Transparency of CBAs

A report in the DS of Nov 7 revealed how the hawkers' bodies are being indirectly controlled by dubious personalities and toll collectors. The recent transport strike by the association might also be associated with charging black market rates for tickets for Eid trips.

The CBAs present one side of the coin, imitated from our political culture; and get away through political nepotism. For the latter, the MPs are not entirely innocent. The political parties should not patronise the collective bodies as vote factories.

The weaknesses of the CBAs have to be pointed out, and the existing regulations amended to fit the times and immoral practices. Such exercises are easier to carry out if the parliament works in a normal routine way. Either democracy does not work here, or the field workers of democracy (politicians) are evading public responsibilities. On paper, we have the requisite number of committees and meetings and recommendations, but the situation is not improving. We are seeking Utopia, but cannot define it, nor plan a route map.

We have yet to become a disciplined society, and move away from agitational movements in day to day regulatory work. The government should be allowed to work, but this work must be transparent. How to remove this vicious circle?

For more than 30 years since independence, we have been agitating on so many issues and non-issues. When do we get down to routine level? Why our major issues take so much time to resolve, when no foreigners are involved?