Needs for a positive change
Jay Deshabandu
At first I want to make it clear that this article is not intended
to negatively criticize the deficiencies of the SLFP government. Neither
do I intend to negatively criticize the leaders of the armed forces
of Sri-Lanka.
It should be understood that any democratic government is doing a not-
for- profit service business which is for the public by the public.
In this sense, any efficient government should comprise of professional
individuals in its management team who can understand the every aspect
of development of a society and have a clear vision for every aspect
of that development.
Since independence, we did not have a right system in place in which
the management team can operate in a scientific manner. Rather, at the
beginning we had a system in place to pacify the colonial masters. Also
as normal people, we have been unable to send the right individual as
leaders to manage our daily affairs. We have been changing colors of
the government from Blue to Green and then back to Blue in almost every
five to six years. Sri-Lanka needs a huge overhaul of the system in
which it operates.
For example, one could find a lot of deficiencies in the recruitment
and promotion of police officers. Also, the manner in which the services
offered for the public is very deficient. For example, there is still
need a computerized database management system in every police station.
Further, police personnel as well as personnel in other government offices
should be computer literate. In addition, a police officer should be
a dignified, respected, educated as well as an intelligent person. The
minimum requirement of abilities and educational qualifications of a
police officer should be raised. The present system of promoting police
officers based solely on the seniority should be abolished. The police
officers should be trainable and a suitable training course should be
introduced for the police officers before giving a promotion. How come
a person who has worked for twenty years in a company gain management
and leadership skills immediately after the promotion? Similarly, can
a promoted attendant with twenty years service become a surgeon in a
hospital?
The punishment given to corrupted police officers are very offensive
to every intelligent citizen in our country and at least it is a disgrace
to our country. Our system sends the corrupted officers to another community
which is considered to be either hard to deal with or the area is underdeveloped
with respect to living conditions. This method of punishment should
be condemned because the community that is to be received the corrupted
officer can not be considered as a community which deserves services
of corrupted officers.
The above example can be considered valid in the context of armed forces.
The newly promoted officers are unable to carry out the responsibilities
of their new positions without adequate training or simply the promoted
officer has nothing but experience of working with less responsibilities.
In the case of empowerment of the public in the rural sector, why do
our leaders fail to understand the key factors which contribute to such
an empowerment? Along with the normal transportation etc., the access
to technology should be made available to the rural sector. Among many
other things, access to Internet is vital for the social and economic
uplift of the rural folks. For example, just think of a water melon
farmer in a remote area having access to Internet, selling his products
globally by himself! Should we only consider exporting tea or few other
cash crops?
Continuing adult’s education on IT and management should be made
available to farmers and other small entrepreneurs. Colleges and universities
should heed their responsibilities by conducting adult education programs
for the community in which it operates.
Also, the government should heed its responsibility by creating an environment
in which Internet use is at least affordable to many in the rural sector.
Today, the normal telephone lines can be used for both Internet and
telephone at the same time. Also, the wireless connection could be made
available. In Sri-Lanka, in order to bring affordable services in IT,
the government should get involved in doing internet business for the
public as an important service area such as public transportation.
We are still in the Dark Age with respect to doing transaction on the
Internet. Especially, on buying or selling on the Internet. Our banking
system is not connected with services of international agencies such
as Pay Pal. So a rural small entrepreneur cannot buy or sell his product
on the Internet immediately. The empowerment of rural sector should
encompass the modern aspects of doing electronic business globally.
When people have a ray of hope, they would look forward to living further
with added values to their lives, and they will not be vulnerable to
be preyed by corrupted officials and they would not become criminals
such as suicide bombers in the Wanni under the terrorist leader Prabhakarn.
The people see opportunities are within their reach and they no longer
would expect the government to lift their individual life styles.
In general, it should be mentioned that we need to change many aspect
of our system completely. Most important things are political,legal,
educational and social environments. Attitudes of the people should
change. Especially, not changing the habit of feeding children with
milk powder rather than giving dairy milk with added vitamins which
could be made locally available. Only through right changes, together
we can bring a sustainable development.
People should become the partners of the development rather than becoming
passive receivers of the benefits of the development.
Support for a United Sri-Lanka!
|
