Karnataka may have to pay the price for corruption

The performance of a government has to be judged by its results and the people’s confidence in its functioning. When a government creates an enabling environment for the people to engage in productive economic and social activities, incomes and employment tend to rise.

When a government delivers essential public services and infrastructure efficiently, the productivity and well being of the people and organisations improve. When a government follows and enforces the rule of law, and is transparent and accountable in the eyes of the people, their trust in the leadership gets enhanced.

The first three years of the BS Yeddyurappa government, when measured against these criteria, fail to get a passing grade. I give it a grade of three on a scale of 1 to 10. Political instability, infighting within the party in power, major allegations of corruption and abuse of money power, and the chief minister’ s conflicts with the Centre diverted his focus from governance to a desperate struggle for political survival.

A government that started with a “Vision 2020” initiative, soon got derailed, unable even to guide its day-to-day operations. The disastrous impact of these factors on the state is there for all to see.

On the economic front, Karnataka’ s growth rate for the past three years has fallen well below the national average, and the government’s own target. This, despite the fact that the state’s finances were in pretty good shape. Progress in terms of infrastructure building and the efficient provision of essential public services have suffered as a result. In a country that aspires to be a super power, Karnataka is plagued by super power cuts!

A minister has openly admitted the lamentable state of health services in a public hospital not far from the Vidhana Soudha. Real estate transactions are shamelessly driven by violations and abuses, with building permissions and registration offices acting as dens of corruption. None of this can be attributed to the present government alone. But one would have expected a government that promised a new vision and good governance to tackle these problems upfront.

The state’ s leadership has been embroiled in allegations about illegal mining, destruction of the environment, and horse-trading in the political arena. These events have severely dented the public image of the government and the party in power. Most people believe that corruption has become pervasive in Karnataka, and that this will have a negative impact on future investments and economic progress of the state.

Under the circumstances, the bureaucracy responsible for implementing the government’ s policies and programmes has been left with scant direction. The policy decisions and urgent actions required for implementation are stalled or ignored, resulting in the slowdown of economic activities, and creating opportunities for arbitrariness and abuses at all levels. No action has been taken on the recommendations of the Greater Bangalore Committee, for example, with serious implications for the city’ s orderly growth.

The chief minister has just two years left to redeem his promises. Will he make an effort to tackle the problems highlighted here or go out with a whimper, unable to rise to the occasion? The challenges before him are clear. He needs to restore people’s trust in his government, by rectifying the wrong decisions of the past, and enforcing the rule of law, with increased transparency.

On the positive side, he has the advantage of reasonably healthy public finances. He should resolve to utilise the resources wisely and make his officials accountable for their performance and integrity. He needs to meet with and understand the problems of all his people and not merely those who support his party or faction. Leaders who fail to feel the pulse of their people are unlikely to gain their respect, trust and support.