By Daya Sagar
Demonetisation is not the end but beginning of our deep and continuous struggle against black money and corruption,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a ‘Parivartan’ rally in Moradabad on 3rd December that he is not only for finishing black money and corruption, but to
block all channels of dishonesty and needs support of people.
Near total demonetisation of Indian currency as was ordered by Modi government on 8th November 2016 was an extreme step worth trying putting the common man to many difficulties but still has been received by many quite sportingly. Of course people have expressed shortfall in implementation.
Let us hope that at least now after taking such an extreme step Modi will lay hands on the channels and elements within the Government that have been allowing generation of black money. No doubt there are many sincere and honest government employees in income tax/ revenue/commercial taxes / related departments but more of political back up is enjoyed by the evaders. Hence it could be said that inspite of so many checks and balances incorporated in the system even the present NDA government has not been able to make the public service delivery system deliver on the ground effectively.
The government / public infrastructure in sectors like education and health too has lost the public confidence even when government is spending lakhs of crores of cash expenditures on the salaries / establishment costs and material inputs. In many cases government schools have more qualified teachers and teachers in schools are paid 2 to 3 times more salary as is paid by private schools still a principal of a government schools (what to talk of a Director School Education or a Commissioner Education or a Deputy Commissioner or a police chief ) in cities like Jammu may not be found sending his own ward to the school that he/ she is managing. The same way a “Sevak” may be rarely seen taking services of a government hospital, Why? So. Is the case with the law order security system and Modi will have to do lot for restoring public confidence in case he really means sealing all the channels of corruption and dishonesty.
Many have been opinioned that in view of the type of security provided to government servants under the service rules it is near impossible to take action against the officers / officials of doubtful integrity and non-performers. It is not out of place to mention here that all public services in the country even under the state governments are in a way headed and monitored by officers belonging to All India Services Cadre (planning/ administration/law-order/health/education/revenue/ finance/ police. So, for rooting out corruption/malpractices /black money , in addition to direct monetary corrections there is utmost need for the present NDA government to even have a relook into Article -311 of Constitution of India so as review the service security provided to government servants (dismissal, removal or reduction in rank of persons employed in civil capacities under the Union or a State ).
The “black money” had inflicted and has been inflicting heavy causalities on the Indian social order, the peaceful, coexistence, civic order, delivery of public services, socio-economic security, planning as well as external security. It has to be accepted by all and message need be taken to all Indian citizens that Centre was compelled to order a near total demonetisation of currency when all the installed administrative and legal mechanisms had failed. And also the government too will have to prove fair intentions by laying hands on the non-performing government machinery…. To be continued
(Daya Sagar is a senior journalist and social activist can be reached at [email protected])
