Meeting with Mr Vidyashankar - Notes

I may be repeating some of the points brought up by Ravi - please bear with me on that.

It didn't require a PRAJA to tell Mr Vidyashankar what needs to be done. He has already figured things out, and started on the process of outsourcing the compiling and maintenance of the voters' list to a professional agency, which has already done enough work in this area. They will operate from a state-of-the-art data centre which is already in place. The pilot for Shantinagar Assembly constituency is almost ready, and will be put on the net for inviting comments from the public in a few weeks. Within a matter of 3 to 4 months thereafter, he hopes to complete the process for all the 224 assembly constituencies in the state. Well, what more can one ask for?

The PRAJA team to meet him comprised Ravi, Anushree, Nidha, Abhilash, apart from me. We were ushered in promptly at 11 AM. I gave a brief introduction of PRAJA, which was not totally necessary since he seemed to know enough about us, particularly being a techie himself, which was indeed flattering. I stressed the fact that PRAJA strives to provide a platform for youngsters who, while busy building their careers, are also keen to contribute to finding solutions for the various civic issues. And, with their not being burdened with old baggages, perhaps will come up with effective solutions for problems that the older lot have been carrying on a losing battle against from decades. I added that apart from Ravi and me, the others in the team were visiting a government office, and having the privilege of meeting such a senior official at that, perhaps for the first time in their lives.

The outsourcing contract with the private agency is for a period of 5 years, during which period they will train the SEC staff to undertake the task themselves, thereafter.

Even as we were in the meeting, an assistant brought the compilation of data on the day to day issual of EPID cards. It was just 6006 for yesterday over 21 centres spread across the city. Mr Vidyashankar stated that even during week-ends, it did not rise much above this level, even with their announcing that the card will be made compulsory for future elections. He lamented this kind of an apathy amongst the public. We intervened to say that the apathy may partly be due to the system being seen as non-professional, and, with it now being set right, perhaps that outlook will change. We further added that PRAJA will work towards bringing about that change.

When asked if the system is being integrated at a national level, he stated that his priority is to put his own house in order first. Hopefully, that will become a model for the rest of the country to follow, and integration will result out of that. Admittedly, there remain problems resulting out of 'transliteration' from English to Kannada and vice versa. He is looking for appropriate software which will do the job properly ensuring that a North Indian surname like Chugh remains Chugh (and not Chugha as at present in the Kannada list) both in the Kannada list as well as in the English list.

Mr Vidyashankar being the Principal Secretary, DPAR (dept of Public and Administrative Reforms), in addition, we asked him if he could suggest any role PRAJA could play in bringing about the much needed reforms in day to day governance. He responded saying that he considered the earlier BATF (that existed during the S M Krishna government times) model a fiarly good one for such interface between the government and the people, and perhaps we should work towards reviving that (I will add my comments on that separately).

All in all, it was a very positive experience. With people like Mr Vidyashankar and Mr Praveen Sood up there, and the energy of the youth behind it, perhaps PRAJA can begin to contribute to making a diffrence.

Muralidhar Rao

This was my first foray into a government office to meet a government official for discussion. I must say that me and my friends feel very much encouraged by this meeting to put in our efforts to a better future for this city. There are committed and tech-savy people as a part of our government! He was courteous and he listened to every point we wanted to bring up and went about addressing them appropriately. The take-away for me was that when we approach an official with a problem statement, it makes a lot of difference to have suggestions and support to offer. Perhaps that made a big difference in how our meeting with Mr. Vidyashankar. Even we get tired of listening to people cribbing without end, don't we?

Mr. Murali and Mr. Ravi have already covered all the points made at the meeting. One more point is that Mr. Vidyashankar came up with a really interesting suggestion regarding the issue discussed here:

http://praja.in/bangalore...

Abhilash asked him whether he has any suggestions which we can take up for this case. He promptly suggested that we ask for a clause which requires the contractor tarring the road to maintain it for say five years as well (until its time to tar the roads again). I think thats a brilliant idea because there would be someone really responsible and accountable for a road at any point of time.

He felt that regular meetings (once in 3 months) with all the officials concerned would really be effective in bringing about the change. I feel that this will also bring it to notice that citizens here are watching closely and demanding results. 

I for one, am driving some initiatives at my office so that, people get to know what exactly to do and where exactly to go to get their names in the voters list, and to make it simpler for them to do so. Tomorrow I am having a meeting with the Corporate Social Responsibility team of my office to get this realized. Simple initiatives like a ready-reckoner in our office Intra-web may help get the notice of all the people in my office. Also, I will be looking at how the Forms can be collected at office by a team of volunteers and submitted as a batch.

We need to put in our full support for the government so that our apathy does not hinder the progress in our country. I urge each one of you reading this to get creative and find ways to support our people with the Voting process. Now, though the elections are not coming soon, we can cause inclusion of people into the electoral list so that when the elections do come up and the Voter ID cards are mandatory to vote, the process is smooth. If you are reading PRAJA, chances are that you already do your bit around you, but lets spread the work. We are not alone in seeking to do our bit. There are people around us who want to. We can just speak to them and ask a simple question "Would you like to get involved?". My way of looking at it is, unless I ask, there is no possibility at all of them saying "Yes". And for that possibility, hearing a "No" doesn't matter, because there is nothing lost. :D Lets get them involved. Together we can achieve greater heights. 

Tried to upload a picture here. All pictures at the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.c...

ಮಾನ್ಯ ವಿದ್ಯಾಶಂಕರರವರ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ನಡೆದ ತಮ್ಮ ಚರ್ಚೆಯು ಫಲ ಪ್ರದವಾಗಲೆಂದು ಆಶಿಸುತ್ತಾ ರವಿಯವರ A private company with plenty of experience is entrusted with this work.ಎಂಬ ವಾಕ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ.ಇದು ನಾನು ಪ್ರಜಾಕ್ಕೆ ಬರೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವ ಮೊಟ್ಟ ಮೊದಲಿನ ಪತ್ರ
ಸರಕಾರವು ಪರಿಣತರಿಗೇ ಕೆಲಸವನ್ನು ಕೊಡಬಹುದು. ಸರಕಾರದ ಕೆಲಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಂಟ್ರಾಕ್ಟ್ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವನೇ ಬೇರೆ. ಕೆಲಸಮಾಡುವವನೇ ಬೇರೆ. ಉದಾ: ರಸ್ತೆ ಕಸಗುಡಿಸುವುದು. ಶೌಚಾಲಯಗಳ ಉಸ್ತುವಾರಿ. ಟೆಂಡರ್ ಪಡೆದಾತ ಹಣಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು  ಅವುಗಳನ್ನು ಬೇರೆಯವರಿಗೆ ಮಾರಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾನೆ.

ದಾಖಲಾತಿ ಸಂಗ್ರಹವು ರಸ್ತೆ ಕಸವನ್ನು ಎತ್ತಿದಷ್ಟು ಸುಲಭವಲ್ಲ. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಬುಡಮಟ್ಟದ ಕೆಲಸಗಾರನಿಗೂ ತಾನು ಏನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಏಕೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ.ಇದರ ಪರಿಣಾಮ ಏನು ಇತ್ಯಾದಿಗಳಬಗ್ಗೆ ಕನಿಷ್ಟ ಮಟ್ಟದ ಮಾಹಿತಿಯಾದರೂ ಇರಬೇಕಾದದ್ದು ಅತೀ ಅವಶ್ಯಕ.
ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಉದಾಹರಣೆಯಾಗಿ ನನಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕ ತಾಜಾ ಮಾಹಿತಿಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರಜಾಕ್ಕೆ  ಹೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಕಳೆದವಾರ ಉತ್ತರ ಕನ್ನಡ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಸಿರಸಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದೆ. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ರೇಶನ್ ಕಾರ್ಡ ವಿತರಿಸುವಸಲುವಾಗಿ ತಹಶೀಲ ಆಪೀಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಫೋಟೋ ಪ್ರೋಗ್ರಾಮ್  ಭರದಿಂದ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಒಬ್ಬರ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಎರಡು ಹೆಂಡಿರ ಹೆಸರಿತ್ತು. ಹೆಂಡತಿಯ ಜೊತೆಗ ಮಗಳ ಹೆಸರನ್ನೂ ಹೆಂಡತಿ ಎಂದೇ ದಾಖಲಿಸಿದ್ದರು. ಅದು ಅಂತಃ ವಿಶೇಷವಲ್ಲ. ವಿಷೇಶ ಎಂದರೆ- ಫೋಟೋ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಸಂಬಂದ ಪಂಟ್ಟವರ ಹೆಬ್ಬೆಟ್ಟಿನ ಗುರುತನ್ನೂ ಸ್ಕ್ಯಾನ್ ಮಾಡಿ ಧಾಖಲಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು.(ರೇಶನ್ ಕಾರ್ಡ್ಗೆ ಫೋಟೋ ಓಕೆ, ಹೆಬ್ಬೆಟ್ಟು ಯಾಕೆ? ) ಆ ಸ್ಕ್ಯಾನ್ ಮಶಿನ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಏನು ದೋಶವಿತ್ತೋ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಕೆಲವು ಬೆರಳನ್ನು ಸ್ಕ್ಯಾನ್ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಕಲವರದ್ದನ್ನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಇಂತಃ ಸಂದರ್ಭಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅಲ್ಲಿಯ ನಿರ್ವಾಹಕನೇ ತನ್ನ ಹೆಬ್ಬೆರಳನ್ನು ಸ್ಕ್ಯಾನ್ ಮಾಡಿ ಇವರ ದಾಖಲಾತಿ ಕೆಲಸವನ್ನು ಬೇಗ ಬೇಗ  ಮುಗಿಸಿ ಮುಂದಿನವರನ್ನು ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದನಂತೆ . ಫೋಟೋ ಒಬ್ಬರದು ಹೆಬ್ಬೆಟ್ಟು ಒಬ್ಬರದಾದರೆ-ಮುಂದಿನ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅದು ಎಂತಹ ಅನಾಹುತಗಳಿಗೆ ಕಾರಣವಾಗುತ್ತದೆಯೋ ಊಹಿಸಲೂ ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ.

ಡಾ. ಈಶ್ವರ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಿ ಮೋಟಿನಸರ