There’s Lots Of Sizzle, But Where Is The Steak?

Two hundred days may be an insignificant blink-and-miss moment for a government that is, if all goes well, all set to rule India for 1,826 days or so more. But there are two reasons this landmark should be noted. Even if blinded by the razzmatazz and photo-ops, today one can definitely see clearer than the fuzzy, feel-good vision one received unquestioningly 100 days ago. Then, flush with victory (and a hefty dose of caution!), no one within government was talking. That situation has improved somewhat. Also, one has a clearer understanding of how this government is shaping up.

The PMO seems to be running the show in various ministries, building the impresson that ministers are rubber stamps.

It is worrying. Ministers and bureaucrats keep looking over their shoulder, and there is a sullen air in government. The Prime Minister’s Office appears to be running the show in various ministries, building a perception that barring it, most individual ministers are rubber stamps. While the economy appears to be in a better place, thanks to moderating inflation, a rising Sensex, and plummeting crude oil prices, many fear this is but a temporary respite, a bit of good luck. On the governance front, there’s no denying that the communal atmosphere in the country has been vitiated. From love jehad to meat jehad to communal sparks all over the country, the minorities are more insecure today. Quite openly, the RSS is influencing policy making.

So our performance rating of key ministries—a first for Outlook in its 20th year—is an attempt to cut through the hype and the perception that everything in this country is being run by one man and his super-efficient PMO. There have been massive changes in ministries like rural development, labour, and environment, affecting millions of people. Surely, in a democracy, we should be able to judge the individual ministries of a lean government without having to resort to the master puppeteer analogy? Is it possible for a country this large to be run by such a small group of people? Why are we being led by easy percepti­ons and fears when reality is far more complex? Change requires many hands. Isn’t that the democratic way?

confuzzled dude wrote:

Two hundred days may be an insignificant blink-and-miss moment for a government that is, if all goes well, all set to rule India for 1,826 days or so more. But there are two reasons this landmark should be noted. Even if blinded by the razzmatazz and photo-ops, today one can definitely see clearer than the fuzzy, feel-good vision one received unquestioningly 100 days ago. Then, flush with victory (and a hefty dose of caution!), no one within government was talking. That situation has improved somewhat. Also, one has a clearer understanding of how this government is shaping up.

The PMO seems to be running the show in various ministries, building the impresson that ministers are rubber stamps.

It is worrying. Ministers and bureaucrats keep looking over their shoulder, and there is a sullen air in government. The Prime Minister’s Office appears to be running the show in various ministries, building a perception that barring it, most individual ministers are rubber stamps. While the economy appears to be in a better place, thanks to moderating inflation, a rising Sensex, and plummeting crude oil prices, many fear this is but a temporary respite, a bit of good luck. On the governance front, there’s no denying that the communal atmosphere in the country has been vitiated. From love jehad to meat jehad to communal sparks all over the country, the minorities are more insecure today. Quite openly, the RSS is influencing policy making.

So our performance rating of key ministries—a first for Outlook in its 20th year—is an attempt to cut through the hype and the perception that everything in this country is being run by one man and his super-efficient PMO. There have been massive changes in ministries like rural development, labour, and environment, affecting millions of people. Surely, in a democracy, we should be able to judge the individual ministries of a lean government without having to resort to the master puppeteer analogy? Is it possible for a country this large to be run by such a small group of people? Why are we being led by easy percepti­ons and fears when reality is far more complex? Change requires many hands. Isn’t that the democratic way?

http://www.outlookindia.com/article/Theres-Lots-Of-Sizzle-But-Where-Is-The-Steak/292836

Indians are very fortunate that India's first prime minister wasn't a proponent of pseudo-democracy like control freak Modiji else India would've gone to the dogs like her sibling Pakistan.

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

Of course he was...even worse he brought in his Daughter Indira and then the Italian dictator.