This is what I wrote for a Blog Series started by livemint.com , published Dec 7 2008
If I were the PM ,I would
Enact a law to extend the voting right to only those who can read and write. For how long can a country's future be decided by those who can't even write their names? This can go a long way in promoting literacy. I would make free elementary education available to all.
Make graduation a minimum qualification for seeking election to the parliament and state legislatures. I would put higher educational standards in place for those seeking ministerial berths.
Put a blanket ban on all foreign trips by politicians and bureaucrats. Its time that India puts some austerity measures in place. I would allow foreign trips only in cases such as UN general assembly meetings, SAARC summits etc.
Take to task all politicians who have made umpteen foreign trips in the garb of attending conferences and meetings on terrorism. I would seek a detailed explanation as to what the country has so far achieved by such foreign trips.
Remove all special privileges extended to politicians.Its time that politicians realize that they are public servants and not public masters.
Make salary drawn by lawmakers a direct function of their attendance at Parliament.
Move a law to disqualify political parties trying to push caste, region and religion based policies.
Enact a law to empower people to bring down an under performing government by means of a referendum.
Re Introduce laws like POTA to effectively combat modern problems of terrorism.
If only.....
