The eligibility criterion to become an MP or MLA in India are clearly based on the need that they must fully identify with the constituency they represent.
There are two problems with the system created to opertionalise this need -
1. Our system for checking their 'identification' factor is inadequate. It considers only two parameters - residency within that constituency for a certain length of time and popularity. The raison-de-etre for checking the identification with your voters is surely to ensure that the legislator should truly understand the problems and aspirations of the constituency.If this be true,my question is this - how can our crorepati legislators understand the problems and aspirations of their voters when over 70% of voters live below poverty line? Can those with assets worth 260 crores really identify with the daily travails of those who subsist on Rs 20 per day? Jaake payar ne phati biwai, woh kya jaane pir parayi ( He who never felt a wound jeers at scars ). We in the army had a saying to describe such imposters,' far from the battlefield makes great soldiers'.
2. Besides the identification factor, there is a crying need for another ensuring factor too i.e. capability to discharge the functions of the job. Understanding the problems and aspirations of your voters is one part of the job. Being able to lead commitees/ projects and functioning as Heads of Ministries require more than the ability to identify with your voters. Among other things, it calls for intellectual ability, project management ability, strategic thinking ability etc. Get a novice HR manager t work on this and he will create a suitable competency list within a day. However, we do not have any such eligibility criterion. You may not have such criterion for purely the role of raising issues in the parliament/assembly but at least enforce it for those who get to become ministers.
Is it asking for too much?
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