An excellent article by @gchikermane and @rishiagraw on the “war” that India needs to fight.
The need of the hour:
make government offices WFH friendly.
Digitise administration(m-governance)
Automate compliance.
Reduce regulatory cholesterol (aka red tapism)
The need of the hour:
make government offices WFH friendly.
Digitise administration(m-governance)
Automate compliance.
Reduce regulatory cholesterol (aka red tapism)
I had deliberately added alternate terms for the main 3 points of @gchikermane and @rishiagraw, primary because we should call them what they really are.
This comes from my core belief that in a democracy as old and as perpetually moribund as India, commonsense is never new.
This comes from my core belief that in a democracy as old and as perpetually moribund as India, commonsense is never new.
For me, @PMOIndia @narendramodi should plan for #AtmaNirbharBharat in the most common sense manner. Oil the system and take for a spin to make it robust,and boost with extra oxygen.
The key is:
Cutting extra laws while not compromising on effective regulation;
Digitise;
Transform
The key is:
Cutting extra laws while not compromising on effective regulation;
Digitise;
Transform
What I would like @PMOIndia @narendramodi and @amitabhk87 to do about #AtmaNirbharBharat:
Reform,
Transform,
Perform.
Yes, it’s a venkronym, but it captures the essence of what we need.
Reform,
Transform,
Perform.
Yes, it’s a venkronym, but it captures the essence of what we need.
The first task is to look at this as a new problem that requires radical new solution based on technology.
Float a hackathon for this.
Identify smart groups.(yes, plural). Get top researchers from industry to develop base APIs.
View the whole business of regulation as a new app
Float a hackathon for this.
Identify smart groups.(yes, plural). Get top researchers from industry to develop base APIs.
View the whole business of regulation as a new app
After 5 or 10 iterations, we shall be able to easily spot the laws that are redundant. Some will turn out to be non-pragmatic.
Let us then reform the legislation based on what we can perform.
Let us then reform the legislation based on what we can perform.
My own limited experience is that most government clerks don’t have a clear idea of why we need a particular rule.
They have no idea whether it’s the problem with earlier form or problem with bad rule/law.
Our clerks don’t critically evaluate processes followed.
They have no idea whether it’s the problem with earlier form or problem with bad rule/law.
Our clerks don’t critically evaluate processes followed.
That’s why we need architects and developers starting with a fresh slate.
In this day and age, frankly half the compliance stuff should be automated.
The fact that GST(our first attempt) is not optimal shows how bad the regulatory mindset of the babudom really is.
In this day and age, frankly half the compliance stuff should be automated.
The fact that GST(our first attempt) is not optimal shows how bad the regulatory mindset of the babudom really is.
We need to shift towards e-governance and eventually to m-governance.
Remember that if compliance has to be done in a mobile, we are talking about a few taps with minimal typing. Or, massive automation at the backend.
Remember that if compliance has to be done in a mobile, we are talking about a few taps with minimal typing. Or, massive automation at the backend.
Even in GST, there is too much data to be manually entered. There is a requirement for a specialist to sit and work for hours to file documents.
GST was too secular. It didn’t differentiate scale. And as the core design principle was not to finish in a few taps,system was complex
GST was too secular. It didn’t differentiate scale. And as the core design principle was not to finish in a few taps,system was complex
So, what do we really need:
Let’s think in terms of what a trader running a small gig does.
All transactions are anyway in Tally(or some software). All of them happen through his bank account. All taxation(gst and others)should be just a few taps in his accounting tool.
Let’s think in terms of what a trader running a small gig does.
All transactions are anyway in Tally(or some software). All of them happen through his bank account. All taxation(gst and others)should be just a few taps in his accounting tool.
He wants to report on labour:
He should be having a tool that says how many labourers he employed. How many are paid to bank.
How many are paid in cash.
(We should probably encourage UPI payment for wages). Automate the compliance reporting through bank statements.
He should be having a tool that says how many labourers he employed. How many are paid to bank.
How many are paid in cash.
(We should probably encourage UPI payment for wages). Automate the compliance reporting through bank statements.
For reporting facilities, just take a few geo-tagged photos. Smart phone can do it. If it’s not as simple as that, probably the law needs a relook.
Of course, there will be attempted fraud. Let’s look at cost of compliance before we look at whether such a law should be there.
Of course, there will be attempted fraud. Let’s look at cost of compliance before we look at whether such a law should be there.
For ex: say a rule says xyz. Now, if to implement the rule the state will have to put ₹nnn, the company will have to incur a cost of ₹mmm; and company decides to cut corners. If either cost is too high, someone will pay bribes.
It’s time to cross check the utility of law.
It’s time to cross check the utility of law.
Things like pollution (FSSAI for food cos) shouldn’t even be the work of the company. The guy selling dosa in a small shop shouldn’t be worrying about those regulatory work. These departments should use IoT to monitor and report(24x7).
Or, the guy with that mobile phone working on compliance shouldn’t be bothered to fill stuff that government should ideally be doing. That cost is for government to bear, not the manufacturers/entrepreneurs.
The real first step to make #AtmaNirbharBharat is to ensure that a small businessman (<₹1Cr operating income) can do all the work on a phone.
Change rules or modify laws to do that.
Animal spirits will automatically come.
Change rules or modify laws to do that.
Animal spirits will automatically come.
The same thing can be called as ease of doing business.
The mere work of setting up this system and sustaining it is enough to maintain a 10th of our software industry. That job creation is the bonus.
The mere work of setting up this system and sustaining it is enough to maintain a 10th of our software industry. That job creation is the bonus.
India really needs to relook at many of the old laws. Some don’t make sense at all. Some are just too outdated.
India should seriously start looking at whether everything related to companies can be done in just 2-3 codes that have dedicated courts for adjudication.
India should seriously start looking at whether everything related to companies can be done in just 2-3 codes that have dedicated courts for adjudication.
The other aspect is about digitisation.
Already, many governments have worked on reducing the contact between citizen and office staff using a bunch of single window stuff.
We need to go further.
Already, many governments have worked on reducing the contact between citizen and office staff using a bunch of single window stuff.
We need to go further.
Only a few government employees really need to do field visits.
Most tasks can be done on paper. Or online.
A citizen need to visit an office only when there is a serious issue. Having a few empathetic officers listening to citizens is the only service that needs to be in person
Most tasks can be done on paper. Or online.
A citizen need to visit an office only when there is a serious issue. Having a few empathetic officers listening to citizens is the only service that needs to be in person
Most of the interaction doesn’t require a person of it can be done online. (Passport Service is a classic example).
Government should seriously ask: what all can be done from home. Let’s give government servants a perk of a 100/150 WFH days instead of leaves.
Government should seriously ask: what all can be done from home. Let’s give government servants a perk of a 100/150 WFH days instead of leaves.
Second aspect of this shift is in reducing the number of people working in a section or a department. Mind you, this is not going to result in reduction in total government work force. What it will do is to shift roles to smaller agile offices.
If government shifts some of the regulatory burden from employers to themselves (Environment, health, education, etc should do this), there will be a requirement for more government offices.
Maximum governance comes from having such multiple agile offices instead of monoliths.
Maximum governance comes from having such multiple agile offices instead of monoliths.
More importantly, government should cut jobs in cities, and force government employees to work from rural or semi-urban areas.
Two benefits: no city allowance. Villages will improve because govt staff face problems.
Of course, some offices will have to stay in cities.
Two benefits: no city allowance. Villages will improve because govt staff face problems.
Of course, some offices will have to stay in cities.
#AtmaNirbharBharat requires flexible bureaucracy.
It also requires bureaucracy that’s largely invisible, or a rules based governance.
It also requires a babudom that owns up more instead of just passing the buck wrapped as a compliance need.
It also requires bureaucracy that’s largely invisible, or a rules based governance.
It also requires a babudom that owns up more instead of just passing the buck wrapped as a compliance need.
Didn’t realise it has become a biggish thread.
I have not deviated from @gchikermane and @rishiagraw call for a War on Regulatory cholesterol.
What I have pointed out is just a few (most are already published) means of fighting this war.
I have not deviated from @gchikermane and @rishiagraw call for a War on Regulatory cholesterol.
What I have pointed out is just a few (most are already published) means of fighting this war.
