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ShareMinisters of the UPA-2 government seem to be in a hurry to show that they mean business; each one is trying to outdo the other in coming up with a time-bound action plan. But things already seem to be going awry. First, there is the rush to announce their 100-day agendas. Most of the ministers in the Manmohan Singh government have made it their ritual opening fare. But to be quick on the draw can have drawbacks; some of the things that have been announced are proving to be difficult to implement and this is becoming apparent within the first week itself. Not surprisingly they have been forced to backtrack.
It has happened with law minister Veerappa Moily. He gave the impression that the repeal of Article 377 of the Indian Penal Code decriminalising homosexuality was a top priority. The gay community was thrilled. But now comes the reality check. Moily has realised that it was indeed easier said than done, and the issue was more complicated than it looked. Conservative and religious groups have waded in with their objections and Moily has had to wriggle out of any commitment.
Slightly worse is the situation vis-a-vis human resources development minister Kapil Sibal. The articulate Congress leader who likes to say things loudly, clearly and emphatically finds himself in a bind too. In his first interactions with the media, he was only too eager to let it be known that he would like to spare the teenagers the trauma of board examinations at the class X level by scrapping the tests.
Cue in vocal objections from educationists and state governments, who have pointed out that they have a say in the matter. And from what they see, they don't like the idea. Sibal has now modified his earlier remarks and said that decisions will only be taken after consultations with all those concerned and once a consensus is achieved over the issue.
What Moily, Sibal and others in the government want to achieve is not in question. They are keen to make things happen, perhaps in a jiffy. What comes as a surprise is that because of Congress' relatively increased majority in Lok Sabha, they are the masters of all they survey. But they needn't show such unseemly haste.
There is no need to come up with 100-day agendas for everything, especially if it ends in capitulation; just do your job well is what we ask.
