How to Improve Efficiency of Governments in India?

Bikash Choudhury



Problems:

1. In our opinion our administration is designed at the time of "British Administration" for their own requirement to perpetuate their dominion in India and even after over 60 years of independence, we have not changed much to align the administration to suit the requirement of free India.Therefore, time and again we come across serious setbacks that soil the image of our country.[ General feeling is that, govt. employees consider ordinary citizens with contempt that Britishers used to do]

2.Our I.A.S probationers join service with lot of enthusiasm and Idealism;but, over period of time under the wheel of system they loose drive, initiative and innovation in administration.

3.The main problem in Central & State Administration is the large no of Jr. level employees(bottom of pyramid) loose a sense of identity, recognition after joining govt. service, i.e., a very large organization. They are not consulted in important matters of State in spite of having knowledge and skill after working on the subject for long time. (They are condemned to repetitive work for life in current system-----huge loss of human resources.

4.Central & State Govt. being very large organization and does not have a proactive HRD organization & system to use the human resources at optimum efficiency as private sector does(Though the two sectors Job Content can't be compared one to one)

5. In my opinion, Govt. sector work at 55-65% of their efficiency which can be considerably improved with appropriate intervention in HR practices.

Solution:

1. Central & State Govt. immediately need a very competent HRD organisation to convert its Human resources into highly productive assets for the country. Hypothesis: Every 5% improvement in Govt. efficiency would add 0.5% growth in GDP.

2. Jr. employees can be allowed to/or have the freedom to suggest any Ideas that would have bearing on administration, policy and execution. (Repetitive work does not facilitate innovation and kill enthusiasm)

3. Senior and Mid level I.A.S /I.P.S/ & other central services officers must be offered refresher training with contents that would inspire a sense of history of country, Philosophy of life and spiritual base of our country to make them Leaders of Men with interest to leave behind a vibrant legacy with their work in Govt.

4. Inter Ministerial co-ordination has always been a very difficult task involving inflated Ego between departments. One solution of this could be: Each Ministry/Department/ and Govt. office the No 2 position could be vested with responsibility for proactive co-ordination between Ministry/Department/and Govt. offices that should put inter ministerial work in auto pilot mode as their performance could be monitored/measured and appropriate rewards given in time.

5.With growing complexity of administration, at senior level Govt. can start a 'Officers exchange program' with private sector to develop necessary business skill in administration.

PROBLEM IN SUPPLY OF LPG

(Published in The New Indian Express)
BIKASH CHOUDHURY


Being a consumer of LPG connection of one of the public sector petroleum company; thought, after receiving a double cylinder, my problem would be over pertaining to erratic supply of LPG refill. But, that was one of my wishful thinking as I had to run after private suppliers of LPG in the neighbor hood, even after a booking for a refill of 38 days. I had to buy LPG at Rs.65 a Kg available in the open market. I am sure, thousands of LPG consumer would be facing similar problem again and again in the city of Bhubaneswar. Who is to blame for this sorry state of affairs? In my opinion, the hypocrisy in subsidizing pricing of LPG by Govt. alone responsible for this problem. Any middle class family in the city and else where could easily afford to pay Rs.450 for a standard cylinder of 14.2 Kg. Out of additional one hundred rupees if the LPG distributor gets additional Rs.25 as handling charges and rest Rs. 75 could go to reduce the subsidy of Govt. and thereby bridging the wide gap between subsidizing pricing and the open market and would help stop black market of such a sensitive item in our homes and more over reduce the risk to life of road side untrained shop keeper who vend LPG gas on the street with crude device. This could be a win-win solution for all stake holders. But, it is unlikely that authorities would see reason unless until LPG consumers vociferously raise this issue and media patronize the cause.

Hygiene & Clenliness in Indian Railways

BIKASH CHOUDHURY


Recently traveled to Delhi by Rajdhani and returned by New Delhi-Puri Express in sleeper class. I was very unhappy with the standard of Hygiene and General Cleanliness in passenger coaches and wash rooms. Knowing the bad habits of large number of people using railways services; I propose the following for maintaining highest standard of hygiene and cleanliness in all over 15, 000 passenger coaches; while creating self employment opportunity for our Physically challenged people/and other depressed classes.

1. Railways first of all need to commit itself to highest standard of hygiene and cleanliness in all passenger coaches.
2. Keeping in view of bad habits of passengers, railways can recruit two Physically challenged persons on contract by an outsourcing agency to be responsible for continuous hygiene-cleanliness of coaches at all times including wash area. These people can be offered suitable training and equipments to discharge their duty.
3. Railways can pay them some nominal amount through their out sourcing agency and allow them to earn by selling essential commodities to passenger, render odd services and can earn from tips of passengers; thereby, reducing Railways financial burden and at the same time offer best of services in a clean environment to passengers.

This could be a Simple and Sustainable solutions to a gigantic problem of maintaining cleanliness across railway net work lock-stock-barrel; while being revenue positive.This would be friendly to in bound tourist visiting our country and therefore enhance the image of our country abroad.Hope the Railway Board would consider this Idea with immediate effect and implement asap.

POLICY INPUT:TOURISM SECTOR IN ORISSA

Bikash Choudhury


1. For Odisha Tourism: Cultural Tourism can be considered as Brand Positioning[That reflect our temple architecture, Jagannath Sanskriti, Our Festivals, Marriage functions, life style & food]

2.To establish Bhubaneswar-Konark-Puri as anchor tourist destination by maintaining a clean tourism triangle in collaboration with respective Civic authorities, training of people at each tourist touch points- Cab & Auto drivers( with unique uniform that can be done in association with their trade bodies), Hotel Fronts Office personnel, Tourist guides.

3. Market a package tourist charter flights from USA & Europe during November-February that covers Konark Festivals to Kharabela festivals.

4.Tourist friendly excise policy in golden triangle of Bhubaneswar-Konark-Puri as Goa Govt. policy.

5.Plan a Palace on wheels type luxury train covering Bhubaneswar-Konark-Puri-Gopalpur-Chilika in collaboration with HRAO/Railways/Tour operators/govt of orissa/GOI.

6.Invite Cruise ships into Puri-Konark-Gopalpur-Chandipur stretch.

7. Chilika Islands can be developed as Las Vegas without disturbing the Eco-system. (refer Tribal habitats in Tribal exhibition, environment friendly construction)

8. Invite all interested Parliament members in a chartered flight to all important destinations in Orissa to promo

POLICY INPUT:Transport & Commerce Dept.Govt. of Orissa

Bikash Choudhury


1.Air Connectivity to:Bhawanipatna-Koraput-Bolangir-Rourkela-Keonjhar-Baripada-Bhubaneswar(Raipur & Kolkata as optional) on a sustainable manner at reasonable cost would help faster economy development and Governance.

2. Though, all State Govt. are very keen to extend air services to remote regions of the State;but, due to load factor and cost has deterred till now any forward movement. Therefor, I hereby propose a collaboration strategy that may help air connectivity to remote places of Orissa in near future.

a. One Special Purpose Vehicle can be created for the purpose in collaboration with a low cost airline like Indigo/Jetlite/Kingfisher red, Orissa govt. and Private airport developer for the purpose. The SPV can either use a old(10-15 year) Boeing 747/Airbus to keep the cost low and cover all the above places once in morning and once in the evening.The passengers from remote areas can be given 10-20% concession by the SPV while State govt. can waive sales tax for 5-10 years.

b.Govt. can buy a new passenger jet and give on lease to the SPV on little softer terms to keep the passenger fare lower.

c. Cargo transfer between destination can also subsidies the operation.

d.Govt. can assure some minimum load factor in the initial phase.

e.Industry can be roped in to subsidies the operation on some innovative business model.

If govt. plan such an exercise in close coordination with Industry, Airlines and tour operators then Air connectivity can actually see the light of the day in two years time from now. That would be so much helpful for Governance and deployment of Govt. staffs and those places can also attract investment.