From 1947 to AK-47

We all know that politicians need to be accountable. The Intellingence units need to be able to gather the early warning signals and coordinate with the police or Anti Terror Squads to take preventive measures. The media too needs to avoid the temptation to sensationalize news and put innocent lives in danger. We have on many occasions watched the television channels trying to outdo each other in being insensitive. They televised live the rescue operations by the police, the NSG commandos trying to enter the Taj Mahal Hotel. Just by switching on the television the terrorists would have advance warning of what the commandos were desperately trying to do stealthily. The lack of accountability showed up big time during the terror attacks in Mumbai on the night of 26th November 2008 when terrorists held the country hostage.Since then we have seen fingers being pointed everyone of the dramatis personae – politicians, cops (some of who were swiftly replaced) and every agaency involved. What we have not done is to take accountability of it ourselves. In the Jessica Lal murder case, the citizens refusal to let the guilty go scot free resulted in the courts being forced to reopen the case. The same spirit brought the citizens together to the Gateway of India to share their anger, shock and protest against the failure of the government. The citizens too need to take their share of accountability. It is a failure of the Staffing process in the government.Getting the right person in the right job at the right time produces the right results. This is Human Resources 101. Ironically in case of the country, capability of the person doing the job is usually never a consideration to put someone in the role. When we put Shivraj Patil as the Home Minister or even now when we have replaced him with Chidambaram, have we asked what competencies does the role require and what is the experience the candidate has that will heighten the probability of success. I believe Chidambaram has done an excellent job as Finance Minister – and yet I have no idea of his capability to manage the National Security agenda. There is no doubt he will bring to the role his political acumen and managerial skills. But heck I am nervous. This is like putting Sachin Tendulkar to captain the Indian football team since the current captain has not produced results. He may be a great cricket player and cricket captain but he will not produce the same results in another sport. Kapil Dev has been playing golf for a while, yet he has never achieved the same success in golf as he did in cricket.In a democracy the staffing process is managed by the citizens. They do the equivalent of what the Staffing function does for an organization. While the Staffing Manager takes a job description and discuss the competencies required for the role and then set up multiple interviews with stakeholders. Even after that there is a stringent reference check to verify the track record of the applicant before they make an offer to the candidate. Even after all this there are so many cases of wrong hires being made. In the absence of even the semblence of a process what makes us think that we will select the best to lead a nation of a billion people?The selection process, in order to throw up a great candidate must first have a great collection of equally capable, high potential candidates. The educated and articulate have to consider taking up politics as a career before the candidate pool improves. Today the voters usually choose from a less than optimal pool to begin with. Then we further introduce considerations while voting which have nothing to do with competence. Above all when the average citizen does not turn up to vote, we are abdicating our responsibility to staff the leadership roles. We then have no right to moan about the falling standards in politics. When the candidate pool is sub optinmal why should we expect that if selected they will deliver outstanding results consistently? Democracy is the only system that allows the citizen to take charge of Staffing. We do not do our part, but continue to hold those selected accountable.What do i recommend? Candidates for Ministerial positions have to have had a track record of success in the area they are applying to lead. Then have all political candidates interviewed on national television by a panel of Cabinet Secretaries and senior bureaucrats from that Ministry. Ask the candidate to describe what the execution plan is and what challenges they are likely to face. What they intend to do to address the known issues. The citizens need to have a first hand feel of the candidate’s capabilities. If this process works for every other role, why is it that when it comes to leading a country, we bypass all methods of assessment and yet expect that miraculously without any involvement from our side, the nation will be governed by capable individuals and who will address the issues that confront us. The citizens need to take accountability too.From 1947 till now, the year of AK-47 (and more) we have had enough data to show what does not work. Let the citizens show the same determination in the Jessica Lal case and re-examine the basis of our poilitical system. Candle light marches need to be translated into action.