ARTICLE FOR OPINION PAGE VIJAY TIMES
WE THE PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT
Those people


"If you don't get what you like, you like what you get!" is perhaps the expectation graph of an ordinary Indian Citizen. Be it in daily life; be it in Politics!

Though on one side, the Nation is moving its bandwidth into the gateway of prominence, on the other side, the political chemistry does not get figured out in any microbalance or litmus tests!

Witnessing haplessly the surmounting events, in regularity, shake the roots of our faith in the fabric of democracy and the political processes that we have given to ourselves.

In the Words of Abraham Maslow, the motivational psychologist,

"If the only thing you have is a hammer you tend to treat everything as a nail".

It is an easy guess to portray what most of our political gurus think of what they hold and treat the rest of the lots as! Exceptions to this are few.

There could be a realization, in the minds of the lesser fortunates, that politics is the ultimate blanket policy to cover all the prevailing ills in the systems and hierarchy of the Country.

An initiative to bring in the element of "Societal Accountability" is one immediate step that the country could look forward to!

The Political pundits though get accustomed to the Note-pads, are yet glued to the erstwhile systems of vestiges and verbiages.

It will not be out of place to think whether our present political pundits could carry us through the Virtual Realities benefiting the common man, which happen all around the world.


What could be the possible loopholes that need to be plugged in the political journey?

WHY NOT THINK OF ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES?

Resignation of an Elected Office by the politicians should disqualify them from contesting any election in the country for at least 2 Political Terms (10 years)
Politician's appointment is to be construed as that of Full-Time and his erstwhile occupation should close down/change hands.
A Politician's tenure should have a retirement age, as others have.
Multiple-contests by the same person from more than one constituency should be banned, as it is a cost on the exchequer.
If any Politician relinquishes the Office on grounds other than one's own health, or moral responsibility over a disaster, the amount spent from the exchequer for the conduct of fresh elections should be borne by him to a certain extent.
Politician's spouse or close relative should not hold any office under the same Administration.
Politician's spouse should not continue holding any office of profit or a Government Assignment, once the politician is declared as people's representative.
Separate Module to accommodate 'the high profile think-tanks' could be considered, without vesting them with any office of power or profit.
Politician with a record of Economic Default in the society should be disqualified from contesting any election.
Politician's Track record should carry INDEPENDENT RATING by recognized rating Agency –that is verifiable
RISK PROFILE of Politicians should be drawn by Risk Rating Agencies
Any Filing of Income is to be construed as an employment or Office of Profit
Politicians with a HIGH RISK PROFILE should be disqualified as THEY ARE A COST TO THE EXCHEQUER
Political mishaps and derailing of the Rule Tenure should be penalized with disqualification and penalties.
Nexus in any form by the politician should be dealt with firmly.
Part-time Politics could be permissible, project specific and problem specific.
A minimum of 15 Years' Domicile should be insisted on the contestant in that particular constituency.

REVIEW SYSTEM:

Citizens are the shareholders in the welfare of the Country. The Dividends that they get are the Developmental Activities and the economic comforts arising out of such projects.

Corporate Governance is not for Corporates alone! Just think of Extending this to the Political systems; The Audited Constituency Balance Sheet should speak of the societal accountability factor-Quantified and Quality (fied)! In the Age of Right to Information, one should consider the following models:

Like the Annual Balance Sheets of the Corporates and the individuals, the Politicians should publish Annual Balance Sheets of Self on the Website.
Income and Expenditure statements of the concerned Constituency & Audited Balance Sheet should be published every Financial Year, signed by the elected representative, who is accountable for use or misuse.
Development Rating Agencies should award Ratings to the Constituencies Annually.
National level Politician Rating should emerge (apolitical) by leading Rating Agencies.
Like the concept of Cost to the Company, a Politician's (whether in cabinet or not) Cost to the Exchequer should be fixed and any excess should be recovered.
Cost to the Exchequer should be applied to all the political outfits, irrespective of the Ruling Party.

Think of such moves and the percolation of the effects of such moves into the democratic system and its roots!

Is it not the right time to start a "MOVEMENT TO RESTORE DIGNITY in DEMOCRACY?" *