In the administrative system of India, bureaucracy plays a key role as civil servants or bureaucrats function to implement the policies of the elected government in a rational, efficient, and non-partisan manner. However, people have often experienced that when it comes to implementation and delivery, the performance or the ground level is disappointing, leading to almost non-delivery or poor public services. And, one of the many factors attributed to this is the unholy nexus between politicians, bureaucrats and other interests. There are compelling reasons to believe that this is true. And, it is little wonder, the cost is stupefying.
While many feel that bureaucracy saps initiative, inhibits risk-taking, and crushes creativity; there are others who feel that in a vast and diverse country like ours, bureaucracy is unavoidable. And, there is yet another group of people who feel colonial hangovers in bureaucracy represent an utterly frustrating scenario as it can’t meet the social and economic challenges that a welfare state like India faces.
It seems worthwhile, however, to quote Queen Elizabeth I. After making Lord William Cecil her secretary, Queen Elizabeth I advised him – “This judgement I have of you that you will not be corrupted by any manner of gift, and that you will be faithful to the state and that without respect of my private will you will give me that counsel which you think best.”
Even though policies, projects and programmes are drawn up by the government and aimed at the development of the country and wellbeing of the people, successive governments have failed to appreciate the fact that leadership may change, but the engine of government does not falter on account of having a new driver in a government that possesses a relatively famed bureaucracy. However, in demanding political systems, there is less pretence that a country’s bureaucracies are deeply influenced by people’s interests.
I believe that civil servants, both principled and spineless, exist in the system; the former serve the country and the latter serve politicians and themselves. Thus a section of bureaucracy appears to act as a cog in a political machine that seeks loyalty to the regime as a means to maintain its hold on power, identify solely with the rulers and the official ideology.
Incidentally, there are not many Ashok Khemkas (transferred over 50 times in 27 years’ service and counting) who have the guts to stand up against hidden agendas, ill desired policies, corruption, exploitation etc. to remain aligned with democratic ideals. Put differently, there are civil servants wishing to sail with confidence, competence, courage and commitment but are being hounded for doing their duty. Let’s not lose sight of the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s recent observation about IAS officer Ashok Khemka who secured grading of 9.92/10 by the Reviewing Authority: “We are of the view that a person of such professional integrity needs to be protected as the professional integrity in our political, social and administrative system is depleting very fast….”
That being said, I am reminded of a statement by a retired upright IAS officer and writer and columnist whom I met at India International Centre a few years back. As I once congratulated him for writing a bold article against a powerful serving central minister, he laughed in that very contagious way he had. I also gave him a piece of unsolicited advice, that if he continued writing such pieces, he need not aspire to become a governor or head a government-appointed committee or organization. And in response, he said “I was not among those crafty bureaucrats who enjoyed the trust of unscrupulous politicians and ministers. I was sidelined, transferred for not being politically convenient and pliable but never gave in to temptation.”
However that maybe, just a few days ago, speaking at a panel discussion on ‘Has the Steel Frame Rusted’, former Chief Secretary of NCT Government of Delhi Shailja Chandra said, “It is easy to say that politicians have failed the IAS officers. But I feel this is not entirely correct. Those in the service need to introspect. If they do not have any extraneous interests, nothing can stop them from serving the people.”
So far, the feeble accountability of public and political processes, have defined the character of public administration in India. The challenge ahead for the public administration lies in finding and meeting the balance between serving citizens while upholding the rule of law without falling prey to either obstructionist and lacklustre bureaucracy or clientelism.
Nevertheless, even as we complain about red tape, paperwork, excessive bureaucratic rigmarole etc, we also love to hate it—because, eventually people rely on it to structure our country.
The Election Commission has already blown the bugle and the country will get a new government on 23rd May facing an enormous set of social and political challenges. And in order to effectively deal with this enormous set of social and political challenges, we need efficient bureaucracy. And, to find efficient bureaucracy which is long overdue, political parties need to think big and act big. Righting the country’s administrative machinery steadfastly is the only way it’s going to happen.
Indian ethos and the laws of the land mandate an efficient bureaucracy. It is now up to lawmakers, the ministers whom the bureaucracy is supposed to report directly, to ensure the country gets it. It’s time for transition from a patronage-based to merit-based bureaucracy and with which will come accelerated progress.