The fiscal position of the State, according to him, is in the red. Though the repair has commenced, he reckons it will need at least two years to bring the financial administration back on track of fiscal prudence.
Minister Marie Wilson has taken a cautious approach. Considering the expanding chasm between inflows and outflows, the focus has to be on tapping new sources to boost revenue. The Minister has hinted at plugging several loopholes and making the tender ecosystem transparent to usher in greater competition.
Discovering new revenue-raising sources is easier said than done. It is not enough if the government merely indicates its wish. It requires a larger commitment from the fiscal leadership – in this case, the political bosses.
Unlike his predecessors, Chief Minister Vijay has come with no legacy baggage. Being young, he can think differently and act unhindered. Little things could make for a big difference.
A few suggestions in this context may not be out of place. Why not put public spaces in the city and state to productive use? The corporate world could be roped in to maintain places like parks, streets, areas underneath road bridges et al. They can do this as part of corporate social responsibility. Of course, they should be asked to pay a fee to the civic authorities.
Each pocket can be maintained by a corporate. This will help a corporate to promote its brand even while fetching some revenue to civic authorities. At the same time, this can also be used as one another tool to beautify the city.
Since Chief Minister Vijay comes from the tinsel world, he would appreciate the revenue-generating potential of in-film ads. Likewise, the civic authorities could consider letting corportes use inside space in state transport buses for their brand promotion – of course, for an annual fee. Such contracts can be retendered annually so that the transport buses, too, get a fresh look – fresh painting intermittently. This induction of corporates into managing civic spaces could trigger positive fall-out and will have the twin benefit of revenue generation and beautification.
Public space has to achieve its intended benefit. More often than not, that is not happening. Public space should be developed in a harmonious, structured manner, taking into account all functional, socio-economic, environmental, cultural and compositional-aesthetic conditions and requirements. Well, partnership with corporates could be a tool to achieve this.
