MY INDIA

Current problems:

1. Lack of Transparency
2. Non Accountability of Politicians
3. Corrupt Law makers/Law keepers

The path to redemption:

1. The problem of transparency (or the lack of it) has to be tackled at 2 levels.
1. At the macro level, the government has to show intent in re engineering the policies and procedures so as to make them simple, thereby eliminating the need for agents and misinterpretation of rules. Be it for opening a company, a university or running a chain of hotels or hospitals. A single window clearance system and an open bidding process for government contracts. Therefore, lobbying can then be minimized to a great extent.
   
   
2. At the micro level where the citizen is affected directly, greater scrutiny by the public for all the facilities being rendered by advocating CCTV’s in all the offices and relaying the live feed to people outside the offices. Setting a target date for a person’s work to be completed and penalties levied on the officials for the delays (deduction from their salaries)

2. Lack of political accountability has always been one of the biggest roadblocks in the development of our nation. In order to fix this, the elected representatives have to publish their action items to be carried out on per year basis and also show the cost, timeframe and how they intend to accomplish each of their goals.
   
   
3. Corruption grows when the fence starts eating the crop. But how to protect the fence in the first place?

Police is the first and many a time, the last resort for all of us. If they do not protect the helpless, then who would? The most common reason many police officials point out for they being corrupt in the first place is transfers and less salary. The former can be tackled by setting up an independent board to look into it at the state and central level devoid of any political interference with total transparency and on the merit of the case. The latter has to be tackled with legislation and with utmost urgency. Modernizing the force to tackle terrorism is also the need of the hour.

4. The most ambitious suggestion of mine is that, in order to tackle corruption to a great extent, use of debit/credit cards must be made mandatory for any transaction above Rs. 200. Buying/selling of goods and any financial transaction has to be made compulsory only via a debit/credit card and use of cash has to be limited to a great extent. I do understand the huge logistical challenge in implementing the same, but it can first be rolled out in major metros first and then rolled out Pan India. The use of extensive debit card is already happening around us in tier 1 cities. All we need is the intent to do it.

Conclusion:

I do not blame the present system for the mess around. Any system which we follow will have loopholes.

We, the people, have to change. Only then will Our India today change for a better India tomorrow.