Bureaucratic code

Too much of a good thing is bad. The code of conduct for candidates and political parties developed by the Election Commission of India was considered revolutionary when it was first conceived. Over the years new sections were added in order to create a level playing field and the exercise earned the respect of candidates, political parties and voters. But, with passage of time, the system got bureaucratized and today Goa is experiencing the bad effects of regimental enforcement of the code.

Creating a level playing field in the run up to the elections is commendable, but what use does the code have after the elections? Why should Goa have a level playing field from February 5 to March 11? What purpose does it serve? One can understand the directive against publishing the results of exit polls until elections in other state are complete, but enforcing the entire code is superfluous and meaningless.

The reason we are asking these questions is because the code has placed a blanket ban on issue and renewal of health cards under Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana. Under provisions of the scheme the 1.98 lakh families who possess health cards are given 60 days to renew the cards. This process should have started on 1 February but could not because elections were scheduled on 4 of February, which is understandable. But because the code of conduct is still in force this process has been stalled. What this means is that instead of 60 days the 1.98 families will now get around 24 days to renew their cards.

The secretary in charge of the scheme wrote to the Election Commission stating that, “where schemes have been cleared and funds are provided or released and material procured and reached the site such schemes may be executed as per programme.” But the Election Commission in typical bureaucratic fashion replied that, “those that have been issued the cards can use the scheme but no new beneficiaries can be added. Same is with the case of renewals.”

The Election Commission is entrusted with the task of holding elections and not governance. And it must be said that the EC takes its job seriously, sometimes too seriously, and does it to the best of its ability. But no matter how many rules and regulations one has, there will always be a situation that is outside the framework. The issue here concerns healthcare services which cannot be availed of if the cards are not renewed. In this case at least, the EC should have chosen a practical solution instead of a bureaucratic one. And what is the point in enforcing the code of conduct after the elections? It makes more sense to enforce only those provisions which could impact on or affect states going to polls together, like publication of exit polls. The rest of the code can be suspended. The EC must do a re-think on the issue of health cards and allow renewal simply because it is not going to affect the outcome of polls in Goa or any of the remaining three States.