CUT OFF THE MID LIFE CRISIS
Posted: August 3rd, 2012, 11:05 amPolitics and the bureaucracy both are full of geriatrics who lack drive and initiative.
It should not be surprising that the average age of Indian Cabinet is one of the highest in the world. Whether such a Cabinet reflects aspirations of a young India is something to think about. That does not mean an average MP is that old. In the current Lok Sabha, the average MP's age is 53 years.
Therefore, if any one become a politician, there is a serious issue of transition from state to Delhi and transition from MP to the Cabinet.
Cast your mind back to the 1950s, When several such institutes were set up and think of the people who headed and built them up, successfully. Rather perversely, when average India was older, we had younger people heading these organisations.
Today, there are people who become secretaries at 58 and more. What initiatives does one expect them to display ? There have been reports about how retired babus secure sinecures for themselves.
It is evident, this increAse in age has quite a bit to do with vertical mobility principles and reservation and supersession issues within civil services, coupled with changes in entry norms, and a reluctance to accept merit, adopting paths of least resistance instead.
Throughout, not just civil services, let's have a cut off before mid life crisis.
Sources: Mr.Bibek Debroy's article in The Economic Times dt 03.08.2012
V.SENTHILNATHAN
It should not be surprising that the average age of Indian Cabinet is one of the highest in the world. Whether such a Cabinet reflects aspirations of a young India is something to think about. That does not mean an average MP is that old. In the current Lok Sabha, the average MP's age is 53 years.
Therefore, if any one become a politician, there is a serious issue of transition from state to Delhi and transition from MP to the Cabinet.
Cast your mind back to the 1950s, When several such institutes were set up and think of the people who headed and built them up, successfully. Rather perversely, when average India was older, we had younger people heading these organisations.
Today, there are people who become secretaries at 58 and more. What initiatives does one expect them to display ? There have been reports about how retired babus secure sinecures for themselves.
It is evident, this increAse in age has quite a bit to do with vertical mobility principles and reservation and supersession issues within civil services, coupled with changes in entry norms, and a reluctance to accept merit, adopting paths of least resistance instead.
Throughout, not just civil services, let's have a cut off before mid life crisis.
Sources: Mr.Bibek Debroy's article in The Economic Times dt 03.08.2012
V.SENTHILNATHAN