PDP’s Austerity Measures - A source of threat to the Nation?

Going by the ‘initial runs’ of the PDP government, it has posed itself to earn the doubt of incompetency in the minds of the people. Within the two months of governance, all PDP could do is remove Pedestrian Day at the First ever cabinet meeting which in essence should have left above politics; dented the nation’s image and stature with PM and his full cabinet stooping too low (in reception) to Indian ambassador on its 1^st Official working day (which some say could be first case in the world); snubbed the pledge of ‘PM taking the additional charge of a minister’s post’ as promised during election campaign; and took on the ‘austerity measures’ designed to blindfold the general public.

PDP’s cabinet went on to cast spell on the people perhaps to cushion the guilt of wrongdoings and their incompetence through their well devised ‘austerity measures.’ Under this slogan, the cabinet has decided to forgo with entitled new duty vehicles for the time being, take no pay hike for the ministers and executed other ancillary cost cutting measures. It may help lessen the pressure to the government exchequer by saving few hundred thousand but it is definitely not significant at national level and does not warrant such move at this point of time. From the façade, this austerity measures adopted by the government may appear appealing to the most common people’s eyes but if one contemplates, it’s not as wholesome as it appears. In fact it is an obstacle to a vibrant democracy.

There was no need for such action in the first place as the spending on ministerial cabinet in Bhutan could be one of the least in the world. In fact, it could be less than the expenditure incurred for a small organization. A grade 6 equivalent employee (non national) in a government Project earns about Nu. 150,000 per month. For a ministerial post, it deserves much higher than this. Of course there are people who always squabble over the remuneration of ministers & MPs. It will be there so long as democracy exists but that does not mean government should refrain from hiking the pay of cabinet or annul their benefits.  

One of the main proven reasons of corruption worldwide is meagre remuneration. The PDP’s ‘cost cutting measures’ has in fact exposed the members to more possible corruption. With authority and power in their disposal, it is just a matter switching to corrupt mode. This is also pertinent given the fact that MPs have no future as there’s no security for their livelihood after the termination of a term. Men are highly irrational and are susceptible to change at any given point of time in a given circumstance. If ministers are not remunerated adequately, the nation would suffer in some ways.   

The Ministerial posts are a platform where actors (politicians) come, display and go. Irrespective of who comes to power, the posts will remain forever. It’s in the interest of the nation to make this platform attractive so that good leaders would come. Therefore the PDP’s cost cutting measures would also mean manipulating the stature of platform (ministerial posts) which would thwart the aspiring politicians in future. With such circumstance, the capable leaders who are eying on politics may not turn up to take the posts. It will be than those people with money who are hungry for power would take the platform which I believe is not desirable for a vibrant democracy.  

As some believe, PDP’s austerity measures have the potential to incur more indirect costs to the nation in various forms than what has declared as savings.            

      

Though the country faces rupee crunch which in essence is the part and parcel of economic growth, the PDP’s generalization of economic crisis and reason for austerity measure is out of context. Bhutan never suffers from economic downturn to the extent of taking such measures which in fact involved only about 0.5million saving per month. It’s like when the whole business is about a million ngultrum deal, so much noise is made for few Chhetrum which by virtue of value does not warrant devotion of time and effort. Therefore, the so called austerity measures are nothing but propaganda designed to play with the sentiments of the people.