DNA of Babudom

Poonam I Kaushish
A 10-year old school boy feeling nausea sticks his head out of moving bus hits an electric pole and dies in Modinagar. His inconsolable parents who demand action against the school are stunned by the SDM’s insensitivity who screams at them menacingly wagging her finger, “Bas Chup! Samajhte nahin ho?” Succinctly, shut up, I am the law. Welcome, the DNA of India’s bureaucracy!
Questionably, is this young IAS officer an isolated case or representative of a growing breed of bureaucrats who are a hindrance in modern-day governance? Is India’s administrative system going horribly wrong?
Prime Minister Modi too has time and again put the bureaucracy on the mat. He acerbically remarked in Parliament last year, “Sab kuch babu hi karenge. IAS ban gaye matlab who fertilizer ka karkhana bhi chalayega, chemical karkhana bhi chalayega, hawai jahaj bhi chalayega. Yeh kaun si badi takat bana kar rakh di hamne? Babuon ke haath mein desh de karke hum kya karne wale hain?
What is this all-conquering force that (read Frankenstein) our rulers have created? Babus who lack the drive to ‘just do it,’ a decision pusher not a taker, champion of the ‘middle route , one who stays clear of anything remotely controversial or bold and hedges his bets to the point of inaction. “Consensus and consultation” are his stock-in-trade to protect his backside. “Government decisions are process and policy related not instant result oriented. Pliable, malleable, obsequious, servile, pusillanimous etc.
Over the years our bureaucracy has been seriously compromised. Thanks to arbitrary and questionable methods of appointments, promotions, transfers by leaders which has resulted in corrosion of morale. Consequently, strengthening the temptation to collusive practices with rulers to avoid inconvenient transfers and gain advantages by ingratiating themselves to their political mai-baaps. Pithily doing their undaata’s bidding than adhering to rules.
Rooted, in the firm belief that like their masters, they are law unto themselves. Used to dispensing patronage many like the colour of money, resulting in no accountability, no fear of removal arrogantly earning big pay packets for non-productive work. Consequently, most officials have little interest in taking initiatives or have commitment to serve people.
Worse, instead of putting the right man in the right job, the neta invariably ends up in choosing a wrong man for the right job for the wrong reasons. Brining matters to such a pass that caste, corruption, pliability and political connections alone count when it comes to promotions. Thus, administration becomes increasingly weak and arbitrary since there is no time to acquire even minimum knowledge necessary for discharge of functions.
Shockingly, 17 Ministries have each had minimum 6-7 secretaries during the past 7 years. Not all, necessitated by superannuation. Rural Development 8 secretaries, ditto health and education. Some were shifted before completing their two year tenure. Who will be held responsible?
There is also large diversion of funds from intended purposes at various levels of administrative hierarchy. This has chained the economy caged in archaic socialist anti-competitive policies that have spurred unbridled crony capitalism. A majority of who work on the dictum, show me the face I will show you the rule. Which translates into grease my palms else I will read you the riot act and how!
Said a Minister, “The most dangerous individual is our bureaucracy. One needs immense strength to deal with it. It was meant to check the system but the check has turned to cheques and the balance is out of the window! Babudom has become an elite self perpetuating club which protects its perks, turf and corners all top jobs.” Adeptly they have created jobs like regulators and committees, cornered by retired bureaucrats.
Despite various high-powered committees experts view is that reform of the system is not feasible. Not because the country does not know what to do but because of political resistance to reform. With politics becoming most lucrative business with few checks and controls there is compulsion for a mantri to attempt to coerce civil servants with him for mutual benefit.
Primarily, as bureaucrats’ crib-to-grave security ring-fences them from being decisive due to their pay packets being totally unhinged from merit or achievement. Whether one is competent or laggard one moves in the same slow lane which creates aversion to risk taking. Hence the urge to micro manage and ‘crate provisos’.
Can babudom be re-shaped to fulfill its role as key deliverer of correct policy and innovative decision-making? Yes. Provided both neta-babu work together. There have been various attempts at reform but none were successful. See how Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendation of performance-linked pay was ignored by most Ministries. A senior former bureaucrat defended, “such a system would lead to “reward hunting.”
Clearly, bureaucratic bane can be curbed only when leaders realize inaction is not indivisible. Bluntly, to curb inertia measures have to be taken to restore civil services’ professionalism based on absolute, not obsolete principles. Officers must give serious thought to determining what action needs to be taken collectively to overhaul, remove administrative deficiencies, expose political malfunctioning and restore the system
One, internalize zero tolerance and “sunset principle” as in US. Under this justification for any Governmental activity is all the time under scrutiny so that no acts of misdemeanour take place. Two, see how recruitment takes place, in-service training, officers assessment, incentives and disincentives for selection to critical posts.
The Government must downsize from Secretary to chaprasi. Non-performing officers should be forcibly retired at the end of 20 years service, alternatively, ruthlessly dumped. An exit policy of hire and fire is paramount if we desire an accountable, trustworthy and honest bureaucracy.
A young India, with 50% citizens aged below 35 years, can ill-afford to ignore the suppressed restlessness and aspirations of its youth. The writing is on the wall. It is time bureaucracy shrugs off its apathy. Civil servants must give serious thought to determining what action needs to be taken collectively to remove administrative deficiencies, expose political malfunctioning and restore the system. Or else it would debase itself to an I Am Sorry (IAS) service! (INFA)

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