers and humiliation can be inflicted for reasons of political inconvenience. In such circumstances, an

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Perhaps the big difference between authority then and now is the reluctance of the senior to take responsibility and shift the blame as far down as possible. This is not conducive to decision-making.
ruption or malfeasance. The court of law or an inquiry commission, the CAG or the CVC, looking into an administrative decision, has the benefit of hindsight. It has all the facts at its disposal, knows the outcome and, therefore, can pronounce with authority on what was right and what was wrong. There have been many cases in the recent past when the sins of commission and, more often, of omission in the higher echelons of administration have been visited on junior functionaries. Perhaps the big difference between authority in the past and authority now is the reluctance on the part of the senior to take responsibility for the actions he has knowingly taken and to shift the blame as far down as possible. This is not an environment conhonest officer would rather avoid decisions than take them. In the present system, no effort is made to link performance with reward. Seniority has precedence over merit. Non-action (and consequent avoidance of mistakes) plus seniority is a sure-shot combination for climbing up the hierarchical ladder. Of course, a bit of political savvy would help. Also a big slice of luck, as in any aspect of life. Where do we go from here? First, put in place a performanceappraisal system that recognises merit. Promotions and empanelments should be based on performance rather than marks secured in an examination decades ago. Second, take a close look at disciplinary proceedings. If we want to ensure that unintended mistakes

are not penalised, we should examine the work of an officer and his reputation in its entirety. It would be best if the disciplinary authority had the benefit of a prior assessment of the overall performance of the officer, preferably by a panel of serving or retired officials. Third, shorten the period for disciplinary proceedings. Fourth, some element of supervision has to be exercised by the Department of Personnel and Training over cadre-controlling authorities, be they state governments or central ministries. Arbitrary action will lead to a loss of morale. Enforceable guidelines need to be laid down to ensure that officers are not unfairly treated. Fifth, agencies like the CAG must be encouraged to look at any activity holistically rather than in bits and pieces. If corners have been cut in the pursuit of any lawful objective or goal that is beneficial to the people, the agencies should project the whole picture, not just what went wrong. Sixth, while the RTI Act has brought in a measure of transparency, there are cases where it has been misused. Particular administrative actions have been given interpretations that are far removed from the truth. Unfortunate publicity has also been given to unsubstantiated allegations against individual officers. To protect the rights of the individual, there should be provision for legal remedy. Parliament needs to look at a possible privacy act, which exists in many other countries, and at the provisions for defamation. Finally, a word for the media. Civil servants, particularly the honest among them, are highly vulnerable. The anti-establishment stance probably sells more, but restraint and balance are required while reporting. Also, giving some publicity to the good work they have done would play a big role in rebuilding our country and its administration. The writer, a former cabinet secretary, is vice-chairman of the Kerala State Planning Board
express@expressindia.com

EDITOR
Hit and miss
cated having the decision review system (DRS) in all matches but eventually had to give in to the BCCI (ICC bows before BCCI diktat over DRS, IE, June 29). India opposed the DRS as it believes the system is not foolproof. The BCCI must not lose sight of the fact that DRS was implemented quite effectively in World Cup 2011. Ganapathi Bhat Akola
THE ICC strongly advo-

Letters to the

Trial by fire

ALAN SCHERSTUHL

Spider-Man is a web of contradictions, much like the nation that created him
Thats because in the America that has come to be since 1962 it is. American children, raised on heroic entertainments like Spider-Man and Star Wars, instructed that hard-toiling pioneers have raised a nation from dirt, and coming of age in a culture that emphasises at all moments the specialness of each young person, are quite literally taught that great power is their birthright the spoils of what is called American exceptionalism. The trick, which is taught too rarely, lies in seizing that power, wielding it, living up to it as, say, Bill Gates or Barack Obama a Spider-Man fan of humble Again, we see the nowpowerful Parker humiliate the jock who once bullied him, lash out at the uncle who doesnt seem to understand him, and allow, through some ignoble inaction, a stick-up artist to escape from a crime scene and pop that same uncle in a burst of random, all-American gunplay. And again young Parker discovers that the gifts that have been bestowed upon him through no fault of his own must be guided by something just as powerful within himself: a moral responsibility to those less fortunate. Of course, Spider-Man is a product of the American 1960s. shadings. Theres a Spider-Man for all seasons: over the thousands of comics, hundreds of television episodes and now four big-budget movies in which hes appeared, Spider-Man has been a nerd and the husband of a supermodel; a college drop-out and a genius inventor; a violent vigilante and a bleeding-heart softie; a brooding mope and a joke-a-minute spandexed Groucho; a white kid, a white man and, now, in Brian Michael Bendiss excellent Ultimate Spider-Man series, a black kid. Hes a high achiever and a hopeless bum; a photo-journalist who is pilloried daily by his own newspaper; a world-saver whos always running late and rarely makes the rent; a man as strong as ten who still gets stomped by the villain once before finally winning the day. In the current issues of The Amazing SpiderMan, scripted by Dan Slott with more wit and freshness than any of the movies, Parker is a highly regarded scientist, has plenty of money, and J. Jonah Jameson is the mayor of New York. Yet in his mess of contradictions lies exposed something of the contradictory spirit of the nation that created him. He aches to use his great power for good, but often the only way he can think to do so is by clobbering. Perhaps he should start a foundation. The writer is film editor of The Village Voice, New York

Great power in spandex

Look before you tax

HOULD a self-sustaining boom be busted by a tax? The department of telecom will levy a licence fee of 4 per cent on Internet service providers and double it to 8 per cent by the time of the next budget. Passed on to consumers, this levy will slow the rate of Internet adoption. This year, India is projected to become the third biggest Internet market in the world, after China and the US. And yet, less than 10 per cent of the population has Internet access. This growth story has just begun, it is based on cheap access and it needs all the breaks it can get. Perhaps these concessions would not be in the interest of immediate revenue generation but in the long term, they would certainly be in the national interest. Further growth is likely to be fuelled by expansion in mobile Internet, which is picking up as growth in fixed line Internet ser-

The Internet growth story has just taken off. Govt mustnt do anything to weigh it down

vices tapers off. Mobile access accounts for almost 50 per cent of Web usage, up from 2 per cent in 2009. Since mobile Internet runs on cheap hardware and does not need reliable power supply, this suggests that growth is being driven by users in places where the infrastructure does not work as advertised. The most significant growth is probably in small towns and villages, not the big cities. Information is power and a rural information revolution would have implications for politics, society, the economy and development. It would facilitate growth and shift the balance of power away from the cities. The benefits are evident and a tax would reverse them by discouraging adoption by the less privileged. If the government needs the revenue, it should collect it from tax hikes in unproductive sectors, perhaps tobacco.

N THE summer of 2006, as he set aside the task of running the worlds largest tech company to attempt to solve nothing less than the worlds AIDS crisis, Bill Gates wrote, I believe that with great wealth comes great responsibility. Gates might have thought he was paraphrasing Voltaire or something, but any attentive geek or moviegoer knew the truth of the matter: the rationale for this unprecedented attempt at reallife superheroics comes directly from the pen of Stan Lee and the mouth of Spider-Mans Uncle Ben. With great power comes great responsibility, the avuncular Ben is said to have told his orphaned nephew, Peter Parker, although in the original run of the comics this moment never actually happens, as Uncle Ben didnt survive long enough to appear in even The Amazing Spider-Man, issue number one. As fine a lesson as that is, its an impossible thing for a parent for thats what Uncle Ben had become to Peter to be telling a child in 1962, unless maybe that parent suspected that child of secret superpowers. By the time of the first big-budget SpiderMan movie, however, that line was now credited to Uncle Ben. Actor Cliff Robertson, playing Ben, delivers it to Tobey Maguires Peter as if the presumption of great power in a teenager is a perfectly natural assumption for a parent to make.

Mantralaya on fire was painful (Mantralaya fire toll climbs to 5, structural audit to begin soon, IE, June 23). The loss of lives is irreparable. But it is time the government woke up and took measures to ensure the safety of its buildings and records. Fire safety norms have been severely flouted in this case, reports suggest. All government buildings should be put through fire safety audits. The number of firefighters we have is clearly inadequate. A top-class disaster management cell should be instituted to handle big operations. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawars allegations of sabotage were not in good taste. Such statements should only be made by investigating agencies after they complete their probe. Yash P. Verma Pune
THE editorial, Out of power (IE, June 29) could have argued for stepping up investment in solar power. Fossil fuels are limited and once they are exhausted, India is likely to be dependent on imports. Solar power, in spite of high capital costs, pays off in the long run. If India has the will, there is definitely be a way out of the current power crisis. Meanwhile, there should be efforts to improve efficiency in power transmission and distribution. Particular attention should be paid to clamping down on pilferage. Abhishek Puri Chandigarh

WATCHING Mumbais

Empowering India

He foregoes his isolationist tendencies in favour of a rugged, hands-on diplomacy.

origins has managed. Schoolchildren are taught that they each have it in them to change the world; what goes unsaid is how that world-changing might be done and what principles should guide it. For a movie that might appear to have no compelling artistic reason to exist, The Amazing SpiderMan is surprisingly good. Here, just 10 years after Sam Raimis Spider-Man, Hollywood has again spent more money than the US grants in foreign aid to Haiti each year to show Peter Parker transform into an agile, avenging god after getting bitten by a spider infected with science-flavoured comic-book magic. After that moment of inaction, which leads to the death of his beloved uncle, Spider-Man foregoes his isolationist tendencies in favour of a rugged, hands-on diplomacy. To wit: he starts punching people. As befits the Vietnam era, what Peter Parker feels are heroics are often viewed by others as acts of mad brutality especially by the hostile press, embodied by J. Jonah Jameson, a newsman as hilarious and representative of his culture as those Evelyn Waugh created for Scoop. Its a losers game to try to map contemporary politics on to a character who has appeared for so many years in so many iterations and with so many different

Technical snags

US supreme court has upheld Obamas health reforms, but not without caveats

The state that cares

WORDLY WISE Superheroes were born in the minds of

Jodi Picoult

people desperate to be rescued.

ARACK Obama has just got the biggest boost his re-election The expansion of the Medicaid was meant to provide new cover for campaign could have dreamed of, and it came from an unlikely nearly 16 million people. Millions of low-income families who are cursource: a conservative-dominated supreme court... But rently not poor enough to qualify for coverage and who live in its judgment contained at least two important caveats. The first states such as Florida, which refuse to implement the legislawas that it limited a major expansion of Medicaid, a governtion, will now be beyond reach. Healthcare reform may indeed ment health-insurance plan for low-income and sick people, by be constitutional, but it is far from universal. The court also narsaying that federal government could not enforce this provision PRINTLINE rowed the interpretation of the commerce clause, which... could by penalising states which refused to go along. Federal governaffect federal powers over a wide sweep of other legislation. ment could not take away all the money it gave states for their existing Medicaid programmes, only the new money offered by the expansion. From The Guardian, London

in the admission process for the IITs (No weightage for marks: IIT Admission Board, IE, June 24). It strikes me that what is being called a solution is only the beginning of a new set of problems. First, it has been proposed that only students in the top 20 percentile category of each school board will qualify for the IITs. Under the old system, anyone with 60 per cent in their class 12 boards was eligible for the IITs after clearing the JEE. Second, the new system will only increase, not reduce, stress levels for students. They will now have to clear the difficult entrance exams and do well in the board exams. On the one hand, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal talks about reducing emphasis on marks-based evaluation through measures like the CCE. On the other, he increases competition by bringing in a filtering system for admission to engineering colleges. Naheed Srinagar

THIS refers to the changes