Ten years later

Reform in India does not move quickly. Sometimes, however, any movement is so slow as to hardly be discernible at all. One senior officer in the Ministry of Labour and Employment makes the point that a decade ago – as a relatively junior officer – he had drafted an amendment to some legislation that the government of the day and its officers were very upbeat about. Shortly thereafter, the officer was transferred, as is routine. He did not return to his old stamping grounds at the labour ministry for 10 whole years. Now at a much more senior position, he familiarised himself with the ministry’s business. And he was surprised to discover that the labour ministry was still working on his 10-year-old draft. Incredibly, the officer added, officialdom even managed to still appear excited about amending the law. The more things try to change in India, the officer concluded, the more they remain the same.