Reforms don’t mean cutting jobs: WB

At a time when the country’s public services remain inefficient, a World Bank study has highlighted the success of the reforms despite systemic obstacles like overstaffing...

At a time when the country’s public services remain inefficient, a World Bank study has highlighted the success of the reforms despite systemic obstacles like overstaffing, frequent transfers of public servants, weak anti-corruption enforcement mechanisms and the need for electoral financing reform.

The study is based on reforms in 25 sectors including health, education, IT and urban management.

‘‘Reforms need to be driven by champions. The outcome of the survey has shattered the myth that reforms mean reducing staff or cutting cost. Improving the quality of service with a minimum user fee should be the objective,’’ Vikram K. Chand, senior public sector management specialist, World Bank, said while unveiling the study.

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Advocating longer tenure for bureaucrats, Chand said, ‘‘one should not expect reforms overnight. Only sustained efforts bear fruits. ’’

Even as high subsidy and pilferage in the public distribution system (PDS) are giving the central government nightmares, the study has rated PDS in Tamil Nadu as the best in the country in terms of usage, quality and access. So what if it cost the state a whopping Rs 1,500 crore annually?

Algerian-French artist’s work vandalised at Kochi art gallery over ‘obscenity’ allegations

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Algerian-French artist Hanan Benammar's linocut prints were vandalised by two artists at an international exhibition in Kochi. The exhibition, curated by Anushka Rajendran and Damian Christinger, was organised by the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi and opened on October 18.

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