Have you heard of senate committee meetings in the US? Most probably yes, because it is shown in many Hollywood movies. Do you know that such committees do exist in India and they are chaired by opposition parties to scrutinize the functioning of govt?

Well, I witnessed one such hearing today (that was the reason I had to come to work on Saturday). I was very eager to witness Ms. Jayapradha but she didn’t turn up (in fact out of 31 members only about 10 was present; 2 of AIADMK didn’t attend). The chairman and one another member was very vocal in scrutinizing the functioning; other members were mostly spectators. In fact one of the prominent member from Karnataka was present but sleeping through out the presentation (later I was told that for every meeting that they attend, they are paid good money!).

Preparations for this meeting was going on for more than a week. It is surprising that there are indeed control mechanisms in the government to monitor the regular functioning; it is just that these bureaucrats & politicians have found all the loop holes and innovative ways to be corrupt.

(Just before our hearing was another hearing on Ministry of Planning, of which a part of it I could overhear. They were intensively probing UID project).

It was over with a nice lunch. I had the opportunity to have lunch with the top politicians of the country. Of course I didn’t interact with them. But to be in the same lunch room itself is a big thing.

By luck or grace or hard work, I have always stood in front of the top of the top. In iGATE I used to be one of the very few who presented to CXOs constantly and challenge some of their ideas. Here I constantly meet the secy (administrative head of ministry), minister (head of ministry), DDG (incharge of national IT arm) and now not forgetting the Parlimentary Standing Committee. I have to stand only in front of the president & prime minister.

Life sometimes is un-believable.