Strengthening the private sector

With our major political transformations or reforms, many things did change in our country's institutions and governance. I've talked about them even earlier in various posts. One of the significant ones is the formation of the Civil Service Commission under the Civil Service Act. Deputy ministers and sate ministers became political posts overnight. Unfortunately (I would say), there were many in such posts who got promoted to those posts over time, and these people are educated, professionals with technical knowledge in their fields. This group also includes some cabinet ministers as well. So, with the change in government, a bunch of seasoned-educated people suddenly got unemployed. All their life, they had worked in the government sector, so it was very much of a shock for them; losing their jobs, and having to stay home. Our system was not prepared for this; as we do not have a vibrant private sector, or research instituties, or civil society organizations.

I am talking about talented people who contributed a lot to our country, and who had sacrificed a lot, and worked dedicately to the development of our society. They are still at the prime of their career, as far as the age is concerned.

Some of them chose to start thier work of coming back to power, and became politically active in political parties. Some chose to get seats in the parliament. Some have left the country with their families, simply having a peaceful time abroad. Some are still staying home, still trying to digest the reality, and wondering what else to do with their life. They were ministers, state ministers, or deputy ministers. So their next job definitely has to be still ministership or state ministership, eh?

Ok, here I come to the main point, at last. Can we only contribute to our country through a job in the government, (or to be precise, a job in the state or public sector)? Well, I guess many have this illusion, that a job is not a job if it's not in the public sector. Our country has got many talented, well-trained, intellingent group of people who are unemployed, and if they can be utilised in the private sector we would be adding up to our productivity, and at the same time saving a lot of foreign currency outflow through expatriate workers.

Looking at the current government, there are some officials in politicals posts, who can be better utilised in the private sector, who used to be in the private sector and earning a decent income. It seems that some political posts have been allocated as 'gifts' or 'recognition' in their political efforts inside the party. Which cannot be avoided in a multi-party democratic system, however much we say it is totally wrong. But, we can still urge the President to at least consider people's technical know-how before allocating them to various posts. Further, get rid of people who cannot perform.

My message to all: jobs in the private sector are also noble jobs, and we can contribute equally, or even better in the private sector.