OPEN LETTER TO ARVIND KEJRIWAL, FROM AN OLD FRIEND
My dear Arvind,
1. I was very happy to learn from newspapers that naturopathy treatment at Bangalore has helped in overcoming your health problems. Please continue to ensure your good health by following the regimen prescribed by Doctors, without any compromise. You should also thank Narendra Modi for his advise and take this gesture as a foundation of mutual goodwill.
2. Your outstanding and overwhelming success in Delhi elections has evoked jealousy and bickering from your former colleagues, who are doing their best to denigrate you. They deserve public rebuke, in view of their anti-party activity. If they have any constructive agenda, they can remain in the party and use it as a platform for improving governance processes. On the other hand, if they have only negative agenda, there is no place for them in the Aam Aadmi Party. You should deliver a loud and clear message to them: either join in the effort in nation building or get out.
3. As far as spreading Aam Aadmi Party to other States is considered, it is better to demonstrate a successful model in Delhi. After demonstrated success in Delhi, AAP in other States can quote your achievements to secure electoral mandate. It is not necessary to make centralized concerted effort for spreading AAP in other States. AAP should emerge as spontaneous reaction of leaders in other States to follow the model of good governance set by you at Delhi. You have public obligation to follow the agenda given in the party manifesto in Delhi elections. If there is dissidence in AAP on the issue of whether party activities should spread to other States or not, dissenting leaders can concentrate on party work in other States. As long as your efforts in Delhi have visible results, AAP would automatically flourish in other States.
4. You have already embarked on using technological advances in improving governance processes and grievance redressal mechanism. There is need for effective decentralization. We look forward to citizen's empowerment for holding grass root public authorities accountable. There should be implementation of Section 4 of RTI Act 2005 in letter and spirit, to enable audit by citizens: technological advances should be used for disclosure and dissemination of information. Information disseminated by grass-root local authorities should enable social audit and performance evaluation by citizens.
5. In the past Governments have not given due attention to audit observations of Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Improvements in financial management and systemic reforms would emerge from action on observations of auditors. AAP should set an example for other States by interacting with auditors to find systemic defects and taking measures to remove the aberrations. You can set the ball rolling by forming department –wise committees to examine the audit observations and come up with proposal for systemic reforms for improving financial management.
6. I look forward to reforms leading to greater decentralization and implementation of 73rd and 74th amendment to the Constitution of India in letter and spirit to usher in SWARAJ. These changes introduced in 1993 remain largely unimplemented, as State Government has preferred centralization instead of empowering Municipalities and Panchayats. Instead of institutions of self-government, development initiatives are with the Government of India, under Centrally Sponsored Schemes, which impinge on functions earmarked for Panchayats and Municipalities. According to election manifesto, AAP is committed to usher in effective decentralization and in practical terms this involves:
a. Review of implementation of 73rd and 74th amendment to the Constitution, leading to practical and workable action plan for promoting Panchayats and Municipalities as institutions of self-governance.
b. Centrally sponsored schemes are implemented through societies, that are (i) Outside audit purview of C&AG, (ii) Result in large amount of public funds parked in banks, instead of remaining in Government treasuries and (iii) Huge wasteful expenditure on overhead costs by having a parallel organization, instead of development activities being entrusted to Government Departments.
c. There is need for administrative review that may lead to abolition of centrally sponsored schemes with untied funds at the disposal of States, Municipalities and Panchayats.
7. It is essential to make visible impact in improving governance, reflected in "monthly progress report". AAP should also invite suggestions from public on practical and workable ideas to improve governance processes, financial management, grievance redressal system and public participation.
You have a difficult task before you, Arvind. I hope you would evolve modalities of constructive collaboration with centre, instead of confrontation. There is no problem or difference that cannot be resolved, if intentions are sincere.
Our best wishes for success.
Yours sincerely,
Dhirendra Krishna IA&AS (Retired)
Posted by: dhirendra.krishna@yahoo.com
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