DailyPost 2835
THE CORE & THE PERIPHERALS
The core and the peripherals is the inside story of breakdown of governance systems. These systems look very simple but are extremely difficult and complex. Any level of expertise in handling them comes with a huge amount of rigour, grit and perseverance. While having put in these for a large part of your life, you would be lucky to develop that acumen, which will help you to be successful in complex and minefield type scenarios and if you do fail, you will have both the magnanimity to accept it and simultaneously having the capability to set it right.
There are very few such professionals left in the governance domain. All politicians by their very DNA feel that they are very good at it, but in reality hardly any possess that capability. They have been trained in a different school, which has nothing to do with education, training and practice of what we are talking about. The core is the complex task at hand and the peripherals are the main elements of that particular ecosystem, which impacts the results of the core in a considerable way. While handling the core you cannot get into the peripherals, unfortunately, they are the generators of the real problem.
While there are examples galore to explain this fact of our governance systems, it would become understandable if we take the example of a very well known currently evolving story. It is that of the NEET Exam Scandal. The core is that of the cases which are being investigated by different police forces and now been handed over to the CBI. Each case has to be investigated professionally, and after all evidence neatly gathered and stitched, it has to be taken to its logical conclusion. It is easier said than done. How can anyone do away with the idea that there would still be any number of cases, which do not come to light. Mostly, we are not ready to accept the rot and no one knows its depth, hence, whatever we see happening in a high profile manner, satisfies us to a considerable degree.
Though highly unlikely, yet the core might get sorted out but what about the peripherals. The peripherals are the mainstream in peacetime and it will keep throwing up issues over and over again. The issues are; what are the ingredients of autonomy for NTA? How are the Chairman and Director General appointed? Will their credentials satisfy an independent panel? What are the different tenders allotted in the conduct of the NEET exam? How are centres selected? Is there a third party audit? How does the NTA react to criminal cases? What is their internal mechanism in dealing with it? What is the SOP for the initiation of re-test? What discrepancies in marks / ranks or number of toppers calls for due diligence, inclusive of due diligence conducted by an outside agency? What is the oversight mechanism over the functioning of NTA? These are normal operational / administrative or peripheral issues to the core issue we are facing. Undoubtedly, all these are the accentuating factors. Subjectivity reigns supreme and adhocism is the norm. How long can we live with it?
INCOMPETENCE AND INDIFFERENCE IS AT THE CORE OF THE NEET EXAM SCANDAL.
Sanjay Sahay
Have a nice evening.