When the Odisha Government appointed son of the soil Sam Pitroda as its technical advisor, real thinkers, planners and statesmen at home felt greatly elated that good things can happen now on the techno-ethical fronts. The decision makers have only to seek his advice on all critical matters. He should be given a Chief Ministerial authority to have his ideas implemented fast in order to save money, precious time and energy. But around the time Sam landed on home soil, the State Government pulled a terribly unacceptable job of placating some MlAs legislators, most of them wicked and evil. Sam should be suffering if he is aware of the fact. The Government has decided to keep the disgruntled BJD MlAs in good humour at public cost by amending the age-old ‘office of profit law’. Now, even some loathed, worthless MlAs can occupy district planning bodies and the western Odisha Development Council.
Probably, the great geniuses who got this blasphemous thing done do not know the rationale behind the disqualification provision for holding an office of profit beyond the regular duty and salary. The principle enjoins that the three organs of the State, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, have to remain separate from each other only to ensure isolation, immunity and independence of one from the actions or interference of another and also to ensure checks and balances among them. The objective of enacting Articles 102(1)(a) and 191(1)(a) for the Parliamentarians and similar provisions in the Federal States is to avoid conflict between the duties and interests of elected members and enable them to discharge duties freely and fearlessly without being subjected to any kind of Governmental pressure. It is implied that if such an elected person is holding an office which brings him remunerations and if the Government has a voice in his functions in that office, there is every likelihood of such person succumbing to the wishes of the Government. It is highly desired that the possibility of any conflict between duty and interest does not erupt to keep the purity of the legislature is unaffected. The Article 102(1) (a) is to ensure there is no conflict between the duties and the interest of an elected member. This Article clearly says a person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a Member of either House of Parliament:
If he holds any office of profit under the Government (Centre or State) other than an office declared by the Parliament by law not to disqualify its holder.
An office of profit need not necessarily confer pecuniary benefit; it is sufficient if it bestows ‘administrative’ and ‘executive powers’.
This provision is thus designed to protect the democratic fabric of the country from being corrupted by executive patronage and also secures the independence of law makers from the influence of the Government so that they discharge their functions without fear or favor. The presumption is that if a legislature receives benefits from the Executive than he may not be able to independently scrutinize the actions of the Government. The provision is thus designed to protect the democratic fabric of the country from being corrupted by executive patronage. It ensures that the legislature does not contain persons who may be obligated to the government and be amenable to its influence because they are receiving favors and benefits from it.
Hence, trying to keep unworthy people happy makes no sense as they will all abuse power and make money by way of claiming huge amounts of money under the plea of actual expenses. The miniscule number of ethically perfect members is only a couple of pins in the haystack. The worst is the media community that does not delve into the issues because of both ignorance and diseased greed. Not a single story of analysis has appeared in any media. The bland news kept flashing for a while and died down to make space for more rotten stuff that makes no sense to improving governance or people’s reactions.
Truth about Iskcon temple: Shockingly, there is attempt by the irresponsible media people to spread the wrong message of the Iskcon coming up with a huge Jagannath temple at Puri. The truth is a beautiful Radha Krishna temple is being built to make the eternally perfect Sanatana faith appropriately popular to bring the suffering mankind some divine solace. Besides, even if they build a Jagannath temple, why should that bother and disconcert BJP politicians in a secular countryIJ Building a replica, let alone a larger Jagannath temple than the heritage wonder we have, is just plain crap. Billions of dollars with the best machinery would take decades to eventually fail in completing a magnificent structure to match the great temple in Puri.
Wonder vehicle bicycle: If Odisha is to improve the quality of life of the people by ensuring good governance, the first thing the executive must do is cut expenses of Government functionaries by enforcing, to begin with, car-vehicle pools for all officials to bring down the huge fossil fuel bill cleared by the people ignorantly. The young IAS and IPS and such other cadre officers must be forced to espouse the health-giving wonder called the bicycle. The Scandinavians, French, Spaniards, Britons, Americans, Germans and above all the Dutch love the bike (without the engine) more than any other vehicle because they feel euphoric and morally satisfied that their contribution to environment protection is fair. Electric rickshaws will turn cities silent and clean. The number of brash young men with horrifically masked grown girls riding the pillion can also go down drastically. Big surprise is that the masked girls are let free by the gaping police despite the fact that no person should move publicly hiding the face.
The Union Urban Development Ministry’s bicycle scheme for ten cities under a special mission is to attain a Sustainable Habitat. The laudable attempt is to move pedal power up the value chain. It will feature modern bicycles, Information technology-based operations, control and management systems and high visibility. These qualities can win converts from the users of cars and motorised two-wheelers. The shift is essential because the outcome can reinforce the principle of equity in the use of roads, ease congestion, and reduce pollution. The biggest hurdle to greater use of bicycles in India’s cities is not lack of popular demand but a hostile external environment. The National Urban Transport Policy of 2006 addressed the problem of lack of safety for non-motorised transport, but bicycle-inclusive city planning has not followed as envisaged then.
Bicycles are the lowest-cost, non-polluting means. Noteworthy that london has fared so well despite harsh weather round the year and the Barcelona’s Biking programme has measurably cut down carbon dioxide emissions. There is little doubt that attracting more people, including the better-off sections of society, to this mode of transport will make India’s roads safer for the thousands of less affluent cyclists who remain virtually invisible to policymakers. A good start can be made by locating shared bicycle stations in school zones. The Union Government’s 2006 policy did emphasise building segregated rights of way for bicycles and pedestrians, but most State Governments have ignored the advice. To advance the egalitarian goal of getting more people to take to bicycles in cities, there must be a conscious effort to restrain motorised traffic and reduce speed. This can be done using road design and policy. Hopefully, this humble suggestion reaches Naveen Patnaik’s ears and he implements the bicycle programme at least for all students and teachers.
BMC callousness: lastly, it seems the BMC is callous to hygiene and sanitation issues of Bhubaneswar. The Kalinga Hospital authorities are aghast that the BMC is bringing up an ugly, least-desired ‘latrine-bath’ facility adjacent to its main entrance gate. Strange that a high sanitation-hygiene centre has to suffer a public latrine-bath torture. The air and the groundwater will be polluted to pose danger for the patients, attendants and hospital workers alike. Further, the latrine-bath structure is coming up on a space earmarked to accommodate greater road width. The BMC authorities have to shift the filth-spewing structure further away to avoid a public interest litigation which is bound to be filed.
Naveen Patnaik with his amazing monopoly political status has to prove being more innovative than Kejriwal, who performs boldly against odds of a perpetually dissenting lieutenant Governor and a hostile police force.
(The writer is a core member of Transparency International, Odisha)