IBNLive Chat: 'Karnataka Inc looking forward to stability'

IBNLive Chat: Manipal Education CEO Sudarashan answers IBNLive readers' questions.

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Keywords: IBNLive Chat,, Karnataka

Aamit: State governments have been trying to get the "Metropolitan City" status for Bangalore. How far has it been achieved or do you think the next government will do a better job?

Anand Sudarshan: I am not fully sure what the Metro status will achieve for Bangalore (besides higher DA and CCA for government employees) - if there are tangible benefits besides bragging rights, certainly it's one of the areas the new government ought to focus on.

Sheetal Gopal: What policy changes do you think will trigger further development in the IT sector. Will new government be in a position to implement the same?

Anand Sudarshan: The IT sector needs to actively move away from a Bangalore-centric strategy, to one that reaches out to several other parts of Karnataka (this is particularly true with the changing global climate and the weakening US dollar). This is not new. Places like Mysore and Mangalore have been under development for a while. However, this needs to be accelerated manifold. All policies that would aid this would help the IT industry greatly.

Amir: I am looking forward to SM Krishna being next CM as he can start things from where he left. I was totally inspired by Bangalore’s growth at that time and even dropped a job offer from US. But last 2-3 years have been so static that I am getting sick of infrastructure and basic amenities problems in Bangalore. Do you think Krishna can make the difference?

Anand Sudarshan: Whoever comes to power, they have a deep responsibility in restoring Karnataka's rightful place among the leading states of India. And to view Karnataka as only Bangalore, or Karnataka sans Bangalore - both constitute limited and damaging perspectives. I look forward to the next CM and his/her team focusing forward, including infrastructure in Bangalore.

Shashidhar Matada: In this political scenario, where the political parties have no majority, all politicians are turning into real estate agents, brokering business, 30 per cent of them are criminals elected as law makers, None of them have any experience of governance. None of them has a vision of 20 -30 years growth, no policy is implemented and transparent to the public, no law holds good to check the lawlessness of the governing body including the ministers and respective bureaucracy. How do you expect the government to work like a corporate? How does the private sector consortium, which contributes in majority to the employment and wealth generation, make these politicians work? Can the private sector define infrastructure, IT, health, law etc by coming together and form the policy for next generation say 20 - 30 years, not just Bangalore but by identifying all locations in Karnataka?

Anand Sudarshan: I share your frustration at the relatively low quality of some of the polity and governance in states. And certainly private sector has a key role to play. However, in addition to the private sector, there are other stakeholders involved - it would be unreasonable (and unrealistic) to expect private sector alone to form policy for next generation. Private sector should take a pledge that they will not resort to unethical practices, for example - unethical practices sustain many of the problems you have highlighted; private sector should actively participate in affirmative action programmes; work actively with the government on areas that have long-term impact (education, environment, economic growth), etc - and like you have mentioned, focus not only in Bangalore but in all locations of Karnataka.