Article - 17 : Week 26

A Consignment Of Guilt:

We can not but stare straight at the heartbreaking stories of 'blatant corruption, cronyism, and shoddy connections' in our shipping industry. Without delving into thorough articulations - we are a nation, branded 84^th in the list of corrupt nations – even behind Burkina Faso (78th) with a GDP(PPP) of a mere 1100$. We need not hide behind the make-believe walls of denial from the condescending glares of the global community. We need not hang our heads in shame when pushed to confront the naked lacerations of our corrupt practices. Let's first try to comprehend from bottom up rather than top down.

A Simple Example:

1. You just (out of the blues) gift Rs 1000/ to a Babu – it's not unlawful.
2. You request a Babu to pass your file – it's not unlawful.

However, when you combine (A) & (B) it certainly is ! How can two innocent acts when combined result in Corruption? You may contend on the line of intentions. But then the intentions never change, except the degrees. (A) may have been unrelated to (B) in isolation: But it has a distant and distinct leaning of bending the Babu's judgments. After all, there can be no justification of being altruistic to a well-fed Babu, when we have millions of well deserving & suffering poor men. And requesting the Babu has its intents represented – loud and clear. The paradox appears to be a real one, until we leave the third interested party in the transaction – that is the Government, the service provider. The Babu gets paid by the government to pass your file. You pay a fee, however nominal or indirect it may be, to pass your file. The Babu's salary and therefore his incentive come from the fees you pay to the government. 

Let's say he duly passes your files on time without taking any direct incentive or inducement from you. The government system does not give him any extra incentive – even in the form of appreciation – to the Babu for doing his duty diligently. If you do something mischievous after getting your file passed and it comes to light, the Babu is unceremoniously questioned, and is made to prove his judgment & save his skin, in passing the file. That's no mean task, because he could not have read your evil mind and its intentions out of millions of possibilities, when he passed the file. In other words, the Babu's sincere work has punished him in an extremely harsh manner. Let's say he just sits on the file and makes sure that it does not get passed – while accepting no further inducement from you. He gets his salary on time. He has no risk of getting into answering his judgment. He is not asked to explain, why he did not pass the file with diligence and in a reasonable time. Even when he is asked, he can very easily give any number of excuses for the delays. 

To sum up 

(X) When a Babu works, he gets – (1) High risk of getting into trouble (2) No increase of incentive

(Y) When he doesn't – (1) No risk (2) No reduction in incentive, & reward of a peaceful life with time bound promotions.

A rational human, put in as a Babu, would prefer the second option with eyes closed. However, a smarter and entrepreneurial Babu would evaluate the cost of risks for doing his work diligently, and add a premium to that cost as his incentive. If you are ready to pay this, he would do his work diligently. If no, why should he take the uninvited risk and punishment? Let's call it Option (Z).

We as Indians are hardcore idealists, romanticizing the (X) syndrome – that can never happen, except in the celluloid screens of sacha inspectors. Clean governance, e-governance, a clean image, and fight against corruption are just a few euphemisms in support of our running behind (X) syndrome.  We humans are rational and selfish and incapable of displaying (X) behaviors. (Y) behavior is frustratingly ubiquitous in all government organizations - understandably so for the rational & conscientious souls. And we as a nation are thriving on (Z) syndrome and interestingly fighting it tooth & nail to kill it. The nation would grind to a starving halt if (Z) syndrome is banished over night by some miraculous wand of magic. 

'(X) is unattainable, (Y) is immensely detrimental to our growth, and (Z) is the tool of our progress. I am not glorifying (Z) in any way. It is just that (Z) is an unthought of externality of an unfair & incongruent system of administration & polity that needs overhaul. The current system penalizes action, encourages inaction, and therefore has come out with an unintended externality, (Z) that seems to drive our engine of progress. The need of the hour is to change the system so that action is rewarded handsomely and inaction is penalized as brutally as can be swallowed - rather than run in vain to squash (Z) syndrome.

______________________________________________________________________

Brgds

Capt Rath

Econship Marine
704:5:6 Maithili's Signets 7th Floor,
Sector 30A  Vashi Navi Mumbai 400 703.

Dir No : 6457 2316

Tel : +91 22 6457 2316 Fax: 27814294

Sales : 645723  18 to 19 Trade : 645723 29 to 31

Acc Adm Hr : 645723  20 to 23 IT : 6457 2324 

Export & Customer Service : 645723 25 to 27

www.econshipping.com l www.econarmy.blogspot.com

MSN : psrath@hotmail.com Skype : psrath

------------------------------------------------------------