An effective state

When L K Advani, allegedly the BJP's strategic thinker, starts talking once again about turning India into an effective state'', people...

When L K Advani, allegedly the BJP8217;s strategic thinker, starts talking once again about turning India into an 8220;effective state8221;, people are bound to wonder whether this is just rhetoric for the occasion a Ficci session or whether there is a concrete plan of action this time. The strong state, the effective state, vaguely defined, is a favourite Advani theme so it is not surprising that he has returned to it. But what is the real scheme of things? Advani has done precious little to explain what is in his mind.

There is a large constituency in the country that will lap up words like 8220;tough8221;, 8220;no-nonsense8221;, and 8220;strong8221; but it cannot be his intention merely to feed machismo. Surely the role of the effective state is well described by Amartya Sen who argues for less intervention in the economy and more intervention in areas like literacy, health care and other social provision. It is hard to tell whether Advani is thinking along these lines or about fundamental structural change. Whatever histhoughts, he owes it to the country to spell them out.

As far as electoral reform is concerned, there is constant talk of doing something. Every government has made ambitious promises and then lost interest or allowed itself to be defeated by vested interests or the complexities of the problem. This government will be entitled to call itself effective if it actually pushes through pending reforms to reduce the influence of money and strong-arm tactics in elections. An Advani favourite is setting up a commission to review the Constitution. There is plenty for the government to do without wasting time and public money on unnecessary tasks. A review of the Constitution is a matter Advani cannot seem to leave alone. He spoke frequently in 1998 of wanting to undertake a review without explaining why it was necessary. Even now there is only the hollow-sounding excuse that after 50 years it is time to do a review. The Constitution has been amended before, scores of times and can be amended again. The BJP cansuggest any amendments it believes will be in the national interest. More than that is not called for. The Constitution is too important a document to be raked over at whim.

Advani has also been doing some tough talking in Haryana about family planning and hinted at tough action to match. It is a long time since a politician has had the courage to be outspoken about the importance of family planning. Whatever is on the anvil, the government should not lose sight of the fact that effective programmes call for action on a wide front: education and health provision especially for women, more employment opportunities and many more well equipped health centres with trained personnel in rural areas. It is not clear on which of these fronts to-ugh action is envisaged but one area where it is called for is in state capitals where governments will have to be galvanised to spend more on improving general health services. The most effective intervention will be at the level of local self-government bodies which mustbe encouraged and assisted financially and technically to provide basic family planning services.