ELECTION AFTER 2 YEARS ? WHY NOT ?
In the interest of giving a fillip to the economy, the government should consider the idea of holding general elections every two years. This will serve a dual purpose. Accountibility and implementation of various public welfare programmes will get faster and all the reigning govts. will fast forward to complete the programmes in a time bound manner. If not, they will thrown out after 2 years and the people wont have to crib and wait for long 5 years to get accountibility. Public memory will remain short and economy will get boosters after every 2 years.
Besides countering the anti-incumbency factor by making each term barely longer than the usual honeymoon period, they could also think of the entire election process and campaign as a variant of NREG scheme, guaranteeing a minimum of 90 days of employment to people across India.
There is the poster and banner making industry, not to mention election merchandise like pennants, badges, caps, anga-vastrams. There are tentwallahs and microphone-wallahs, all manner of car and taxi owners, not to mention private jet and helicopter owners who see a spurt in business during that time.
Print and electronic media get a fresh flush of election-related advertising to tide over lean times, advertising professionals make a killing by helping out with election campaign films and ditties, and even out-of-work stand up comedians find employment as “crowd warmers” at election meetings.
Security guards, bulk food suppliers, cooks and cleaners to rustle up meals at rallies for restive crowds and ‘seasonal’ party workers all benefit from the hubbub.
The need for rooms for campaign offices in various parts of every constituency, the staff to man them, furniture and communication equipment also spells opportunity for landlords, furniturewallahs and electronics store owners.
With the Election Commission getting more and more vigilant about violations of the code of conduct, there is plenty of opportunity for videographers and photographers to loan their services as cameras-on-hire, either for government agencies or for pernickety rivals.
Naturally all the various types of technicians who process such tapes, not to mention the CD makers will also see a rise in demand.
Around Rs 10,000 crore is said to be up for grabs to be injected into the economy for the elections. That may be just about half of the NREGA outlay, but surely still enough to be considered as a bi-annual booster-shot?
Besides countering the anti-incumbency factor by making each term barely longer than the usual honeymoon period, they could also think of the entire election process and campaign as a variant of NREG scheme, guaranteeing a minimum of 90 days of employment to people across India.
There is the poster and banner making industry, not to mention election merchandise like pennants, badges, caps, anga-vastrams. There are tentwallahs and microphone-wallahs, all manner of car and taxi owners, not to mention private jet and helicopter owners who see a spurt in business during that time.
Print and electronic media get a fresh flush of election-related advertising to tide over lean times, advertising professionals make a killing by helping out with election campaign films and ditties, and even out-of-work stand up comedians find employment as “crowd warmers” at election meetings.
Security guards, bulk food suppliers, cooks and cleaners to rustle up meals at rallies for restive crowds and ‘seasonal’ party workers all benefit from the hubbub.
The need for rooms for campaign offices in various parts of every constituency, the staff to man them, furniture and communication equipment also spells opportunity for landlords, furniturewallahs and electronics store owners.
With the Election Commission getting more and more vigilant about violations of the code of conduct, there is plenty of opportunity for videographers and photographers to loan their services as cameras-on-hire, either for government agencies or for pernickety rivals.
Naturally all the various types of technicians who process such tapes, not to mention the CD makers will also see a rise in demand.
Around Rs 10,000 crore is said to be up for grabs to be injected into the economy for the elections. That may be just about half of the NREGA outlay, but surely still enough to be considered as a bi-annual booster-shot?
posted by vaneet kundra at
Thursday, March 19, 2009
4 Comments:
Kundraji, you really have good analytical mind. Your write ups bring me closure to the happenings in the world. I like your new snap with cap on the blog.- Keshap
Dear Prof. Keshap,
We can only express views but as you have written everything starts from an idea which pursued by mass of people, can create momentum and thus into reality..
We all are too engrossed in our daily chores and we really do not think beyond ourselves. This is the irony of we Indians. Let us hope the new generation can bring change. Changes do not happen overnite. It takes many years for a change to happen.
Yes. I am back. Was out of touch for quite sometime due to personal reasons. Where do you come out with these wierd ideas ? election after 2 yrs, means lot of govt. money spent. Do u endorse 2 yr election in this recession ?
Dear Deepak,
Great to have your comments after a long time. Good question ? Money spent during elections is primarily black money, which comes from friendly corporates and most of it from swiss banks, stashed away. This money comes back in the economy as a booster to rejuvenate many employment opportunities as mentioned in my article. Rather elections, i would prefer, every year, to get faster accountibility and to get black money in our country which makes the country recession free, may be momentarily. Lot of money comes in the economy which is good, rather than lying dead in tax havens abroad.
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