‘Governments should be more transparent’
‘Governments should be more transparent’
By K. Satyamurty
BANGALORE, March 10. The ‘anti-incumbency factor’ will not matter so much, if governments are more transparent in their functioning, Dr. Madhav Mehra, sociologist and Chairman, World Quality Council (WQC), has said. He is based in the U.K. The WQC headquarters in Milwaukee, U.S.
Speaking to The Hindu here today, Dr. Mehra said if governments were more transparent and ready to admit their faults, voters would be prepared to forgive them. But most governments hid their faults and defended themselves if their mistakes were pointed out. The news media could also play an important role in ensuring that those in power were more transparent in their dealings.
The ISO 9000 was not just a certificate but method of meeting customers needs at all levels with internal and external audits to check the quality. Dr. Mehra said. If these factors were also applied to Government departments, the public would not feel so disappointed. In fact, the Government departments in countries such as Israel, Taiwan and Korea had already gone in for quality certification.
Dr. Mehra said one of the areas in which employees could be trained to be more quality conscious by becoming customer oriented was supply of electricity. The Maharashtra State Electricity Board had already shown interest in this and its office has consulted him. A more customer friendly attitude by meter readers and bill collectors would project a positive image among the public. This would involve more effort by middle management personnel and better scrutiny and monitoring of the functioning of personnel at lower level. Quality control was also essential for the media, Dr. Mehra said. The news delivery system should meet readers needs. News value should change from the dramatic and negative to the more positive side of things. The normal rather than the abnormal should be emphasized by the media. A ‘serious Press’ had evolved in the West that went beyond “the sexual habits of the heads of State,” he remarked
Dr Mehra said the media could have a more positive role in improving the quality of life. In the U.K. where housing shortage was a big housing estates was being planned, the media had protected the environment. As a result, the authorities had been forced to consider the alternative of having ‘brown fields’ (already built up areas), for constructing more houses.
This was just one example of how the media and NGOs could have a positive impact on policy makers. The ability to think and reflect should be cultivated. Dr. Mehra said, self-awareness and quiet reflection would lead to a more harmonious and tolerant way of living, and much of the hatred and misunderstanding among people would vanish.
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