tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37939648.post6009630322521745515..comments2010-03-16T04:00:30.747-07:00Comments on Saving Mumbai from herself: Prime Minister's Independence Day Address -- an agenda for reform Part 1AGworldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08156302311566152049noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37939648.post-68283820795609973172007-08-22T09:32:00.000-07:002007-08-22T09:32:00.000-07:00Dear Mr. Prime Minister;Thank you very much for su...Dear Mr. Prime Minister;<BR/>Thank you very much for such splendid ideas. The impracticality of which shows your complete isolation from ground realities <BR/>a characteristic obsrved only in neo-capitalist completely enamored by western thoghts and believe in universal application of free market "dose" <BR/>as a "cure all".<BR/>First few paras are devoted to the "vision /where my country should be" etc.I fully agree with your "vision" Mr. Prime Minister; <BR/>as we know everybody; no doubt; wants the best things in life; the problem is very few have tenacity to generate implementable,<BR/>practical solutions to achieve that.With this thing in mind let us discuss your ideas.<BR/>Law and Order: Certainly we can increase the funding on Police and defence services. I "love" that idea. Problem is<BR/>How? Cut back on other sectors? If yes which one and how much? Or I should just keep on printing more and more notes?<BR/>What percentage of my GDP is on defence? any bench marking? More importantly just by spending more on defence would it give me "more feel <BR/>of security?" yes..../no.......?Should I spend on personnel or equipments? Point number two: reform blueprint to completely isolate Law Enforcement<BR/>from political influence. Sir; if you come out with such an "implementable" policy; I will be the first person to recommend your name<BR/>for the noble peace award/Magassasey award for government service. The problem is each and every political party in India has aptly <BR/>demonstrated that when it is outside the power it is against political influence on police force but as soon as it is in power <BR/>it wants he same influence.The most covetted post in any cabinate is "Home". Why?......<BR/>Forget about political parties; even at individual level: If any of us are caught for even a minor <BR/>traffic violation ; and; that person happens to know any influential person (local MLA,commissioner etc etc.) there is more than <BR/>90% probability that , this influence would be used for escape;"irrespective of class, religion, creed or nationality."<BR/><BR/>Sector Two :Health Care: This "brilliant highly creative" idea is based on sort of "Food Stamps" concepts in USA. A few questions <BR/>though: You are creating sort of "Cash Equivalents". Who will issue them? and on what basis? (Need basis? if yes, then who determines <BR/>the need? if health care providers then the course of action is : I first go to the hospital determine that I have this problem; it will cost <BR/>so much and then apply to the govt. to get those "cash equivalent vouchers?") <BR/>if the answer is "no" and every one gets fixed number of vouchers then; this situation is even<BR/>more dangerous. What happens if one person has many health care needs and other person is healthy. Will these vouchers <BR/>be freely tradable commodity? Will the amount of health care needs be determined by govt (probably "Ministry of health vouchers") and on what basis.<BR/>What happens if there is an epidemics or a series of bomb explosions and health care needs shoot up? Wouldn't such an innovative idea lead to <BR/>another major Ministry. "Ministry of medical vouchers". What is your estimate of the size of this ministry. (50,000 more babus)<BR/>Now your second reform in Health care: About establishing "regulator instituition" to ensure stringent quality, service, hygiene and <BR/>competence criteria.<BR/>Splendid idea; Mr. Prime Minister; However it was implemented long time back with "Medical coucil of India" a body of professionals. <BR/>who "is suppose to" regulate the "industry". Now without proper analysis of its achievements/failure and reasons there of; should we <BR/>establish another institution.? or start with "a clean slate" and a decade later find ourselves at the same point we started today.<BR/>If we just want to create a new one (without judging reasons of failure of earlier one) why not rename the MCI; we will be happy; we did <BR/>"changed" something without additional burden on exchaquer<BR/> As far new institution what should be its composition? should it have only Doctors on it or should also have consumers? <BR/>(and as representatives of consumers: Govt nominees?). <BR/><BR/>Any way Mr. Prime Minister thank you for your terrific ideas. I hope you will take time/efforts to answer some ground points so that<BR/>we can atleast start towards its implementation during your tenure.<BR/><BR/>At last Mr. Prime Minister; it seems after our last president; every second person on the street in our coutry; wants to be a visionary. <BR/>The problem is nobody talks of "practical & implementable" solutions/ground level analysis to convert that vision into reality.<BR/><BR/>Jai HindAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15932207352378381012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37939648.post-35659245451243885442007-08-20T15:25:00.000-07:002007-08-20T15:25:00.000-07:00Dear Agworld; Following is a news piece which may...Dear Agworld; <BR/><BR/>Following is a news piece which may modify your thinking. In a press conference conducted by Narayan Murthi; following was his flagship sentence. " We need tremendous investments in sectors like road,power and other infrastructure....etc. etc. ... and I don't mind inviting foreign companies to India provided a robust regulatory framework is put in place so as to protect people interest."..... I go a step further and feel the same is applicable even to "free market economy"/private sector". If any one is really keen on free market forces ,the first step is shouting for "robust regulatory framework so that peoples interest are put in front. Ground rules are clear and open. I do not think anybody is against freeer markets here; but the haste with which some people are propagating in free market without giving any thoughts to robust regulatory framework certainly gives rise to suspicion that the ulterior motive is something else.<BR/><BR/>BTW when is your part-II of your speech coming out? 26th January 200X+1?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15932207352378381012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37939648.post-85948356261942043712007-08-20T04:01:00.000-07:002007-08-20T04:01:00.000-07:00Visionary...and simply brilliant.Visionary...and simply brilliant.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07489559249230613324noreply@blogger.com