Author: Sanjeev Sanyal
Publication: Threadreaderapp.com
Date: September 22, 2022
URL:       https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1572982446895005697.html?s=03

An important way that bureaucracies perpetuate their power is the system of small favours. A small wrinkle in the rule book forces the common citizen to ask for a minor favour (a permission, a signature, etc). It is dispensed freely, but sets up a patron-client relationship 1/n

A good example of this is the colonial era Kursi Nashin that allowed chosen Indians to sit in the presence of a British official. It was not difficult for elite Indians to get it as long as he "behaved" - but it immediately created a favour 2/n

The requirement of getting a signature from a "gazetted officer" for access to public services/documents is the same idea. It immediately creates a small favour even when it is freely given. In turn, it builds an ecosystem of brokers who "know someone". 3/n

Interestingly, the bureaucracy is itself the victim of this system. Every time a civil servant is transferred, he/she needs to pull favours to get housing, school admissions, even official laptop/office/car. Thus, power within the bureaucracy is exercised in the same way. 4/n

Big reforms like dismantling license-permit raj are rightly celebrated, but the systematic dismantling of the small favours raj is underrated. A key tool has been digital technology. Although some way to go, citizen facing systems have significantly improved in recent years 5/n

However, the small favours system is so pervasive within bureaucracy, most bureaucrats treat it like a fact of life (even as they complain about specific incidents). The unnecessary stress & time wasted (my estimate 30%) is a big loss for the country. 6/n

So why doesn't the civil service change this? Simple human psychology. The cost of the system declines with seniority i.e. the power to change it. Ironically, many rediscovered it as pensioners. 7/n