Kiran Bedi for transparency in poll funding

Pavneet Singh Chadha

Tribune News Service

Mohali, September 23

Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi called for transparency in election funding and urged the people to hold elected officials accountable in order to achieve transformation on the second day of the ISB leadership summit, here on Saturday. The Tribune is an associate sponsor for the event.

“Through a performance appraisal system, the performance of MLA’s and MP’s must be assessed for better governance,” she said adding that the ISB students could also conduct a research on the subject.

Calling for transparency in funding for elections, Bedi said, “Every penny of elections needs to be accounted for.”

Stressing on the crucial role of panchayats, Kiran Bedi said grassroot involvement was imperative for development. “We need to transform the way we administer and govern. We must transform the way we elect, govern, farm and tax,” she said.

Criticising the government for inefficient administration, she said solutions must be found for problems like open defecation, crimes against women, flooding, drainage and cleanliness. “We are rupee wise and billions foolish,” she said.

Bedi said the public-policy research could offer solution to the problems. “The government has no money for research in the public policy,” she said.

She said a more assertive and less compliant society was required to tackle future challenges.

“Instead of looking for freebies during elections, we must focus on agendas aimed at development and creating infrastructure. We need a leadership that challenges the status quo,” Bedi said.

She said the civil servants must leave the luxury of their air conditioned rooms and be more ‘visible’. Bedi also urged the corporate sector to be more inclusive by focusing on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. “The corporate world must not exist in a bubble of its own.”

Responding to a question on increasing crimes, she said the police and judiciary were capable but early prevention was lacking. “The violators are coming from failed homes and classrooms,” she said.