3 Year Of Jai Ram Thakur In Himachal Pradesh: Just Aa-ram .... Aa-ram

It is really most disheartening to see that change of guards (or Chowkidars) in Himachal Pradesh is not working at all. What we have seen in the last three decades is that Congress and BJP have been voted to power alternatively . But nothing changes except news faces of rulers occupy the seats of power. They all come and go securing their own future. While in power get fat salaries and perks and get fat pension after voted out of power. And in the process the rulers leave state with heavy debt in each term.

So is the three years of incumbent Chief Minister, Jai Ram Thakur and his governance. In three years, there is nothing note worthy that met the rising aspirations of the people. Despite his dream-beaters tall claims, his three years of governance haven't deliver what people were looking for. The 2020 has been a year of complete aaram (rest) due to outbreak of pandemic.

Among the aspirations of the people, speedy and timely delivery of essential services, corruption free and people friendly governance and providing jobs to unemployed youths were the most sought after aspirations. Sadly, Jai Ram govt has failed to deliver.

One of the most essential pre-requisites for delivering speedy and timely services is the existence of an dedicated implementing machinery with strong commitment to public services (like military). However, In India bureaucracy doesn't serve like a genuine public servant, instead 'babus' lord over common man and serve the interests of their political masters. Over the years, bureaucracy has become more of political agents than subtle public servants. They lack the strong will to serve people and rather try to extract more and more benefits from public exchequer.

As of now Himachal is spending nearly 60% of its revenue receipts on salaries and pension and nearly 14 % on interest payments . In 2020-21, expenditure on salaries is projected to increase by a whopping 14% and more than 50 % in nest decade. This leaves little to public welfare. It will shoot up gradually with new liabilities after salaries and pensions are revised periodically. No state can deliver enough services under such conditions.

Given the situation, state has been borrowing heavily and in next two years public debt liability will cross 60,000 crore. Though there is nothing wrong in borrowing if state revenue is income elastic but unfortunately it is absolutely income inelastic. In other words, while state expenditure is going up by leaps and bounds, its income is not increasing proportionately.

The wisdom has it that state government either cut down its expenditure or increase its income. It can't borrow endlessly though union govt has recently raised the net borrowing limit for state governments from 3% to 5 % of the gross state domestic product (GSDP) .

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Borrowing is acceptable as long as it is taken for development purposes but state is borrowing to meet its salary-pension liability. This is not acceptable and can lead to state in serious debt trap.

The only way to escape from the debt trap is to reduce salaries liabilities as it can't cut pension liabilities. There are nearly 2. 25 lakh employees in the state. As such for every 28 people, there is an govt servant. Its too high. Unfortunately, no govt in Himachal can dare to downsize the powerful bureaucracy. Different Govts couldn't even dare to disband the loss-making public sector units. Jai Ram Govt is no exception. Moreover, Govt in Himachal is the largest job-provider.

Every govt, over the years, claim to mobilize private investments and make inland and foreign jaunts for the purpose. And if we go by the claims of different govts, Himachal should have been flooded with jobs in private sectors. Even Jai Ram Thakur govt has claimed to mobilize more than 1.50 lakh crores. But ground realities are, except on small scale, there are hardly any job creation.

The corruption free and people-friendly bureaucracy is now a distant dream. It can never happen unless something drastic is done. People are so disgusted with corrupt and highly politicized bureaucracy. Common man is afraid of approaching them as he is often ill-treated. Only people associated with ruling class are properly attended.

I, strongly, believe that unless simple-living and high-thinking people are voted to power, nothing will change. Our present-day rulers are too obsessed with comforts and luxuries and status symbols ( using red light and beacons, high security) and they hate to struggle with the people who elect them. BJP has proved worst than Congress. Even,RSS teachings go haywire the moment swayamsevaks ( volunteers( are elected to power. As such, there is no change in governance whether Jai Ram Thakur, Prem Kumar Dhumal or Virbhadra Singh. All are chips of the same block.

Jai Hind

(Chander Sharma)