Pay politicians corporate salaries to weed out

corruption: Narayana Murthy

TNN | Feb 5, 2014, 02.10 AM IST

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READ MORE Pay Politicians Corporate Salaries|Narayana Murthy|Infosys Founder|DD Kosambi Festival Of Ideas


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PANAJI: Politicians should be paid salaries equivalent to top executives of the corporate
world, said Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy, while discussing ways to make
the Indian government corruption-free.

Speaking at the inaugural lecture of the DD Kosambi festival of ideas at Panaji on Tuesday,
Murthy said, "By not paying them the salaries and incentives they deserve for the hard work
expected of them, we are unwittingly pushing them to do things they shouldn't be doing."

When a politician tries to make an honest living, he or she is not given enough assistance for
the job they are doing. "A politician's job involves hard work, lot of travel and they should
get compensated adequately. Currently what they are officially paid is no where enough to
cover the costs for doing their duty." He cited an example of a techie who left his high
paying job in Silicon Valley to become an MP in India and now is struggling to do his
normal work as a politician.

Stating that the government alone cannot be held responsible to make the country tick, he
said people have to work hard and contribute their bit. "We also need a workforce that is
hard-working and has pride in the nation. Compared to other Asian countries, India's young
professionals have the shortest working hours and the lowest levels of discipline. Rather
than emulate the hardworking workers in China and Japan, they would rather adapt
western ways, and whine about working for eight hours," he remarked.

Murthy stressed that the only path to progress is for a nation to create enough jobs to keep
unemployment among the working population low-2 to 3 per cent, like in developed
countries. "This does not mean it is the government's responsibility to create jobs, but the
government must act as a catalyst to bring in more businesses and encourage entrepreneurs
and most importantly, foreign direct investment," he said.

Make visa for business travel easy

Lambasting our corrupt and inefficient visa system, Murthy remarked, "India is the most
difficult country to travel to. In 2013 alone, I have encountered at least 18 instances where
high-profile executives, famous researchers and professors faced harassment, delays and
were even asked for bribes by visa-handling authorities," he said. India offers visa on arrival
facility to travellers fromVietnam, Luxemburg and Finland, but not for visitors from UK,
USA, Canada, Germany and Australia-making travel difficult for our five biggest customers
of software and IT solutions the only industry that gives India a competitive edge over
others.

What's even more ludicrous is that the Bangalore airport, which contributes 38% of India's
software business, does not have visa on arrival facility," he said. Murthy also stressed that
stay in India should be hassle-free and affordable for foreigners, and state governments
should encourage high-quality English schools and restaurants serving world cuisine to
cater to the needs of expats.

Organized every year by the directorate of art and culture to honour late Goan historian and
mathematical genius DD Kosambi, the festival features lectures by great thinkers.


Infosys ready to offer Mysore facility to train politicians in governance and
economy

Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy on Tuesday said he would provide the software
giants training facility in Mysore, free of cost, to create a finishing school for politicians
where 500 budding politicians can be trained in basics of economics, international
negotiations, international trade and law apart from other relevant subjects.

Murty said he had first suggested this to then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and later
toManmohan Singh. But so far nothing has come out of it. If all political parties join hands
for this venture, and put together a staff of professors, we would be happy to provide this
facility, he said, answering a question from an irate teacher who demanded to know why
politicians were not mandated to receive professional training.

Murthy sad for younger generation

Murthy fielded a large number of questions from the audience, but ended the evening on a
sad note. Reacting to a young woman from the audience who said she felt unsafe on her own
street corner, Murthy said, "I have to hang my head in shame. It is not your (the younger
generations') fault, it is our fault that we are leaving such a country to you. We have let you
down," he said.

Put tax money to good use

"In China, officials are held accountable for an annual economic growth of 7% and if they do
not reach their targets, they lose their jobs. Similar targets are set to ensure protection of
environment, to check the crime rate, etc," explained Murthy. The media in India should
hold officials and politicians accountable too to reach their targets and name persons
responsible for every work and put out a rating card from time-to-time.