AAP Has The Mandate To Transform Punjab
Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
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By Linus Garg
First publised on 2022-03-19 06:39:35
About the Author
Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
View all posts by this Author
In keeping with his promise of not wasting a single day, Bhagwant Mann, the new chief minister of Punjab, hit the ground running by announcing that he will come out with a direct WhatsApp number where people can complain about corrupt officials who ask for bribes to do their work. AAP has also finalized the names of 10 MLAs who will be inducted in the first cabinet.
AAP and Mann have recognized that corruption is the main problem facing the state. Despite being a comparatively richer state, Punjab is in huge debt mainly because the full revenue is not coming into the treasury chests. Experts have pointed out that much of the stress can be relieved if leaks were plugged. Hence, the WhatsApp helpline is a good initiative. But that is not going to be enough. The government will have to identify areas which have the potential of earning huge revenue but where the actual inflow is not as per expectations. It will have to study why that is happening and perhaps move to a digital system to plug the leaks. Faceless transactions reducing the interaction with government officials can be a way out. Punjab needs to shore up its revenues to be able to carry out development in the state.
The other big problem facing the state is the drug menace. The new government will have to tackle it on war footing. A large number of youngsters in Punjab are drug addicts and turn to crime to support their addiction. It also breeds corruption and the powerful drug mafia has a hold over the bureaucracy and the police force. Next, it needs to come down heavily on crony capitalism. A few rich and politically-connected families control most of the wealth in the state. The people have given it a mandate for change and the AAP government must change the status quo.
