The Liberating Nineties:

A Decade that saw massive change in India and the attitude of its citizens. Our many Liberations. - Economic (reforms) - Political (panchayat) - Social - Mental (the most important of all) A can-do attitude, positivity in the air..

A need for new heroes in our changing times.

Heroes of our Times:

Verghese Kurien (White Revolution) C.Subramanian (Green Revolution) Sam Pitroda (PCOs) Amartya Sen Mother Teresa Ratan Tata NR Narayan Murthy Sachin Tendulkar Karna Defies low caste, celebrates achievement, stands for individualism, confident attitude, above all CHARITY.

What is Wrong with our Temper? A discussion on why the attitude of Indians has turned negative and how a pessimistic outlook has developed. The main reasons: Our Crumbling Institutions such as the Railways, State Electricity Boards (SEBs), the Judiciary to name a few.

The Railways: Indian Govt. in miniature inefficient, corrupt, hopelessly over-manned, utterly politicised with shoddy, callous service. More than 50% of costs attributed to staff salaries (reason: over-staffing). Manpower used in India is 7 times more than what is used in developed countries.

Board members selected based on seniority basis rather than on the basis of efficiency and performance. Exorbitant freight charges.

Incidents discussed: Rajdhani Express on Tundla-Kanpur expressway met with an accident in Jan, 92 and the chief area manager of that area was transferred after the incident as he was tending to the injured passengers instead of taking care of the chairman of the Railway Board who had come there to inspect the situation. Solutions Suggested: Reduction of employees by: - Voluntary Retirement Schemes, (or\and) - Stop recruitment of new employees. Reduce freight rates in order to increase demand for transport of goods by railways, thereby reducing passenger fares as well as road congestion. Autonomy of railways from the Government. - Privatise various inefficient sectors of the railways (such as catering, sanitation, hospitality, manufacturing, etc,..) to different entities.

The Power Sector: Problem is not of insufficient power, but of inefficient management by the State Electricity Boards (SEBs). Inefficient distribution by the SEBs - Out of 100 units: 10 units lost in transmission, 30 units stolen and 20 units given away freely or at a subsidized rate to farmers and others. - Remaining 40 units reaches the people and they pay for the lost and mis-utilised power as well. Corruption by employees as well as customers. - Eg: a colony of IAS officers in Lucknow did not pay for electricity for 20 years. - Eg: a person who is overcharged on the meter goes to complain to the local authorities, and the employee there, suggests to tinker with the meter so that the charges dont fall above a certain limit and in turn pockets some money for himself for the service. The Dabhol power plant issue: - the MSEB was unable to purchase the entire production of power because it was bankrupt.

Solutions Suggested: Open the distribution and trading of power to private enterprises. - This will reduce loss in transmission, increase competition and thereby reduce prices. Stop subsidizations. This would ensure that all pay for what they use and would also reduce prices.

The Judiciary: 25million cases pending in the judiciary in 2002. It would take 324 years to settle all the cases at the current disposal rate. One of the main reasons for slow judicial processes is the Government which automatically appeals all the cases it loses to the higher courts. There is no dis-incentive for wrong-doers. The system is corrupt.

Solutions Suggested: From the example of S.K.Sardana, who started the Lok Adalats which was a resounding success settling 20,000 cases in 17 months. Moreover, once the case was settled by the Lok Adalat , it could not be appealed in the court again. Computerisation of all cases as was done in the Supreme Court by Justices M.N. Venkatachellaih and A.M.Ahmadi which helped to settle 76,000 cases in 12 months. In this process, all cases of similar kind were handed over to the same judge and scheduled at the same time for quick dispoal.

Why Is India Corrupt? - A open house Discussion. The Institutions encourage the corruption. It exists at the highest levels as well. Slow judiciary. Insufficient penalties and punishments. The culture that has grown in the public sector organisations and the government. Insufficient salaries.