The Changing Times - A Commentary on Current Affairs

Author: Madhav Godbole
Publisher: Orient Longman
Year: 2000
Language: English
Pages: 348
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8125018727

Description

A compilation of seventy-nine lead articles valuable for their political insight, their role in building public opinion and shaping the course of future events.

The articles have been arranged inhered seven thematic clusters: the governance of the country, the erosion of values and institutions, the weaker section of society and human rights, the civil services, administrative reforms, economic reforms and issues in the power sector.

Each section is preceded by an introduction that puts issues in perspective. The articles in each cluster are chronologically arranged so that issues are seen in the context of events as they unfolded.

Reflecting the author's vast experience, knowledge and deep understanding, they should be useful reading for thinkers, social and political activists, legislators, administrators and anyone interested in understanding the intricacies of public issues.

The book is distinguished by the author's wide, humanistic approach and readable, lucid style.

Contents

Preface
CHAPTER I
GOVERNANCE OF THE COUNTRY
PART I
Are development boards an eyewash ?

PART II
Federal relations : waiting for Godot ?

PART III
Terrorism and Tada - National interest and votebank politics

PART IV
III-conceived but politically rewarding

PART V
An active judiciary-contempt cases

PART VI
Why the judiciary is stretching its role

PART VII
No answer to Purulia

PART VIII
CDF : a million questions

PART IX
A need to go back to basics

PART X
Freedom from elected government-towards guided democracy

PART XI
Dangerous populism

PART XII
Minding everyone else's business-the unfocused arms of government

PART XIII
Crime and blandishment-my thug is better than your thug

PART XIV
Why India excels in numbers

PART XV
The war against corruption

PART XVI
A fraud on the constitution

PART XVII
The police and society

PART XVIII
Law or order?

PART XIX
The sham war on corruption

PART XX
A wild goose chase

PART XXI
Crucial watchdogs-freeing investigating agencies

CHAPTER II
PART I
Not a proud record-the CBI's performance

PART II
Raj Bhavans as glass houses

PART III
Transparency is crucial

PART IV
Disregard for the judiciary

PART V
Withering Justice

PART VI
His master's vice-Rao's St Kitts excuse

PART VII
Farce of democracy-Kalyan's questionable coronation

PART VIII
Law : Perceptions and reality

PART IX
Rewriting the rules of democracy

CHAPTER III
WEAKER SECTIONS OF SOCIETY AND HUMAN RIGHTS

PART I
Miscarriage of Justice

PART II
The NHRC and after

PART III
Human rights in India-Political apathy hampers progress

PART IV
Besieged minorities-Abandon rhetoric to remedy neglect

PART V
Government ignores : Misuse of shrines

PART VI
Pandering to religious minorities

PART VII
Crime and punishment-Trying times for tribal people

PART VIII
The hapless tribals

PART IX
A nation of reservation

PART X
Regional imbalance and tribal areas in Maharashtra

PART XI
Making a mockery of the law

PART XII
Tribals and tribulations-No voice in the system

CHAPTER IV
PART I
Serving the master

PART II
Bureaucrats must be politically neutral

PART III
The Pay Commission and after

PART IV
Tricky games being played

PART V
Bureaucracy bashing - A crisis of confidence in the services

PART VI
The virtue of anonymity - CBI's credibility crisis

PART VII
An Erosion of integrity

PART VIII
Neither civil nor servant

PART IX
Drift in governance - Bureaucracy lacks motivation

PART X
Pay revision : High cost of total surrender

CHAPTER V
ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS

PART I
A long way to go

PART II
Bureaucracy and ethics

PART III
Administrative reforms

PART IV
The right to information

PART V
Right to information revisited

PART VI
Big words and tall claims - civilizing the government's public dealing

CHAPTER VI
ECONOMIC REFORMS

PART I
Muddling through the reform effort

PART II
The new street children

PART III
Fertile land for corruption

PART IV
State finances : Need for a rethink

PART V
The weakest link : infrastructure

PART VI
A gross misnomer

PART VII
Devolution is not the answer

PART VIII
Public expenditure and parties

PART IX
Corporate democracy and responsibility

PART X
No Scope for leniency - Economic crimes and the corporate sector

PART XI
India brand - A vain quest

PART XII
The unbearable burden of subsidies-The case of Maharashtra and J & K

PART XIII
Higher education and subsidy culture

CHAPTER VII
THE POWER SECTOR

PART I
The title balance of "power"

PART II
Acute affliction, worst remedies

PART III
Unseemly haste on Patalganga

PART IV
Private power : Big decisions, small mercies

PART V
Power tariff mechanism - I

PART VI
Power tariff mechanism - II

PART VII
Future of state electricity boards - Tunnel vision

PART VIII
"Islanding" of SEB reforms