You have a valid point of view; still consider this: my way of looking at this is- the difference between jailing and flogging is the relative irreversibility of the consequences of punishment. Hence the risks associated with erroneous punishment are lessened. Secondly, the stronger the greater the incentive to find a way to subvert the system to ‘avoid’ it. The impact of punishment on a person’s well-being should be just adequate to cause some discomfort; to the person’s psyche, a sufficient jolt as to bring about a correction in behaviour. I am looking at the role of punishment as being more than just a deterrent or retribution, but as a correctional mechanism. Severity should not lead to a sacrifice of certainty is my point and therfore, moderate, but certain punishment, with every incentive to do the right thing is what is needed. The incentive too, is missing today in public life. Without holding a candle for the politicians of today, when the uncertainty of tenure with the absolute lack of reward for good, long-term oriented work makes for a powerful incentive not to work for social good, but use public office for private gain. In my limited understanding, the same is true of officers in the Govt. who have little incetive to work better or harder. I need to think some more about this, but seems to me that definite performance measurements and reward systems are need to complement the punishment. Rather than go on further, let me leave this for now and see if I can come back to you with some thoughts. Thanks for making me think!

Impressed with your views and writings. A first time reader of your Blog, via Mitra Kalita’s India 2.0 in the Washington Post 10/30/05.

Spent a couple of hours reading and comfortably digesting your RISC paradigm. Would love to know its current status. My concept of Community Based Tourism Development (not even a toddler compared to your sophisticated model) is I believe an ideal RISC-fit.

I presented a Tourism Development Action Plan for the Anadaman and Nicobar Islands to the government in 2002.

You know that tourism in India (could be a tourists paradise) is largely a public or publically-controlled enterprise. Without any ownership (except a few hotels and local transporation, usually taxis), its actually more like spinning wheels than even an activity. Let alone an economic one.

A government change (no less than a tsunami), a tsunami, and 2-3 earthquakes later, I have no idea what if anything was implemented.

I fully identify with your basic notion – Rural India’s socio-economic development is urgently needed. RISC articulates practical solutions within the constraint of limited financial resources and almost unlimited people resources – the backbone of development.

Looking forward to an opportunity to further discuss how my sketchy model could generate the fuel for RISC. It would be a delight to personally meet and talk when your business or pleasure brings you next visit the US. A university professor, I live in Las Vegas, Nevada.

jag

Just read a Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar article in TOI on a similar theme.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1279744,curpg-2.cms

Nice post!!

Tarun

You analysis arriving at the need for ownership and a strong legal framework is excellent. In fact most managers in the pvt. sector are assigned programs and projects that they own; and a clear framework that says what they can or cannot do. Where I differ is on flogging. 2 issues with this- it is highly impractical as a form of punishement; does not sit well with our system of jurisprudence (1000 guilty may go free, but not one innocent punished); and goes against the principle of fitting the punishment to the crime. My firm belief is that most human beings want to do something worthwhile. Frame laws and create conditions that make it easy to follow the law/ execute the tasks assigned and make it hard not to do so. The fundamental tennet should be- why go to the trouble of breaking laws or fouling up your job if the incentive for performance is great, and the cost of deviating is too much of an inconvenience. Further, you could think about this- ‘certainty’ of punishment is far more effective than ’severity’. If we can make our laws easy to follow with a definite (even if small) penalty for violation, many thigs will change. Implement this at the lowest level for everyday activities- say, traffic laws for instance- it will have a riple effect on society: establish the rule of law. You could say it is a kind of brokenwindows theory operating here.

Atanu’s response: Ramachandra, we do jail guilty people, don’t we? And we do that even though we adhere to the principle of “letting a thousand guilty go free than to imprison one innocent.” So we do agree that punishment of the guilty is not in conflict with that principle.

I am not suggesting that innocent people be flogged. I am suggesting that those who are guilty be flogged. Why flogging? Because of demonstration effect.

I started reading your blog around a couple of weeks and have since read a lot of your pieces. I have liked most of them, agree with your basic diagnoses of what is wrong with India and have generally admired your blog.

But I suspect that you are growing more and more radical by the day. This particular piece surprised me. Public flogging? Have you been seeing a lot of Tamil movies lately? Even conceding that the solution is effective (which I dont), it is hardly practical and on that account alone I wouldnt have expected it on your blog. For a moment consider that we implemented your scheme. Think about the many crazed supporters that any real leader in our nation has. Think about the culture of worshipping leaders. The main problem is that many masses do not consider their leaders to be the cause of their problems. They instead believe the upper castes (if u r a lower-caste and vice-versa ) or the middle and upper classes or whatever to be the real causes of their problems. And as long as many leaders have this popular base there is not much we can do to these feudal lords, as you call them. (Think abt Laloo. You think he can be flogged?)

The real problem, as you have rightly pointed out elsewhere, is widespread ignorance and illiteracy. It is our single biggest bane. Sure, we must make our leaders accountable, but through activism and by spreading awareness among people. We must end caste-based politics. People should stop thinking in the parochial terms of caste or class or even nation.

Economic development and political maturity will go hand-in-hand. If our democracy matures, we’ll be sure to develop and if we are to develop, our democracy must mature.

Atanu’s reponse: On your last point first: Democracy and economic development — despite all the empty rhetoric and brainwashing that Nehruvian socialism has delivered — are not linked. Economic development has to do with production and distribution of goods and services in an economy and that is managed best by the market with some regulatory oversight (very minimal) to check for some known market failures. Democracy has to do with the how the political life of the society is organized. Democracy is neither necessary nor sufficient for economic development.

It is not just punishments. It is about rewards as well.

Atanu’s response: Yes, that is the critical missing ingredient. You need an efficient judiciary and an effective law enforcement mechanism.