Intellectual Thoughts by Sanjay Panda: November 2010


Name the SHAME

Mr. Ratan Tata  said  that he was advised to bribe a minister a sum of Rs 15 crore to get governmental approval to start a private airline company  some years back. It would have been appropriate  if Mr Tata had named the minister and made public his demands at that time  rather than  merely whining and seeking to occupy high moral ground. If business leaders of the stature of Mr Tata are willing to strike but afraid to wound, what can one expect of lesser mortals? Ordinary citizens facing people in power, one can understand their fear of authority. But an influential and powerful business leader like Mr. Tata can afford to speak up and speak out, without fear or favour.   Mr. Tata whom you are afraid of and for what??? Unless you speak up there is no value to the Jago re….. campaign  which is being sponsored by one of your group company.

Scams - our part of Life

Gaining inappropriately from any thing is Indian Politicians specialties.  Name any sector like   so called poor persons "cattle fodder" to high end civil aviation. Recent examples like Common wealth games,(CWG) Adarsh housing, 2G spectrum etc etc. 

These scams highlight the controls the government retains on physical resources and contracting processes. Systems of managing them are byzantine in nature, fatiguing citizens with opaqueness and red tape. This very nature of system offers ample opportunities for rent extraction, as bribery becomes a quick way to get permits. A 'crony' culture also exists, with contracts being awarded to the most fawning of supporters backing a  MLA, MP or minister.  Though India is not alone. The situation in India, is  the  unaccountable and corrupt authorities persecuting the ordinary  ones while permitting the impermissible, is truly worrying.  The way forward,  these politicians must be investigated through impartial fast track courts and if possible capital punishment should be awarded to them just like the Chinese  sentences those guilty of corruption.