Silly season and the stampede of mad hatter notions 

American artist Andy Warhol once remarked that “in the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes”. It would seem there is a race on for 15 minutes of fame. This has triggered a stampede of M
Silly season and the stampede of mad hatter notions 

American artist Andy Warhol once remarked that “in the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes”. It would seem there is a race on for 15 minutes of fame. This has triggered a stampede of Mad Hatter notions, that intent equals outcomes.


There is no denying that social apathy has perpetuated moral hazards. There is also no disputing the right of an elected government to incentivise behavioural change. The seductive option is to redefine personal liberties, thou shalt not… The validated approach is initiation of holistic action. Thanks to political expediency, the process has been reduced to an end in itself.


It is no secret that waste is both a class and cultural issue in India. Apparently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged this on his radio talk. And it is an issue that needs to be addressed in a country where millions cannot afford two-square meals. 


Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has suggested that eateries specify the amount of food served per portion—ostensibly, the subsidised canteen serving the Members of Parliament will be a starting point. It is an idea stakeholders will debate. The moot point is how this will curb wastage? Where does one start—at the brazen waste or…? 


Pertinently, is there a plan to curb wastage in other areas under the charge of government? What about stemming post-harvest losses of over `92,000 crore? What about over 55,000 tonne of wheat and rice damaged in the FCI storage between 2013 and 2016? Does intent to address one aspect bequeath political immunity from other failings? 


Earlier this month, bars and liquor shops near highways were shut down following a Supreme Court order. There is no denying that drunken driving has and does lead to accidents, injuries and fatalities. It is equally true traffic accidents are caused by a multiplicity of causes.

In 2015, out of 5,01,423 accidents, 16,298 were caused by drunken driving leading to 6,755 out of 1,46,133 deaths. Be that as it may, the order has put thousands of businesses and jobs at risk. Worried about the fallout, typically, the state governments  swiftly engineered a bypass—many have de-notified highways within the municipal limits to enable circumvention. 


And the necessary debate too was circumvented. The issue is not whether governments are right or wrong. The question is not whether the outlets should or should not be closed.

The question is whether closure will deliver the objectives— and if the bypass emboldens lawbreakers. What about regulation? What are the states doing about policing highways and can the courts enforce induction of personnel and technology? Incidentally, Gujarat, which is under prohibition, reported 23,183 accidents and 8,119 fatalities—one per hour—in 2015. 


Intriguingly, even as the state governments are busy notifying highways as municipal roads, to enable businesses, many political parties are actively considering imposing prohibition in their states. On Tuesday, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh observed that the state would like to follow the Bihar example and impose prohibition. And he is not alone. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chauhan has similar ideas—and both have deployed the phrase, in a “phased” manner. 


The notion of prohibition is an old chestnut—the nanny state premise that the government can cure the society. Yet the lure of prohibition persists—thanks to the promise of votes. Fact is, most states—Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh—which imposed prohibition have had to roll back the decision within a few years. States, cumulatively, generate over `1.25 lakh crore in taxes from alcohol—and most states are facing higher levels of debt and deficit.  


A modern democracy demands that institutions signal confidence. Due response is best illustrated by the “challenge to prove” issued by the Election Commission to all those who claim EVMs are open to tampering. However, frequently, departments fail to even respond to events.

Last week, a two-judge bench of the apex court ordered BSNL to shut down a tower. A petitioner approached the highest court of the land and argued that he was afflicted with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, caused by continued exposure to radiation due to the presence of a cellular tower in the neighbourhood. 


So how must the populace interpret this—does this mean proximity to cellular towers makes you vulnerable to cancer? What is known is that a scientific group studying this issue—following a parliamentary committee recommendation —is yet to submit its report. What must those living near cell towers believe in—or not believe in? The government is yet to speak up. The notion, perhaps, is what is unknown will not harm the residents.


There is no statute of limitations on where notions can emanate from. Often, the stampede converts solutions into problems.

A few weeks back, the government announced that schoolchildren receiving mid-day meals will be required to enroll for Aadhaar. The law on transfer of benefits (Aadhaar Act of 2016) does call for recipients of welfare to be enrolled. Equally, the Supreme Court order says Aadhaar cannot be made mandatory. 


Unsurprisingly, outrage followed —that children will be denied food. The question is why the insistence on Aadhaar enrolment.

The explanation is that the contractors are showing inflated numbers. Obviously, no school is going to authenticate every child before s/he is served. So the explanation begs for an explanation. Would not the school and district records show the number of students? How difficult is it to cross-refer contractors’ claims with the records? Also, wouldn’t it be smarter to insist on Aadhaar enrolment at the beginning of academic year for records, instead of demanding it for mid-day meals?


The stampede of notions is partly driven by political considerations. It is also systemic. The crux is non-application of mind stemming from the lack of capacity and inadequacy of processes to deal with exigencies as they arise.

The super structure of the government is trapped somewhere between the 19th and 20th Century. It needs an overhaul to demonitise Mad Hatter notions and deliver governance in the 21st Century.
shankkar.aiyar@gmail.com

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