Where is public accountability in India?
By Amod Karve
We work long hours to earn bread and butter for our families. We pay a substantial amount of taxes each year so that the hidden costs for important activities like policing and infrastructure can be accounted for. But once we pay taxes, do we really have any control on how this public money is spent?
The annual Budget only feeds us with figures. We don't really see any effects on ground. I don't see better roads or better electricity in my motherland. Come to think of it, where is the accountability of various agencies towards the people of India. On paper, public accountability sounds very good; but in reality does it mean anything.
I think it is high time we introduced a concept similar to 'service level agreement' (SLA) for these agencies. So let's say that an SLA for the electricity boards is set up. If the SLA is not satisfied by the boards then the people in the affected region should have every right to penalise the boards. This might include not paying charges for the affected duration or something like that.
This would bring along a sense of competition and would enforce the agencies to provide better customer care and service. I think it is high time we had some
level of real control over the infrastructural agencies of India.
I am sure, there are many who may not like what I am saying and I would like to instigate them to post a reaction so that a free exchange of ideas could take
place.
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