THE RAILWAYS' PANEL REPORT – 2015: A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS
As was expected the thrust of the Railways Panel Report (The
Bibek Debroy Report) was actually laid on privatization of the railways. Though the Panel was conscious of the role
played by railways workers union in running the organisation, it had very
subtly tried to introduce the basic aspect of VC and PPP. There was nothing new in these reforms
because they had been talked about and accepted since long, but one could put a
question mark on their total feasibility, dependence and gainful working
process.
Needless to say that the Rakesh Mohan Committee Report
failed basically because it wanted to transform the railways overnight and establish
so many top institutions to replace the Ministry. Rakesh Mohan had no intrinsic experience and
knowledge of the working of the railways.
The Report lacked practicality and therefore was shelved finally by
Nitish Kumar. The Bibek Debroy Report does
not seem to be different from the Expert Group report and Mr. Bibek Debroy
falls in the same category as an out sider as is Rakesh Mohan for the
railways. The railways unions have
sharply reacted to the report which has used camouflaged word like liberalization
and not provocative terms as privatization and deregulation. Mr. Debroy has said that ‘private’ process is
already a part of government policy and there is nothing new in it.
Mr. Debroy must understand that he cannot run the
railways without employee’s cooperation that not only include the present staff
but the pensioners also. One must not
forget that a little percentage of employees retiring every year have a close
influence over the serving staff.
The panel has done the same mistake as was performed by
the earlier Expert Group by creating controversial categories like core and
non-core activities. The idea was much
popularised by the Late Prahalad within the theoretical framework of the bottom
of the pyramid, almost a false notion and a misnomer. If Japan passenger railway can earn more
revenue by non-core activities, why can’t Indian Railways? It is only the lack of leadership which is
deteriorating the Railways. The Debroy
Panel must not forget that the Indian Railways is not only the life line of the
country but the second line of defence.
Taking this transport sector lightly is to jeopardise the national
defence and integrity of India. Do not
judge core or non-core activities by profitability or by lack of it. Why bring private players to run passenger
trains? Mr. Debroy must understand that
private capital demands instant profits and it can’t run railways as envisaged
by the Panel. Why did the Reliance group
leave such a well-established and internationally renowned Delhi-Airport
Metro? They left because it was not profitable
to them instantly.
The Debroy Panel is trying to disturb the DNA of
railways. The Indian railways is an
integrated holistic system. By infusing
outside blood into the railways, it would create unnecessary disharmony and
non-homogeneous working order. The
Indian Railways has the best of accounting, managerial and operating
staff. It only needs leadership
undauntedly operating through its Minister and Railway Board. It must exhibit the purpose, aim and vision. There is nothing wrong with the
railways. But it needs strong will to
pursue profits. Harvardization or
whartonization would bring railways to its doom. The institution of railways was born much
earlier to the advent of modern science of management. It has its own management science and
system. It is too late for the railways
to take lessons of management from outside pundits and green card holders but
serving India temporarily showing lip loyalty to the nation. The Indian Railways would work best in its
indigenous way.
Still there is room for change and reform and the Indian
Railways is capable of doing so, but it must be within the framework of
accepted norm of railways as a public sector run by its 13 lakh of employees along
with the pensioners who are the part and partial of the total workforce. The Panel should not degrade the railways and
its employees.
There is a suggestion for the honourable Minister of the
Railways – Mr.Suresh Prabhu to observe.
He should not waste time in appointing panels, committees or study
groups and going through their findings or recommendations. The studies rarely
benefitted the railways. They follow the
same old path, the same action i.e. privatising the railways. It is better for the minister to concentrate
on real work, hard schedule and plan-target to achieve. He should sleep fewer hours than what Modi
sleeps and command the Railway Board directly with fixed targets and a hard
time framework. He must try to aim at
result oriented activities. Railways
fare and freight must increase in amount and volume at least 3-5 percent more
than the national GDP. The Board Members
are Minister’s respectful and loyal work-horses ready to move the ministry’s
carriage. They should not let loose in
different ways. Their targets should be
fixed to be achieved. Non-performing
member should be taken to task – rather removed. Transport profits are always fleeting. One has to take hard steps to capture them. If no timely steps are taken, other mode of
transport sector would beat one up. Transport
sector needs more discipline and vigil to bring it on track. Don’t run railways like Mamata Banerjee who
brought the fund balances to its lowest.
And please don’t distribute bounties of ill-founded projects or
innumerable passenger trains on the budget day to increase unplanned expenses
and pile up the backlog of unfinished projects.
Discipline must start from the top or the railways will be ruined.
