Accountability

Sir, - Your Editorial welcoming the initiative taken by the Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna to find out ways to make bureaucrats at all levels accountable is a constructive comment on an urgent need to bring in sanity and integrity in administration and governance (The Hindu, Dec. 18).

Corruption and nepotism are rampant in this State and unless ruthless action is taken against the erring bureaucrats, anarchy and chaos akin to States like Bihar and U.P. will prevail here also. When the CM means accountability it should start from the lower rungs.

If one goes to the office of the RTA, police, electricity department, corporation, BDA and for that matter even a hospital, bribe begins from the peon and climbs the ladder. No doubt there are many IAS and IPS officers in our State whom the nation can be proud of.

Again before ushering in the new system, the CM should ensure that the politicians do not misuse their powers. There are many corporators who are allergic to literacy. They come to power through reserved constituency. The de facto authorities in the case of some women are their husbands. They wield power, use and misuse it. There should be safeguards against misuse, particularly by politicians.

The public should have access to government offices and the transparency should be such that reasonable level of information system should be available to them. The need of the hour is minimum educational qualification and not mere adult franchise. Educated people should select and elect educated candidates. I bet 90 per cent of the problem can be solved if we have educated people to frame laws and to implement them. No reformation will fructify unless we have sound infrastructure.

U. S. Iyer,

Bangalore

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