Sunday, January 31, 2016

DEVELOPMENT WITH A DIFFERENCE : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

DEVELOPMENT WITH A DIFFERENCE
Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao
Metro India News Paper (01-02-2016)

            Stage is all set for polling for Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Elections. During the campaign political parties that were in power until a year and half ago both at the state level as well as GHMC level claimed credit for development of the twin cities. Leaders of TRS countered this and assured the voters that they would develop the city into a world class making it universal in the next five years which could not be done by opposition while in power for over 50 years. In support of their argument they gave examples of what has been done by TRS Government during the last year and half quoting schemes taken-up and implemented supported by statistical data. Seldom is this argument effectively countered by either TDP-BJP combine or Congress or to that matter any other party that matters.

            What exactly is development? It is only when a scheme is defined, designed and delivered with a time bound action oriented plan and that too in accordance with the aspirations and needs of people it can be referred as development. In this entire process, the aspirations include the social, economical, cultural, conventional and accepted subjects and they are to be necessarily taken in to consideration. In tune with this only the state government during the last year and half have initiated and implemented a variety of programs at the state level in general and at the GHMC level in particular. The basic reason and the driving force for achieving this success are the statesmanship, vision, leadership qualities and commitment, decision making process through consensus, consultation and quality review methodology of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. All these resulted in conceptualization and implementation of people oriented, welfare oriented and development oriented schemes in the state and in the GHMC area. Above all it is the Statesman like Leadership that is causing development. Here we need to refer to Jim Collins who authored a book on leadership titled "Good to Great" where he deals extensively with the qualities and success of level five leadership.

According to Jim Collins "Good-to-Great" leaders embody a paradoxical mix of personal humility and professional will. Good” is The Enemy of “Great”. Level Five Leadership does not happen overnight. It refers to the highest level in a hierarchy of executive capabilities. Leaders of this type are those who combine extreme personal humility with intense professional will; shun the attention of celebrity, channeling their ambition toward the goal of building a great system. They provide new vision, strategy and direction, around which institution gains people’s commitment. The transformation from Good to Great has a process that includes building first level five leadership, deciding on first who and then what, confronting the brutal facts, transcending the curse of competence, inculcating culture of discipline for breakthrough results and technology accelerators. Collins also differentiates between the levels of leadership and elaborates the other four levels in support of level five leader.


Level five leader rises to that level against a background of his rich experience in various fields of activity, individual discipline, ups and downs in the life, colleagues support and many more most of which are success stories. Level one in the hierarchy is a highly capable individual who makes productive contributions through talent, knowledge, skills and good work habits. Level two is a member who contributes individual capabilities to the achievement of group objectives and works effectively with others in a group setting. Level three is a competent manager and capable of organizing people and resources towards the effective and efficient pursuit of predetermined objectives. Level four is an effective leader who catalyzes commitment to and vigorous pursuit of stimulating higher performance standards. Level five the highest in the Hierarchy builds enduring greatness through paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will. The greatness of level five leader lies in choosing the other four levels for successful accomplishment.

            Professional will of level five leadership creates superb results, demonstrates resolve to produce the best long term results, no matter how difficult, sets standard of building institution and will settle for nothing less. He looks in the mirror, not out the window, to apportion responsibility for poor results, never blaming other people, external factors or bad luck. He is never boastful, acts with quiet calm relying on inspired standards, channels ambition into the institution and looks out the window, not in the mirror to apportion credit for the success. He chooses the right people for right work and lets them into his vehicle of performance and achieving results and only with them forms a superior executive team. The wrong people are off the vehicle and when and why is the tactical choice of level five leader. For him Great vision without Great people is irrelevant.

            When we talk of governance and politics the level five leader is basically a Statesman like qualities person. We heard of Governance and later Good Governance. But today people want Great Governance and Governance with a difference. It is just not enough to attend to mere current needs of people and call it as a development. Long term planning along with short term and medium term are essential. This is what has been happening in the state during the last year and half and with this leadership would happen in the coming days and months. The schemes conceived in the state and in the GHMC area are all keeping the long terms needs of people in mind. All these are examples of statesmanship of Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao. To quote few among them:

            Drinking water has been a perennial problem of people living in GHMC limits and no scientific thought was given to solve it till now. To overcome this forever and ever, in addition to bringing Krishna and Godavari River water to the city, CM designed a plan to build two dedicated reservoirs on either side of city in the outskirts with 30-40 TMC capacity which none had thought earlier. Quality power, that too uninterrupted is being supplied in the city which never ever happened during the last five-six decades. For added quality supply in future steps have been initiated for more power production. Two bed room houses that have come-up in IDH colony will be a best example for many more such houses not only in Hyderabad but also elsewhere in the state. This too is an unique scheme unheard earlier. This enhanced the self respect of poor.

            The real development of twin cities has begun only after TRS Government came to power. To enhance its brand image and cosmopolitan culture several steps have been initiated including Kalabharathi. Aasara pensions, insurance facility for workers of different trades, health cards for journalists, fine rice food for hostel boarders etc are few more in that direction.

            Effective maintenance of law order is another priority item including formation of SHE teams, plan for a command control system and quality vehicles for policing. Chanchalguda Jail and racecourse are proposed to be shifted for establishing residential schools for minorities’ girls. For provision of seamless traffic system, strategic Road Development Plan, infrastructure facilities like model markets, multipurpose halls, sanitary system, burial grounds, night shelters to attendants of patients, new bus terminals, pharma city, film city, health city etc are some more initiatives. Kalyanalaxmi and Shadimubarak schemes benefited many and government plans to extend the scheme to all below poverty line. Many more may be quoted in this order.


            It is not just “Governance” or “Good Governance” that is seen and felt now……it is a “Great Governance” with a “Difference” headed by a Statesman Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao. End 

No comments:

Post a Comment