Editorial:
Has anyone wondered what would happen to Sikkim if the government were to pull away from its established role as the largest consumer. Not only is the government the largest employer, it is also the only consumer of local services [by way of contracts and supplies]. Although things are noticeably, one is still living in a scenario where the sharpest of entrepreneurs want to get into the government supply business and the best professionals aim a slot in the government machinery. Granted that given Sikkim’s small population, business models with the State as the end-user makes better economic sense, but surely there are many other small regions which are doing rather well for themselves and would prefer governmental presence to be phased out. In Sikkim, however, a situation has been created wherein the government is expected to play the role of the policy maker, the executer, the NGO, the entrepreneur, consumer and even the civil society.
Of course, it would be wonderful if the government could essay all these roles. Fact remains that it can’t. But the expectations remain and when forced to reach out in so many directions, two things happen – nothing gets done well and the fine line that divides concerned governance from dictatorial streaks gets crossed frequently. Sikkim’s first Human Development Report recorded that 30% of the families in Sikkim have at least one direct member employed in a government department. That was a decade back and makes it obvious why a Civil Society is so under-developed here – since there are that many fewer people around who can respond with their conscience to social triggers and many more who temper their responses with an eye on their pay-cheques and posting worries. When the powers-that-be are expected to take care of everything, they are made more powerful than is desirable in a democracy. The setting is perfect for corruption and nepotism to flourish and the two have become synonymous with Sikkim not because the politician-bureaucrat nexus is especially corrupt here, but because they are offered more chances to be so. What one has to also realise is that it is not just the bureaucrat-politician combine which is corrupt. Also in the nexus are private people. From the truck driver who siphons away 10 kilos of cement from each bag he ferries to the supplier who inflates his invoice and short supplies on the order, all are guilty of plundering the State treasury. Agreed, there is a much bigger game afoot in bigger projects which we do not even get to hear of, but the fact remains that the plunder goes on at every level. Every Sikkimese who uses his contacts to win the award of some GCI sheets for his/her greenhouse by getting enumerated in the Below Poverty Line list is guilty of contributing to the corpus of corruption. In doing so he/she also loses the right to protest against corruption unless willing to also share the punishment. Every local who sublets a trade-licence or sells away a contract compromises local protection and weakens the governance that can deliver it.
A private sector has been evolving in Sikkim and more and more professionals are working outside the government. As educational pursuits start aiming higher and more Sikkimese start prospering independent of the Government, a stronger social response and involvement can be expected. One already sees flashes of it in various sectors, but these are still early days. What one must also bear in mind is that the Civil space is an open space and entry is not restricted. There will be many interest groups and motivated agendas which will elbow for room in this public domain and all that will be fine so long as the people know where the voices are coming from. It will be important though to steer enough Civil Society engagements to the genuine concerns of the society, especially the concerns of the young.
Has anyone wondered what would happen to Sikkim if the government were to pull away from its established role as the largest consumer. Not only is the government the largest employer, it is also the only consumer of local services [by way of contracts and supplies]. Although things are noticeably, one is still living in a scenario where the sharpest of entrepreneurs want to get into the government supply business and the best professionals aim a slot in the government machinery. Granted that given Sikkim’s small population, business models with the State as the end-user makes better economic sense, but surely there are many other small regions which are doing rather well for themselves and would prefer governmental presence to be phased out. In Sikkim, however, a situation has been created wherein the government is expected to play the role of the policy maker, the executer, the NGO, the entrepreneur, consumer and even the civil society.
Of course, it would be wonderful if the government could essay all these roles. Fact remains that it can’t. But the expectations remain and when forced to reach out in so many directions, two things happen – nothing gets done well and the fine line that divides concerned governance from dictatorial streaks gets crossed frequently. Sikkim’s first Human Development Report recorded that 30% of the families in Sikkim have at least one direct member employed in a government department. That was a decade back and makes it obvious why a Civil Society is so under-developed here – since there are that many fewer people around who can respond with their conscience to social triggers and many more who temper their responses with an eye on their pay-cheques and posting worries. When the powers-that-be are expected to take care of everything, they are made more powerful than is desirable in a democracy. The setting is perfect for corruption and nepotism to flourish and the two have become synonymous with Sikkim not because the politician-bureaucrat nexus is especially corrupt here, but because they are offered more chances to be so. What one has to also realise is that it is not just the bureaucrat-politician combine which is corrupt. Also in the nexus are private people. From the truck driver who siphons away 10 kilos of cement from each bag he ferries to the supplier who inflates his invoice and short supplies on the order, all are guilty of plundering the State treasury. Agreed, there is a much bigger game afoot in bigger projects which we do not even get to hear of, but the fact remains that the plunder goes on at every level. Every Sikkimese who uses his contacts to win the award of some GCI sheets for his/her greenhouse by getting enumerated in the Below Poverty Line list is guilty of contributing to the corpus of corruption. In doing so he/she also loses the right to protest against corruption unless willing to also share the punishment. Every local who sublets a trade-licence or sells away a contract compromises local protection and weakens the governance that can deliver it.
A private sector has been evolving in Sikkim and more and more professionals are working outside the government. As educational pursuits start aiming higher and more Sikkimese start prospering independent of the Government, a stronger social response and involvement can be expected. One already sees flashes of it in various sectors, but these are still early days. What one must also bear in mind is that the Civil space is an open space and entry is not restricted. There will be many interest groups and motivated agendas which will elbow for room in this public domain and all that will be fine so long as the people know where the voices are coming from. It will be important though to steer enough Civil Society engagements to the genuine concerns of the society, especially the concerns of the young.
some of your points are very true! to add to this, it is also the educational system who should equally share the blame. One of the major reason (among others) pertinent to your point is the lack of debate or lack of criticism.We have failed to instill this virtue among our wards...
ReplyDeleteThe easiest thing to do in life is to blame. We blame the government, the system, the society, the set up but ourselves.
ReplyDeleteOur civil society is yet to wake up from the self-inflicted slumber. People do not seem to care about the future at all. We are so much driven by consumerism and materialism that we have forgotten even the most basic of our duties and responsibilities!!
The apathy and indifference of the people shock me.
This I,ME, MYSELF attitude wil lead us nowhere.
If we want to walk fast, we can walk alone but if we want to walk far, we have to walk together.
Jaago Sikkim jaago!!!