Politics And Governance Are Two Different Things

Muslim Murasu, January 2012

Government employees work till the age of 58. They need to submit fitness certificate. A certified government practitioner should give certificate. Politician controls, guides, leads and heads the government. He can be vexatious. But there is no age limit binding on him. He need not prove physical fitness.
Illnesses impact physical capacity. Thinking power also goes down. Aging gives tiredness. This is not beneficial to seven crore Tamilians. Government top-rung officials may need to go through 500 pages a day. They have to understand complete history of files and present status. They have to get schemes and plans imprinted in their minds and offer astute, comprehensive solutions.
Politician cannot handle such work pressures. He has spent forty years wallowing in party politics, flags, marches, sycophancy, fund collection, posters, cutouts, hooliganism and threatening. Suddenly he takes the mantle of ministry. Character, habit and dispositions seldom take leave.
A minister should not continue doing party works. A person occupying ministerial berth cannot be allowed to don posts in party. Otherwise, he will destroy both the responsibilities. A government higher official is legally barred from participating in any political party. But the minister who directs bureaucrats can enjoy party positions. This adversely affects the interests of the people. He will not be able to overlook the full state. He won’t find time. Constituency and district tours will take all the time. There won’t be any chance to learn and understand schemes and details. Complacency, amateurish, incomplete knowledge will be exposed.
Higher officials have to work 20 hours a day. Otherwise they cannot retain their seat and position. They will face transfer. Ministers who are responsible to operate government should concentrate only on government tasks for five years. Party works should be sacrificed. Otherwise, government funds will be wasted. Farce schemes will be designed. People will pay the price.