Should BMTC, BWSSB & KPTC be privatizied ? Will such a move improve services & benefit citizens in the years ahead ? When will it be a good time to think of privatizing these entities ? Are we happy with their services as they are ? If not, are there ways to improve them without privatization ? Are there successful examples of such privatization ?

Since liberalization, citizens have benefitted from the successful privatization of airlines, telecom, banking & insurance services. However, all these services are aimed generally at the better off citizens who can take on a price hike or two in their stride en-route to a path of privatization & wait until severe competition drives prices down.

These services are not generally aimed at the lower middle class or the poor - the class that uses PDS, govt run schools & uses health care from primary health centres --- economically weak sections, numbering some 600 million or more in the country, as a whole.

This same class also uses buses, trains, water & power along with other classes - this may explain why they remain under wraps by the netas as votes from these sections are 'gettable' with promises of free /subsidized train fares, subsidized bus fares for the working class, subsidized /free power, even water thro' community water taps, etc.

This is not for the want of trying elsewhere in the country :

Privatization of power & it's distribution has made some progress. In Orissa, attempts were made to privatize the power sector but results have not been encouraging. In mumbai & delhi, they have been quite successful, though.

Privatization of buses for intra-city transport elsewhere is still primitive & almost all operators are of very low quality - this still has a long way to go before it attracts the quality players, if such a turnaround can be orchestrated. Another factor is that the world over, generally public transport is more or less operated as a "not for profit" sector as returns are indirect by way of creation of employment, taxes, competitiveness of the city, image, etc. Thus, assisting quick & cost efficient movement for the general public, particularly the poorer sections becomes vital & important, irrespective of the poor direct returns from the service, or even subsidizing it in consideration for the overall benefit it provides. Indore, with a new PPP model has started working very well & is perhaps an exception to this.

Privatization of distribution of water has not seen any move yet.

I am of the opinion that as long as we carry the baggage of these large EWS sections, progress on privatization efforts in the areas of Transport, Power & Water will remain slow & evolve only in proportion to the decline in their numbers. Quick step efforts at privatization will meet with stiff resistance from these EWS sections & politicians will roll back any privatization initiatives for fear of losing elections as EWS votes can make or break a party's majority.

What are your views ?