Sometimes back the above ministry was split into 2 components of one item. One headed by the Minister and the other by a secretary general [Amin aam] some think it was split for administrative convenience. Mind you this ministry is one of the major guzzlers of the nation’s budget annually. Yes, mostly justifiable expenditure and sometimes not.

The question is on whose advice was it split? [For God sake don’t remind me whose prerogative it is] is the split beneficial to the nation? Will it curb the unnecessary expenditure or will it accelerate it? On the administrative front, will it not spark internal power struggle? Will not the incumbent minister feel part of fiefdom carved out and given to some one else?

Yes it is huge ministry with a huge budget with a huge task. Yet again I feel this arrangement could make it less productive hence taking it down the path of spendthrift. Our oil revenue is dwindling by the year [though we are helped by the high oil prices now] and promoting our tourism sector hard and fast as an alternative source of revenue. 5 years down the road will our revenue be as good as now? Isn’t time to plan how to reduce our national expenditure?

Take as an example the Japanese Imperial Household Agency. [http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/eindex.html] It is an efficient and transparent outfit. These expenses that cover the personnel and operational costs needed for the running of the Imperial Household Agency, which in FY2006 amounts to 10.66 billion yen. Justifiable. It is wise to learn from others. Think of the Japanese GDP and their huge population. At the end of the day they do things neatly and orderly.

The Diwan has all kind of internal and external consultants. But does their genuine advice reach the top via the advisors? Do the advisors sincerely have the interest of the nation at heart?

As always am thinking aloud hence end up having even more questions in my head.