Wipro chairman Azim Premji has become increasingly vocal about his feelings for India?s governance standards. His statement that there is complete absence of decision making in the country, has ruffled feathers at the Centre. Premji chose quarterly results as the platform to air his views, and international agencies played up the news big time.
People are watching his space very closely these days, as till date only Infosys founder Narayana Murthy used to voice issues other than industry related matters, as far as leaders from the software sector were considered. And Premji was pretty aggressive with his words. ?There are governance issues….there is a complete absence of decision-making among leaders in the government,? Premji said. ?If prompt action is not taken, the country will face a setback. You must appreciate how serious it is,? he added, as scribes lapped up his every word.
It is not like this was the first time he has got himself involved in the debate. Recently, Premji along with other business leaders like Keshub Mahindra and Deepak Parekh had shot off an open letter to the Prime Minister expressing concern over the alleged governance deficit. ?We are alarmed at the widespread governance deficit almost in every sphere of national activity, covering government, business and institutions,? the letter had stated. ?Widespread discretionary decision-making have been routinely subjected to extraneous influences. Possibly, the biggest issue corroding the fabric of our nation is corruption. This malaise needs to be tackled with a sense of urgency, determination and on a war footing,? the letter had said.
The group also wrote a letter acknowledging the existence of a ?strong nexus between certain corporates, bureaucrats and power-brokers? and suggested a number of reforms in areas such as the judiciary, police, land acquisition and environmental clearances.
So Premji has been quite vocal about it as you can see. But the government has not taken it very well. ?I cannot agree with any statement which says that there is lack of governance. I cannot agree with that perception at all,? said Information and Broadcasting minister Ambika Soni. ?It may be his perception. The idea is that we need to rectify that impression of Azim Premji because he is a very esteemed member of society and an established industrialist. So his opinion matters,? Soni said. She added that the government has remained sensitive to people?s voices and stressed that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself has responded to some of these concerns. ?The Prime Minister is himself taking cognisance of what people have expressed in statements or through movements. He himself has been sensitive and has responded to some of these concerns in his public speeches given at different fora,? Soni said, trying to explain.
Premji?s share of voice in society has been increasing, and in all spheres. The Azim Premji Foundation, for instance, plans to start 1,300 schools across the country?2 in every district?which will be run free for students, imparting education in the local language and affiliated to the state board. ?Quality education is fundamental to our becoming a developed nation. And the final crucible of learning is the classroom,? said Premji, while announcing the move.
The schools will focus on the overall development of their students, including their health and nutrition.
For a long time, there was this view that Premji was not pulling his weight in society; a notion that he corrected with his foundation. He has also been championing the education cause and in future the work done by his foundation in this space could end up becoming something monumental. Premji?s voice is now gaining national importance and more could be in store in the near future.