Epaper
Stocks
Today's Paper
Weather
Horoscope
Mayawati, reformer!
Torrent Power Limited, a private sector power distribution company that runs networks in several cities — mainly in Gujarat and Maharashtra — has now added one more to its stable: Agra. Uttar Pradesh, the casual reader might think, is not a Gujarat or Maharashtra, not the first state
in which one would think that processes to rationalise urban India’s public utilities would be put in place. But that is a crucial narrative of UP under the Bahujan Samaj Party lost in the all-encompassing din that’s born of reflexive negativity about Chief Minister Mayawati’s malas and memorials. Agra is but the first town in a comprehensive attempt — initiated in November 2008 — to privatise UP electricity delivery, in order to cut down on theft and depoliticise the collection of user fees. But most of the other towns have not yet had enough reasonable bidders for the process to move forward.
This is but one of the occasions in which the reformist instincts of the UP government have neither been sufficiently acknowledged in our public discourse — nor have they been supported by other players to the extent they should have been. The focus on the social churning that the BSP represents is, of course, convenient for those who would like to think of its autocratic leader as a potential figurehead for a mushy, regionalist, anti-progressive “third front”-kind of force; the crucial glue in any such doomed enterprise, the Left, has every incentive to shut its eyes to any reformist, pragmatic instincts that Mayawati might demonstrate.
It’s less clear, however, why attempts by a state government to push its administration towards effectiveness, to create vital growth-supporting infrastructure, should be ignored by those with a stake in making that happen. On March 23, the UP government put out a very unusual press release. It wasn’t one that asked for more Central funds. It didn’t accuse the Centre of pushing it into reform that it didn’t want. Instead, the statement listed what the state government wanted to get built: coal power plants; widening of highways; private participation in education; new airports. And, instead of demanding handouts, it asked for clearances and approvals from Central ministries. Such urgency is welcome but as the UP government pushes ahead with these projects, it should remember that key to the success of refom are accountability, transparency and best practices, three attributes so far quite alien to Lucknow. These need to take roots in Agra for the state government’s reform programme to appear credible — and sustainable.
Reader's Comments(6) | Post a comment
Mayawati scores where Jayalalithaa flopped very badly. The Behenji is extremely good at her social engineering and maths. She knows that even if the Brahmins ditch her she has her Muslim and Dalit votes which guarantee her stay and return to power anytime elections are held. The Muslim voter of UP knows fully well that Mulayam's party is in a shambles after the exit of Amar Singh and other leaders. Mayawati realises that it's only the Congress which can pose problems to her. The Congress too realises that UP can be in its pocketburrowugh only if it can destablise the caste configuration which is in favour of BSP and SP. The BJP can only hope for another mandir mantra which can do some miracle in the next elections. The Behenji knows her constituency well. Well, today she is weighed against Indian currency notes, tomorrow, who knows the NRIs of UP may weigh her against the dollars which can oput even the world bank to shame. It's money, honey that gives woman the real empowerment.
today i read in many newspapers that that toronto will also apply the formula to increase revenue by increasing charges above consumption of 200 units all genuine consumers will use above this limit in summer season. till when the right will pay for others, the losses r due to other reasons increasing charges is not the solution. i suggest the concerned to not to go on the prev. systems but they may work professionally.
I agree with Mr. KK that media is so obssessed with Congress and its projection of Rahul-Sonia that all the good works is only in Oppisition rule states, Today my coll. has return from Indore and he was pleased to see after 5 years, the widen roads, good infrastructure and much chnaged city for the good, I never heard in media that MP Gov. is doing some good work, no need to add that Gujarat, Bihar Karnataka are other states towards betterment, and see what is happening to AP- Hyderabad..... under congress....
Problem with media is that they are obsessed with Rahul and congress and most of time failed to see work done by other governments. The amount of work done by BSP govt is UP is in last almost three years is only next to Gujarat. UP was in pathetic situation and to see an impact we need 5-6 years. BSP government has hit hard on three core issues of Infrastructure (power and expressways), law and order (probably is best in last 10years) and reforming caste system. Media has to move away from congress and then only they will realize that other governments can deliver much more ambitious project in quicker time. List of work is long to list .....
Behn Mayavati is behaving like any other politician of India.She is,in fact, a shade smarter.After malas and memorials,she is now extending her begging bowl before the PM to fund Uttar Pradesh for implementing the Right to Education Act!She did not know that malas and memorials cannot bring education to the masses of UP who are already starving.Even keeping the poor inaccessible to education helps the politicians to maintain their stranglehold on them. It is to be seen whether the Planning Commission will release Plan funds to UP despite Mayavati's wasteful expenditure on Malas and Memorials? The Supreme Court has already washed its hands off this tamasha,calling it an administrative matter.What happened to Judicial Activism? A K SAXENA (A retired civil servant)