Collective Responsibility a euphemism and cover up for Individual Irresponsibility?

The CAG report is out on coal as well. The estimated loss has been stated to be in lakhs of crores of rupees. The figure may be accurate or somewhat inaccurate, however that huge losses were made seems beyond any reasonable amount of doubt. However, the question as to who exactly is responsible for the loss will be debated over and over again. The Congress will sing like a panegyrist the glories of the turbaned dumb fuck and his impeccable personal honesty. The BJP and the rest of the opposition will be baying for the same person's (PM Manmohan Singh) blood. News media will spend hours and pages discussing the issue and yet the question will remain unanswered.

The times have changed drastically and drammatically. In a land where just a few centuries ago most inhabitants had a deep faith in the Law of Karma which emphasizes that individuals are held responsibile for their Karma (actions); in the present times most people shirk any responsbility for their own conditions. The piece of cake is taken by the complete lack of ability to fix any responsibility in propriety transgressions by members of the government, especially ministers and persons holding high offices.

How is it that while it is possible to catch a pick-pocket "red handed" and accord him punishment it is impossible to figure out who caused the huge astronomical losses in big scams? The simple answer is the term "Collective Responsibility". While a lay person would expect that the notion of collective responsibility must result in a group being punished in the place of one for the unlawful action, the prevailing perception is that none is punished! The state of the current political establishment is such that collective responsibility means or implies no individual accountability!

Thus, ministers can take atrocious decisions and never be held responsibile. This lack of fixing the responsibility and the resultant lack of punitive measures against the trangressors has instilled a nonchalance in the political class and their cronies that they can do anything and get away with it. If the notion of collective responsibility really worked, the whole government should have resigned not only after the 26/11 terror attack, they should also have resigned after the 2G scam or the recent coal-scam. However, no one has been held accountable so far.

If there is one thing that needs to be done really really urgently in this country then it is an efficient mechanism to detect failure and an equally efficient mechanism in fixing responsibility and punishment of the guilty. In the absence of that we are far far away from being a nation, we remain not only an unruled (does not mean liberated!) and an unruly mob!