Press Releases : March  2008

Speaking at a Panel Discussion of Parliamentarians on the “Political Economy of Regulation in India – What do we need to do” organized by CUTS Institute for Regulation and Competition (CIRC) here on 31st March, noted Parliamentarian Shri Suresh Prabhu, Member, Lok Sabha opined that there is a need to redefine political economy of regulation to include the vital role that bureaucrats play in it. He also stressed that the independence of the regulators is the most important thing determining the quality of regulation. Further, the higher the level at which regulation is carried out, the better it is.

Earlier Nitin Desai, Chairman, Managing Committee, CIRC welcomed all the panelists and invited Pradeep S Mehta to the dais to make the inaugural address. 

In a short crisp speech Mr Mehta expressed some of his views on how the regulatory climate could be improved in India stressing on the importance of the regulators maintaining an arm’s length from the line ministries, of truly empowering them and on paying them salaries which reflected the truly important responsibilities they were entrusted with.

Creon Butler, Deputy High Commissioner, British High Commission, reflected on how the long British experience in regulation could be useful for the evolving Indian regulatory framework. He stressed on the importance of providing the necessary flexibility in the regulatory domain. 

He also said that India might be well advised to look beyond the same set of civil servants for its regulators. Last, he empasised the reactive nature of regulation and the need to put a regulatory framework swiftly in place once a new need surfaced.

Other noted Parliamentarians also spoke at the meet. Shri Sharad Joshi, Member, Rajya Sabha said that in our legislations we need to stress more on the objective of regulations rather than the structure, salaries and perks of the appointees that constitute the regulatory bodies. 

He felt that regulation was a truly difficult task; though individuals were good at assessing their own needs, they were often unable to assess the needs of a heterogeneous group. Shri Santosh Bagrodia, Member, Rajya Sabha had a unique perspective on regulation stressing that good education was a prerequisite for successful regulation. Dr. Vallabhbhai Kathiriya, Member, Lok Sabha carried this emphasis on social needs a bit further by stressing that regulation should cater to the holistic needs of society.

Interestingly, many of the views mirrored by the discussion today are also reflected in a study by CUTS International titled “Competition and regulation in India – A Status Report 2007”. 

This stresses the fact that contrary to what popular opinion might perceive the disconnect between the thinking of Parliamentarians and progressive civil society organizations like CUTS might be more illusory than real. Such interaction thus raises hopes for the future of building a consensus among the politicians and civil society on the need and path of regulatory reform.

Archives