Often we are too busy mopping the floor to turn off the faucet. We get busy in solving the manifestations of the problem rather than looking at the cause.

A problem well stated is a problem half solved. We never look at the problems afresh - right from ground up. Surprisingly, attempts at identifying the root causes often leads to solutions so simple that you may even fear to express them.

I better dare to be naïve.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Democracy is a 12th century idea..

The whole idea is so archaic. The idea was good when the world was simple. Unfortunately, world is no longer simple. Democracy worked when governance required common sense and fairness.
Present day world requires experts at the helm. 'Yuva' style propositions do not work in today's world. Often in discussions and articles on the problems facing India, it is proposed, as a solution that country requires educated, clean and young people in politics. This solution does not take us anywhere other than removing corruption at the top.
What we require is experts governing us. If the board of a 100 crore company is so careful in choosing its CEO, how careful should be the people of India be in choosing the heads of its Ministries. An aviation or a shipping minister has to be much more knowledgeable than the CEO of the biggest aviation or a shipping company in India.
These ministers should have spent their life time in these Industries before they become eligible to don these posts.

So how do you elect these people?
Simple. Don't elect. Select.
We don't elect our cricketers, our CEOs or our IAS officers. Then, why in that case we need to elect people who govern us.

This is what I am proposing:

1) Let us have a selection board of 200 eminent people. These people will be drawn from various walks of life. Big industrialists, ex-bureaucrats, ex-RBI Governors, sportsmen, ex-armed forces chiefs, vice chancellors of universities, award winning doctors, writers, singers, film actors, etc. These people can be most recent award winners or the most recent retirees as VC of a top university or as a Governor from RBI, etc. We can define the whole framework as to from which sectors we will draw these people from and the exact basis for their selection.
2) Term of the people in this board will be only for 5 years and that too once in their life time.
3) Every 5 years they will advertise the jobs for all the ministerial posts with a pay that is 5 times higher than the best paying job in India.
4) The applications will be reviewed by these eminent people and the applicants will be interviewed and chosen in the most transparent manner possible. During interviews each applicant has to showcase a business plan on how they are going to go about doing their job.

These ministers who know what job requires can get going from day one and can execute their jobs in the best manner possible.

Imagine what this idea could do to this country. Without politics and such a great governance India can leap ahead.
No elections means no parties. And everybody can heave a sigh of relief.


Think over!
Democracy is a 12th century idea..SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

2 comments:

nygiri said...

I dont accept. 1oo core commitee will become corrpt. Education and aknowing importance of elections will ease the problems.

RR said...

Why the selection process in what I suggested will not get easily manipulated? It is becasue these guys need to have proven themselves in their respective fields. I proposed a criteria for choosing them. This way the interested lobbies can't manipulate who are the selectors going to be.

Once these guys are selected, then we can have pretty much an American Jury type of thing. Once the selection panel is finalized for 5 years, advertisements will be released for all the posts with clear requirements and job descriptions. Once applications are received and interviews are finalized, these selection jury will be sort of quarantined. This selection jury will be split into various teams randomly. Each team will be responsible for selection of few executives. If necessary these teams will be given access to internet with no outgoing mail or incoming mail facility. These teams can understand more about the subjects they need to become familiar with.
If necessary the whole interview process, presentations by the applicants, etc can be interviewed and can be made available to public later


Academics
IIT Chancellors 2
IIM Chancellors 2
University Chancellors 2

Medical Field
Heads of Hospitals 10

Armed Forces
Ex-Chief of Staff 3
BSF 1
CRPF 1

Writers
English 1
Vernacular Languages 20

Students
IAS Topper 1
IPS Topper 1
CAT Topper 1
Others 2

Sportsmen
Ex-Cricket Captain 1
Ex-Hockeyl Captain 1
Arjuna Award Winners 3

Newspaper Editors
Top English 2
Top Vernacular 20

Scientists
Heads of top CSIR labs 5

Industry Associations
Heads 3

Industrialists
Top 5

Film Artists
Hindi 3
Vernacular Languages 20

Diplomats
Ex-Diplomats 2

NGOs
Heads 5

Lawyers
Top 10

Stock Exchanges
Heads 3

Banks
Heads 5

Advertising Agencies
Heads 3

Top Export Houses
3