Apart from all the talk, the one thing that can change the state of the nation today is constitutional reforms. By now it is pretty obvious that everyone has and talks about a way of life and things ‘that must be done’ and follows another set of rules which are dubbed as essential for ‘Practical Convenience’. So the only way to make sure that everyone abides by a non-existent moral fabric that they so passionately talk about is by making them in to laws that have to be followed. If we cannot get to Utopia, then let us just bring it to us.

Before putting forward my 7, I must tell that every list is very subjective and 100 different people could end up making 101 different lists. That being said, when must start at some point to finally get somewhere. So let me start right now.

7. Civil Servants must have better defined tenures:

You can crib all you want about how corruption is prevalent and how even men in the highest posts in the bureaucracy are no exception to it, but at the end of the day making them pawns in the hands of politicians just will not help. There are many Civil Servants in this country, brilliant minds that have left their posts because of sheer frustration in regards to political intervention. Every instant a government changes, top officials are transferred so as to make it a government friendly executive. They have to be ‘People friendly’, not a convenient tool for the government.

6. Reservations based only on economic status:

This is an aspect of Indian politics and society that is in all honesty discouraging plenty of students across the country. While the impact of reservation may not be felt at a level that is more basic, it makes a world’s difference at a higher level. The government can and should help financially students who have qualified in required fields, but to lower the standards for the sake of ‘votes’ is atrocious.

5. All members of the legislature must hold no other post in any committees or federations, even if it is honorary:

Most of the country is struggling with lack of minimum support price for agriculture and farmer suicides and the Union Food and Agriculture minister is busy making the next big move with IPL. All politicians must be barred from holding any other position in committees and bodies of sports, art and culture. They were elected to serve the public of their constituency and they must never forget that.

4. Political Coalitions must only be pre-poll and must never be broken until the next poll:

It is disgusting to see how political parties compromise on every principle and every policy of theirs just to get to the big seat after polls. It is amazing that the same two parties that accuse each other of every wrong doing kiss and make just few days after polls so that the arithmetic adds up. In the same way post-poll splits must be deemed invalid and unconstitutional as they do nothing but cost the nation and achieve nothing. If the two never agreed on something, why be allies in the first place?

3. Right to recall:

This is one law that could really make every law maker shake in his boots if a responsible democracy chooses to use it with discretion and dignity. If ever 75% or say even 70% of the people in a constituency believe that their leader is not working as he promised them before polls or his performance is below par and compromising people’s interest, they must have a right to recall him with a document having that signatures. The guy must be immediately called again in to the people and must contest an election freshly to be re-elected. While this might be a rough idea and may need some polishing around the edges, it is pretty obvious that the rights minds will work that out too.

2. A public book issued every year that declares assets of those elected:

The telephone department issues a huge book each time and in the exact same way every state government must issue a book along with any bill- Current, water, phone, house tax; which includes the assets of each and every elected member from the state to both state assembly and the parliament. It must be approved and validated by purely the income tax department or any independent body and must be available for public. Any discrepancy must be taken by any man to a special court which must resolve the issue with in a month. While it might sound complicated process for the first few years, once it gets rolling, we could recover money in truck loads!

1. Barring a serious health reason any person who does not vote must be booked under a non-bialable crime and must be punished:

‘If wise men are not ready to rule, then they must be ready to be governed by fools’. If we do not make a proper choice and choose to rest on a holiday then we have no right to crib and complain. If your name is not in the voter’s list then fight for it. We fight for every penny we own, this is more important than that. Why not fight for it? The most common reason I get is ‘none of the candidates are good’. This is where the EC probably should have an option in the ballot saying ‘NONE’. Then let us see what happens. Not wanting to be a part of the democratic process but criticizing it endlessly does not help. This is the single biggest reform our democracy needs. Constant voter turn-outs at 50% is pathetic. What is that supposed to tell about the others? That they do not care for their country?

This is just my 7. I could be wrong with some, maybe all. You may have your own 7. Please leave them in the comments. Any additions, changes or even modifications are most welcome as at the end of the day it is ‘OUR COUNTRY’.

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