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Discipline v/s Democracy


As the number of Covid cases spike, citizens are using social media to vent out their frustration. Most of the Chief Ministers of states seem helpless despite Health being a state subject. CMs have full control over the health budget and infrastructure within the states but are now limited to writing SOS letters to the Prime Minister and giving ads on TVs. Over the last year most of India's cases come from a few states - Maharashtra, Delhi etc. There has been no improvement in these states for a year now. It is hard to believe that India's most industrialised state Maharashtra cannot even produce enough oxygen and blames the Prime Minister. 

This is a great opportunity for the Prime Minister to centralise all power. As Chief Ministers have virtually abdicated their own responsibility, the doors are now open to centralise all health infrastructure. This plays right into Modi's strength - just as he has centralised many of the welfare schemes which were earlier with the states, it now time to centralise the last remaining social welfare measure in the hand of states - Healthcare. 

I am sure the Prime Minister will not let go of this opportunity. With more centralisation you will see the following 

1) Discipline - Democracy often gives people the license to not to follow rules under the garb of freedom. With centralisation - you will see more fiscal and operational discipline. 

2) Digitisation - There will be a heavy digitisation in Healthcare. With platforms such as Arogya Sethu taking over, power will go the folks who will own platforms i.e. the Central Government.  

3) Scale - While there will be less choices, people will get cheaper services. 

The Covid vaccination program is just a pilot. The template is put in place to take over last mile healthcare from the states. Yes there will be more discipline but Chief Ministers will be reduced to writing letters. Democracy will be limited to giving feedback on digital platforms. 

Let's not blame Modi for centralisation- its the Chief Ministers who have accelerated this move by their inaction and incompetence. 




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