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Journalism of Courage
Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs direction to his ministers to update details of their business interests,assets and liabilities has yielded an interesting profile of his cabinet. The financial status of the powerful how much wealth they have and how they invest it always draws curiosity. Dr Singh sticks to fixed deposits,keeping his investment beyond controversy. A.K. Antonys loan funds a second-hand car. And Kamal Naths flamboyance is reflected in his diverse businesses. Tracking updates incrementally serves as a check on their financial integrity. India has been slow to demand lists of ministerial interests,and by all accounts,just as it is with MPs disclosures,more rigour is required to elicit enough detail. Therefore,the PMs well-publicised move,in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Ministers,would be valuable if its to be the first step in bringing transparency to governance.
Examples abound around the world in how to proceed. In the UK,a register of ministerial interests is issued at the start of a new parliament,and then on every year of its term. It includes details of their finances and business interests,as well as employment of family members out of their staffing allowance. It is embedded in a ministerial code,periodically updated,to lay out how a minister may conduct herself in diverse situations and also steer clear of conflicts of interest. For instance,David Camerons government has included passages dealing with the conduct of the ruling coalition.
