Letters: The GoM solution

This refers to T N Ninan's column "Where are the doers?" (Weekend Ruminations, June 15). The government appoints ministers on the basis of their loyalty to the party, and not on their competence. Only when the government husbanded talent and gave E Sreedharan, V Krishnamurti, M S Gujral and Nandan Nilekani full powers to work without too much interference, did they set examples. After a series of scams, the government has developed a regular practice of appointing group of ministers (GoM) to oversee problems and suggest solutions. This delays the decision-making process since divergent views of various members have to be resolved. Gas and coal prices, foreign direct investment in different sectors, defence purchases, among others, have been held up even after the GoM reports. The government is shackled by a bureaucratic mindset. Despite tall claims of economic revival, the facts make grim reading. There are at least 10 posts lying vacant in the Cabinet with many Congress members aspiring for ministerial berths.

M M Gurbaxani Bangalore

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