NAC to study Rahul idea: Can flagship schemes be outsourced to pvt sector?
AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi has thrown up an interesting idea — to examine if implementation of the UPA’s flagship social sector programmes could be outsourced to private entities on a commission basis. This is because of his conviction that less than 15 per cent of funds allocated under Central schemes actually reach the real beneficiaries now.
Over two decades back his late father Rajiv Gandhi, then India’s Prime Minister, had openly said that around 15 paise of every rupee allocated by the Centre actually reached those for whom the money was intended.
Mr Rahul Gandhi shared his innovative idea with members of the newly-constituted National Advisory Council, headed by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. An NAC member who sought anonymity told this newspaper: “After the first meeting of the council, we had a session with Mr Gandhi, where we discussed issues pertaining to implementation of all the cherished pro-poor schemes. All of us agreed that there are many bottlenecks leading to leakages in delivering goods to the people through government agencies.”
Taking the discussion forward, he said, the young Mr Gandhi floated an idea which set many members thinking. “The idea was to consider outsourcing implementation of pro-poor schemes to private business groups on a commission basis.” Mr Gandhi favoured giving some concessions to private participants on the lines of the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model, he added.
“He argued that if public infrastructure projects can be executed by private corporates on the basis of concessions, why can’t social sector schemes of the government be given to them on a commission of 15 per cent of the total allocated funds for each scheme. His intention is to see that the maximum amount reaches the beneficiaries,” the member said.
Another member who was part of the deliberations, however, said that while the idea might be “noble” and “innovative”, it was bound to face resistance from the state apparatus, which now implements the schemes. “Lakhs of officials are involved in the process with their vested interests. It has to be seen if the politics of the day would allow this idea to become a reality,” he said. “However, we can enter into a debate on the issue, dissecting the pros and cons of handing over implementation of schemes to private entities.”
Comments
PPP is definitely an
sudakshina
22 Jun 2010 - 16:04
PPP is definitely an efficient model. However, outsourcing to private entities is not the answer unless the existing bottlenecks and problems are resolved. Private entities bring along with them their own set of problems and corrupt practises. Merely changing ownership and accountability would not change the situation. Greater efforts at resolving real issues have to be made.
Rahul Gandhi's idea is an
Paddy Singh
22 Jun 2010 - 15:30
Rahul Gandhi's idea is an excellent one, but for one drawback. There wil be millions of so called NGOs who will vie for these projects, only the ones with clout will get them, and then probably only 15 paise out of Rs 1000 will get to them. What Rahul should do is to seriously get down to studying the NGOs in India and abroad, especially, who are genuinely working for the country and get them involved
Well , I find all the merit
Vaibhav Kohli
21 Jun 2010 - 13:12
Well , I find all the merit in Rahul Gandhi's innovative idea in outsourcing all the flagship programs in social sectors to the private entities for the purpose of implementation . The experinece in entrusting with the effective delivery and implementation of these schemes through State Governments in the past is not so noteworthy to write home about . During Rajiv Gandhi's reign , it used to be a case of 15 paise out of a rupee reaching the real benificary but now it is a case of 15 paise out of 100 rupees reaching the targeted pooulation . The red tapism and procedural glitches apart , it is the inertia of the official mechanism and the inherent sloth characterstic of adminstrative set up that prevents it to become pro-active and prompt in delivering these services.
I think this is a good idea.
Prof. Oopali Operajita
21 Jun 2010 - 11:58
I think this is a good idea. India's babus -- and the abysmal morass of babudom, with its concomitant viruses -- would then be obliterated -- corrupt, complacent, indifferent and grossly inefficient as they are. Go for it, Rahul!
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