The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Editorial

Vidhan Sabha turns 50

THE Punjab Vidhan Sabha, which celebrates its golden jubilee on Friday, has come a long way since its first session on May 3,1952, at Simla with Bhim Sen Sachar as Chief Minister. Punjab was large and unfragmented then. Recovering from the trauma of partition, the state under able and by and large uncorrupted administrators and legislators faced the post-Independence challenges with courage and conviction. Refugee resettlement was a formidable task successfully accomplished. Development of agriculture and industry was another. Clash of interests and personalities, apart from narrow-minded politics, led to the division of Punjab and formation of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Of the 152 seats in the joint House, Punjab was left with 117, Haryana with 90 and Himachal 68. Far-sighted political stalwarts like Sir Chhotu Ram in Haryana, Y.S. Parmar in Himachal and Partap Singh Kairon in Punjab ably guided the region through the turbulent times and laid the foundations of modern development. The Green Revolution catapulted Punjab and Haryana to the top slot. Now when the legislators, novices and veterans, sit together in a spirit of bonhomie and nostalgia, they should also pause and reflect on the decline of democratic traditions, the ups and downs the Vidhan Sabha has gone through over the years, and judge on their own where weaknesses have crept in, and what can be done to set them right. There is lot to learn from the experience of elders, particularly when the assemblies in the three states do not have legislative councils where elder statesmen could share their expertise and experience.

Today the region is passing through a critical phase. Development has slowed down. It is the need of the hour to rise above narrow individual and political interests to present a picture of oneness to face the economic challenges in the post-WTO era. The three sister states can join hands, politically, administratively and economically, as was suggested by a recent conclave of their Chief Secretaries, to take advantage of the strengths of one another. The legislative experiences of the three have been far from happy. Haryana specially earned the notoriety for frequent defections. The conduct of members in an assembly, irrespective of their state and political affiliations, leaves much to be desired. How to conduct oneself with dignity inside and outside the Vidhan Sabha is the biggest challenge before the present legislators. Together, they can work out a code of conduct and reforms to bar the entry of criminals into politics. Any crackdown on corruption should have been normally welcomed by all parties. In Punjab it has divided them with MLAs of the opposition busy seeking pre-arrest bails. While celebrating the golden jubilee of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the members need to ponder how to face unitedly the two most important challenges before all the three states: of corruption and development.

How corruption subverts the system
It is like the poisoning of the village well
Rajesh Kochhar

EVERY time a corruption scandal breaks out we exclaim: This is the limit. Very soon, however, we find that our acceptance levels have arisen and the next scandal touches a new low.

We can distinguish between three phases in post-Independence corruption. Phase I was characterised by extraction of money from the system as a corollary of development. A mild illustration of this phase is provided by the modifications wrought in the original masterplan of Chandigarh to yield the extant layout of Neelam-cinema row of shops-cum-offices in Sector 17. A morally dubious though legal “trick” from this phase is worth recording. In the 1960s when Beas-Sutlej link was being planned, a road had to be laid from the administrative office to the work site. The road was deliberately made a kilometre longer so that the staff could become entitled to travelling and daily allowances. Phase I soon made way for phase II in which corruption has become a substitute for development.

Phase III, ushered in by the Punjab Public Service Commission scam, seeks to reserve future earnings exclusively for the scions of those who have benefited from phases I and II. Punjab has a well-earned reputation for being a prosperous state. It is a measure of this prosperity that a crore of rupees in cash has been locked up in the treasury as court evidence. Punjab, indeed has come a long way from the time when court evidence comprised a 10 or a 100- rupee note. It is astonishing that while universities, colleges, hospitals, etc are languishing for want of one or two crore, an individual’s bank lockers can yield as much as 10 crore.

The magnitude of corruption, its brazenness, the demeaning of the whole society that it entails, and its far-reaching ill effects all make it imperative that the issue be addressed squarely. The 100 crores guesstimated to be involved in the Punjab Public Service Commission scam seem to be ill-gotten twice over. It is unlikely that the moneys paid to the Chairman as bribe were borrowed from the provident fund or raised by selling inherited property. Much of this money must have been collected as bribes in the first place. Thus we have here the white money distributed among a large number of people being converted into black money in the hands of a few. The white money if left with their rightful owners would have by and large constituted their savings and become available for development of the state. As black money, the amount gets locked up in bank lockers and property, gets squandered on lifestyle, and/or leaves the country. The purpose of money is to generate more money. This is possible only if the money remains in the hands of its rightful owners. Thus corruption is manifestly anti-development.

There is yet another aspect of the PPSC scam that is far more pernicious. It slams the door of opportunity on the face of meritorious young men and women. The greatest asset of a society is the innocence of its youth and their trust in the fairness of the system. The great strength of India as a nation arises from the fact that the catchment area for its middle class is truly vast. Any attempt to restrict this catchment area must be viewed with disquiet. Brazenly excluding non-paying but otherwise deserving candidates from the pay perks and prestige of upper-level government jobs brings governance into disrepute, promotes bitterness and cynism among the youth, makes them anti-establishment, and in extreme cases may drive them to seek their fortunes through undesirable means.

A large number of young men and women from across the country leave their homes for Mumbai to seek their fortune in Hindi films. Most of them end as extras, waiters, cleaners or worse. It is only a rare few who achieve name, fame and glamour. Although the success rate is statistically very small, it keeps the hopes of a very large number alive.

State civil services examination is an important part of a state’s life. Success in it inspires and gives hope to not only the candidates but also their families, friends and even observers. Any attempt to subvert the process, especially by those who are expected to strengthen it, must be resisted. If a capable young person is offered a government job on merit, he will be grateful to the system for its fairness, and will, hopefully, seek to strengthen it. On the other hand if an incompetent person is installed in office for extraneous reasons, he will only have contempt for the system which he will belittle further.

An uncharismatic son launched by a filmstar would be bundled out; an incompetent youngster sponsored by an underworld don will be shot; a nincompoop launched by a politician will be flattened at the polls; while the unpromising progeny of a businessman will be impoverished. But, if the public service commission selects an unworthy, the government will have to protect, maintain, and support him for ever.

Of the various kinds of corruption, the worst is the one that subverts the system. Stealing a bucket of water from the village well would be objectionable, but poisoning the well in the process would be unforgivable. Campaign against corruption, the more so in the selection for government jobs, should not be viewed as a partisan act or as some sort of a clever move on the political chessboard. Rather, it should be seen and supported as a national movement on the lines of campaign against smallpox or polio.

Kaun Banega Crorepati DSP?
Amar Chandel

I always had utmost regard and fascination for the police force. The men in khaki have risen even further in my estimation lately. Imagine, a DSP’s post is worth Rs 2.8 crore and yet these crorepatis are so humble and unassuming. And later in life, they make such wonderful parents too. Only an SSP father could have paid Rs 3.5 crore in all to get his son recruited as DSP (for Rs 2.8 crore) and his daughter as a PCS officer (for Rs 70 lakh).

Yours truly is rather slow-witted in knowing the ways of the world. I should have woken up to the reality much earlier, at least on reading a news-item last year that the father-in-law of a DSP had accused him of harassing his daughter for bringing inadequate dowry. The father-in-law had alleged that he had already coughed up more than Rs 1 crore and yet the policeman son-in-law was demanding more. I had thought that the piqued father-in-law was exaggerating figures to get even with the son-in-law. How wrong I was! A Rs 1 crore dahej is highly inadequate for someone in such a highly-priced job.

Now that I know better, thanks to the PPSC Chairman case, I will not hesitate one bit while paying the Rs 100 or Rs 200 bribe that friendly neighbourhood cops demand for overlooking minor traffic violations that I occasionally commit. After all, even an ASI makes an investment of a couple of lakhs to get the job and has to make good the principal amount and then earn some profit on it in the quickest possible time. He can’t be expected to do so on the meagre salary that he draws. It is the responsibility of every law-abiding citizen to contribute his mite.

My fear is that adverse publicity may force some weak-hearted police personnel to break the age-old dastoor of paying to get the job, bidding to get a lucrative posting and then making everyone pay for their chai-paani. The system has worked admirably well for the cops and their superiors for decades. Disturbing it will cause chaos. Policemen should stand firm in the face of attacks by pseudo-reformers, like a brave colleague of theirs whom I had the privilege of meeting some years ago.

A journalist friend of mine had barely come out of his newspaper office when he was accosted by a burly cop who asked him to produce his papers. My friend dutifully pulled out his driving licence and registration papers. This infuriated the cop, who barked: “Do you think I have come into this job after spending lakhs of rupees for seeing these papers? You look every inch a terrorist. Show me a green paper (which in police lingo means a hundred-rupee note) or you are coming with me for interrogation”.

Terrorism was at its peak in Punjab during those days and so was the police sewa. My colleague had no intention of experiencing third degree in first person. But he didn’t happen to have the right “paper” with him at that time. So, he pleaded reverentially with the cop who relented. “OK, leave the moped here and go get the paper,” he ordered.

My ungrateful friend walked back to his office and rang up a senior police officer personally known to him. The latter asked him to note down the number of the currency note and hand it over to the cop. A few minutes later there was a raid and the cop was caught red-handed. He was duly suspended.

The crunch comes only now. The suspended cop came to my friend’s house the next day and touched his feet to seek forgiveness. He was a picture of humility, but certainly not repentance. His plea was remarkable: “Sir, it was merely a case of mistaken identity. If bade aadmi like you start riding a moped, anybody can mistake them to be an aera gaira (ordinary citizen). You should have told me who you are. Please forgive me.”

At that time, I was livid at his cheekiness. After knowing that these poor men get the privilege of wearing the khaki uniform only after shelling out princely sums, my anger has vanished. I have forgiven him and all of his ilk. From now on, I will follow the policy of “payment with a smile”. Thank you, Ravi Sidhu, for putting me in such a happy, positive and congenial frame of mind.

How to have more Captain Thapars
Kiran Bedi

I went to a school function a few days ago. There were more parents visible than children. I do not know where the children were. Perhaps still in classrooms or back stage for their cultural events. The pandal of an auditorium was full of adults, mostly of young parents.

Seeing small children perform on the stage, full of energy and joy I felt very reflective. It was not long before I too was in a similar situation and so was my daughter. But how the time flew. I felt as if it was still just a yesterday. I thought I would share this feeling with the audience when asked to speak.

Specially invited, also to the school function were Captain Thapar’s parents, mother and father. Remember, the young Captain Thapar who laid down his life for the nation in the Kargil war. This young hero’s picture was unveiled collectively by his parents and me and placed with great respect on the stage. I was deeply moved.

While still in my emotional state of mind, I was asked to address the gathering. I immediately asked the audience to ask themselves if they realise that the same children who they are seeing as young kids how soon they will become adults. How fast the time is going to go away. As fast as it sped for them or me. So what is it that they would want their children to remember when they grow up?

To my mind, as I understand, they will remember all what they are seeing today, at home or at school. They are closely watching their parents, grandparents, relatives, teachers and others. So, if any one is under the impression that these children are mere kids and would understand nothing, they are perhaps wrong. In fact, these children are already evaluating their parents. They are seeing the behaviour of their father towards their mother and vice versa. I told them “today you are telling a children about the right and wrong, tomorrow they will tell you what you did right or wrong. They will be the products of your actions.”

Some will rebel from the wrongs of their parents and some will follow the right actions. But as they grow they will reflect the home environment and the upbringing. “So be aware you are all under a watch, - and soon you will have your small children grow up to be face to face with you.”

Today the country needs men and women of character, to protect and preserve national security and integrity. Otherwise, who and where else will we get young women and men of the kind Captain Thapar was. Each of these children need to be soldiers and police officers in their own way to be ready to protect and defend the nation. If we do not prepare them for this now then it may get too late! The country may not have brave soldiers, missionary police personnel and patriots any more.

Each citizen of this country has to be prepared to be a “Senapati”. For this, it is not necessary that she (he)  adorns a khakhi uniform. A Senapati is one who is patriotic, brave and disciplined. She or he is a person of character. She (includes he) could well be a protector wearing civil clothes. Eternal vigilance and preparation for any eventuality will be a citizen — Senapati.

Today is the time for that preparation. And having men and women of character is not mere idealism. It is a constant effort to regularly evolve to live and grow the right way for a larger purpose.

Hence I went back to remind the parents and teachers present that since very soon these children will become our auditors, let us groom them in such a way that they grow up to say “thank you” to their parents and teachers. They express their gratitude in word and deed for having given them a purpose in life and made them men and women of strong character of which they are proud.

Just as today we remember Captain Thapar and thousands of other young soldiers who laid down their lives to preserve national integrity. These brave men and women will live in Indian history as long as mankind lives. To make this happen, the present day parents and teachers have to be role models for whatever price it takes. The choice is: pay the price now or face the consequences later. But then it may already be too late!