Two Super-Models
of Fast Socio-Economic Development
1. Singapore is the most successful city of the 20th century. It developed from 3rd world to 1st in 25 years. But it had unique circumstances and exceptional personalities behind its success. Its 1st PM Mr. Lee Kuan Yew is the father of modern Singapore. He was elected PM 1959 thru 1990, Senior Minister 1991-2004. He is ‘Mentor Minister’ since Aug 2004! Mr. Lee ruled authoritatively; he says, the nature of people requires it.
The standard personality traits for Mr. Lee’s CEOs are: 1. Analytical Thinking; 2. Logical understanding of Cause and Effect; 3. Concentration to the Point/Target; and 4. Imagination. He adapted these standards called ‘Helicopter Qualities’, from the Shell Oil company.
Singapore’s Authoritarian rule forces Development from Top Downwards. This system is impractical & unsuitable for Kerala/India, but Singapore’s Systematic Institutionalization seems to be world’s best.
Achievements of Singapore in about 30 years - 1959-89
(area 699 sq.km; population density ca. 6000/sq. km – stand 2006):
1.1. Rated as world’s cleanest city and a garden city for several years; rated world’s best managed city for 2004
1.2. Voted world’s best airlines many times and also voted world’s best airport many times
1.3. One of worlds busiest and very efficient ports; can handle 700 ships at a time
1.4. Has one of the world’s best transportation systems; Singapore is world’s only mega-city without traffic jams
1.5. Singapore has Asia’s largest oil refinery and Asia’s largest ship repair yard etc, etc.
1.6. World’s best housing policy; 91% of population owned homes in 2005
1.7. Very efficient education system. 95% Singaporeans speak fluent English
1.8. Very efficient water, electricity and telecom systems
1.9. Very efficient Healthcare system with about 5% of revenue; world’s lowest infant mortality rate of 2.1/1000 in 2005
1.10. Very low rates of strikes and protests; very low unemployment rates – 3.4% in 2005
1.11. Very high political stability; 82 of 84 seats for Peoples’ Action Party (PAP)
1.12. One of world’s 10 least corrupt countries; high per capita income of about 28,000 US Dollar/annum (2006)
1.13. World’s highest salaries for ministers – PM’s salary US$1.2 million in 2000 (US President: only $0.4 million)
1.14. Very high foreign currency reserves – US $140 billion in 2005 (India: $120 biln.)
2. Porto Alegre has world’s most efficient democratic development process. It is known as ‘Porto Alegre Innovation’ in Participatory Budgeting (PB). Porto Alegre (area 489 sq. km: population density ca. 2000/sq. km) is the capital of Brazil’s state Rio Grande do Sul. In 1988, the city was bankrupt spending 96% of its revenue on salaries and routine expenses; this is worse than Kerala’s 92-94% spending on salaries and routine expenses. The very systematic PB process, started in 1989 developed it to Brazil’s city with the best quality of life in 12 years.
Basis for the rating: 1. Housing, 2. Sanitation, 3. Life expectancy, 4. Infant mortality , 5. Hospital beds, 6. Literacy, 7. School enrolment, 8. Standard of Higher Education, 9. Job availability, 10. Catering facilities, 11. Per- capita consumption, 12. Highways, 13. Air ports, 14. Climate and 15. Criminality.
Porto Alegre Innovation is peoples’ participation in Budgeting thru Prioritization of Local Infrastructure Development Requirements. This is Development from Grassroots Upwards.
The 12 Infrastructure items prioritised: 1. Housing, 2. Health, 3. Education, 4. Sewage, 5. Social assistance, 6.Transportation, 7. Pavement, 8. City Organisation, 9. Economic Development,10. Sports & Leisure, 11. Leisure Areas (Parks, swimming pools etc), and 12. Culture. This is not Peoples’ Planning. Planning is a field for experts; people’s planning will be defective.
The most important element of PB is the Council of Participatory Budgeting (COP), consisting of 42 councilors from 16 wards and for 5 city-wide infrastructure items, elected for one year. The COP negotiates with the directly elected Mayor & executives, directly elected city councilors, and supervises the infrastructure development. Because of its proven efficiency and success, this very systematic PB process is now adapted in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, Canada, England, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain etc.
Achievements of Porto Alegre in 12 years 1989-2001
(Area 489 sq. km: population density ca. 2000/sq)
(with about 20% of budget for Infrastructure):
2.1. Pipe water supply increased from 40 to 99% households;
2.2. Sanitation from 46 to 85% households;
2.3. Sewage from 46 to 90% households;
2.4. Public schools increased from 29 to 86;
2.5. School enrollment doubled; literacy increased to 98%;
2.6. Day-care homes increased from 2 to 120;
2.7. 25-30 km surfaced road each year;
2.8. Public housing from 1200 persons to 29,000 persons;
2.9. Established very efficient public transportation;
2.10. Tax collection improved very much;
2.11. Corruption virtually disappeared;
2.12. Citizen participation in PB increased from 700 to 50,000 persons.
INDIA is worlds most diverse and complex country and Kerala is one of its very complex states. India and Kerala are ‘functioning anarchies’ now. Both need Porto Alegre Innovation in Participatory Budgeting for basic infrastructure development and Singapore style systematic institutionalization for fast Hi-Tech development. Decentralisation and Localisation is the secret of success of both models.
URGENT NEED IN KERALA / INDIA OR ANY COUNTRY
A few models of Porto Alegre should come up in each state/district. As common people are not sociologists and economists, they need a ‘tangible model’ to realize that fast development is possible. Otherwise, even experts will dispute on schemes endlessly. Prominent institutions and personalities should patronize Porto Alegre models to save Kerala/India or any country.
COPYING IS THE EASIEST, QUICKEST, MOST ECONOMICAL AND A VERY EFFICIENT WAY OF DOING THINGS. Computers, cars, Jumbo-jets, and human beings are copies. Copies can be even better than the original or worse!! Two decisive points in copying: 1. Essential adaptations should be made to make it feasible in a different situation; and 2. Important elements should not be dropped at all.
Today, for 95% of world’s problems there are many solutions; they should be searched, found and applied with great care. Narrow-mindedness, selfishness, lack of information etc make people greedy, corrupt, blind, cruel etc. Wrong human perceptions hinder solving problems and create hell for them & their descendents.
(A Malayalam [Kerala’s language] book ‘Randu Nagarangalute Vijayarahasyangal’ with an English summary ‘The Success Formulae of Two Cities’ is published thru Pen Books, Aluva,
Fon: 0091-(0)484-2622309/2622501/2625414; Free Call in India: 18004255668
By: Abraham Karammel (Fon when in Kerala) Mob: 989 5657 345; contact Fon: 0485-2242476/77
(Fon when in Germany: Cell: 0049-(0)177-1313112)
Website: www.karammel.com; email: karammela@yahoo.com; goldpen100@gmail.com
Website on Porto Alegre’s PB: www.goethe.de /br/poa/buerg/en/framebag.htm
